Whitewater Rafting
New Era of Local Wrestling
Honey Bees and Beekeeping
Tupelo’s Neon Pig Eatery
Dora Cowboy Charles Dollar
CARL CANNON JIM CANNON
ABE CANNON
TOMMY FOWLER
GREG WILLIAMS
JR MINSHALL
BUTCH FOSTER
TYLER HERRON
CURT BALLARD
BOOGIE FRANKLIN
TOMMY PARRISH
KEITH RICE
JOSH SALTER
STAN COLLINS
JOWAINE DUNCAN
RJ RICHARDSON
BRIAN BURGETT
TIM DODD
DEVAUGHN BROWDER
ADAM SMALLWOOD
CARL CANNON CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC
299 Carl Cannon Blvd., Jasper, AL 35501 Sales: (877) 535-2112 | Service: (866) 268-8081 | Fax: (205) 295-4941 www.carlcannon.com SUMMER 2019 A PUBLICATION OF THE DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE WALKER MAGAZINE
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VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 4 • SUMMER 2019
FromTheStaff... MAGAZINE Established October 2012
PUBLISHER James Phillips EDITOR Jennifer Cohron ART DIRECTOR Malarie Brakefield CONTRIBUTORS Scott Eric Day Photography, Ron Harris, Ed Howell, Rick Watson, Jeffery Winborne ADVERTISING Jake Aaron, Brenda Anthony, Zach Baker, Renee Holly, Liz Steffan BUSINESS MANAGER Charlette Caterson DISTRIBUTION Michael Keeton
Walker Magazine is a publication of and distributed seasonally by the Daily Mountain Eagle, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher. Walker Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. Walker Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information. The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher. Our mission is to promote Walker County and to showcase its many attributes as a quality place in which to live, to work and to play. We welcome ideas and suggestions for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2019 Daily Mountain Eagle WALKER MAGAZINE P.O. Box 1469 Jasper, AL 35502 (205) 221-2840 email: walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com
It is summer time in Walker County, and the living might not be easy, but it is most definitely interesting. And interesting stories in Walker County are what this magazine is all about. The staff at Walker Magazine has put together another great collection of positive pieces concerning people living here or from here. What is summer in the South without great food? For this edition, several staff members traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi, to catch up with Jasper native Trish House McCluney to share the story of the Neon Pig, an old school butcher shop and café that features a menu unlike any other, including being home to the Best Burger in America. Summer is a time for outdoor adventure, and that led us to interview locals who work as rafting guides on the Ocoee river in Tennessee. Our “We Are Walker County” section of this magazine highlights Drake McKenzie, owner and operator of McKenzie Farm and Forest in Jasper’s Sunlight community. His corn is sold in local markets and restaurants. This issue’s photo essay features a look at the lives of hived honeybees throughout the year and the work beekeepers do to maintain them. In the “From the Vault” feature, we look back to when the Daily Mountain Eagle helped organize a drive to help Jasper police officers to purchase bulletproof vests. This edition also tells the story of a real-life cowboy. Charles Dollar will forever be known as “The Dora Cowboy.” And a piece that might feature action wilder than a white-water rafting trip or a bucking horse shows a behind the scenes look at life around the squared circle with local professional wrestlers. Thank you for taking the time to read our work. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
James Phillips, Publisher
OnTheCover Trish House McCluney holds Neon Pig’s award winning Smash Burger at the establishment in Tupelo, MS. Photo by Malarie Brakefield
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What’sInside
08 | From The Vault VEST Campaign, 1980 10 | Wild Rides On Whitewater Phillip Freeman 16 | Not Just “Rasslin’” Promotion ushers in New Era of local wrestling 26 | Photo Essay A closer look at local beekeepers and the honey bees they keep
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36 | Neon Pig Trish House McCluney and her delicious Tupelo eatery 46 | The Dora Cowboy Charles Dollar 50 | Community Calendar What’s going on in the county 52 | Snapshots Past events in Walker County
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58 | We Are Walker County Drake McKenzie
From The
VEST
Campaign, 1980 Compiled by Jennifer Cohron Photos courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle
Carbon Hill Police Officer Jim Straw is fitted for a vest as Chief Quinton Atkins looks on.
Walker County District Attorney Charles Baker writes a check for the purchase of a bulletproof vest as JPD receptionist Barbara Geeslin looks on.
The Daily Mountain Eagle spearheaded the VEST campaign in June 1980 to purchase approximately 40 bulletproof vests for members of the Jasper Police Department. Daily Mountain Eagle Publisher Doug Pearson said the officers should not have to purchase their own vests, which several were doing at the time. The campaign, modeled after an effort by the Birmingham Post-Herald, was launched with the blessing of Jasper Police Chief Joe Filyaw. Local individuals and business and civic leaders donated to the campaign, which raised over $5,600 in less than three weeks. The total was more than enough to outfit JPD officers with vests, and the campaign then went countywide. Carbon Hill, Parrish and the Walker County Sheriff’s Office led separate successful campaigns. By July, the VEST fundraising effort had raised $9,327 — enough to purchase vests for officers throughout the county. Each vest cost $125. The funds that remained were donated to the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter for its benevolent fund.
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Jasper Walmart General Manager Don Goetz presents a check for the VEST campaign to Daily Mountain Eagle Publisher Doug Pearson.
Jasper Police Sgt. Dennis Corbell lends his shoulder to Walker County Bank Vice President Joe Brown.
Jasper Police Officer Betty Williams is fitted for a vest.
Lt. Billy Sheffield of the Jasper Police Department gets a check from John Oliver, president of First National Bank of Jasper, for the purchase of two bulletproof vests.
John Crump of John Crump Toyota gave $125 to the campaign and donated an additional $1 for every test drive at his dealership.
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Wild Rides On Whitewater Text by JENNIFER COHRON Photography courtesy of PHILLIP FREEMAN
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Three years ago, Phillip Freeman called Outdoor Adventure Rafting in Benton, Tennessee, to ask about the age requirements for becoming a raft guide. “He said, ‘You have to be at least...’ and I said, ‘No, I’m talking about the upper age limit,’” Freeman said. Freeman, a deputy state fire marshal, was 59 when he launched a second career as a raft guide. To his knowledge, he is the oldest guide to complete OAR’s training program. His younger peers refer to him as “Papa Phil” and “Paw-Paw.” During his first season as a guide, one group requested him specifically for their whitewater adventure. After navigating the first series of rapids, he asked one of the raft’s passengers why they had selected him. “He said, ‘You looked like you’ve had a lot of experience,’” Freeman said, grinning at the irony. Freeman and his wife, Nancy, who shares his passion for paddling, have a second home in Benton. They are part of a group of Walker County natives who have laid claim to a little piece of heaven along the Ocoee River. Matthew Kennedy, Hannah Studdard and brothers Darby and Dalton Williams, all in their 20s, are also whitewater guides at OAR. Capstone Rural Health Center’s Dr. David Jones, his wife, Lindsey, and their children make regular trips to Tennessee as well to cast their cares away on the Ocoee’s rapids. Freeman rediscovered his love of paddling approximately eight years ago after his stepson, Chad Edgil, got involved with a group at the University of Alabama.
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Phillip Freeman and his wife, Nancy.
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Raleigh, Lindsey and Nancy.
He soon found himself racing down the Ocoee surrounded by college students. Lindsey Jones, Edgil’s sister, was skeptical when he and Freeman tried to convince her to go whitewater paddling. Her first trip was on Blackwater Creek. She swam, or flipped over and couldn’t get back up, twice. Next, Edgil and Freeman took her to the Nantahala River on the Tennessee-North Carolina border. “I didn’t swim at all that day, which was totally beginner’s luck. The second time on the Nantahala, I Phillip and Nancy. 12 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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Lindsey on a Class 3 rapid on Ocoee (Double Trouble).
Lindsey and Phillip at Blackwater Creek.
Lindsey and Phillip.
swam at the first rapid. That water is like 40 degrees. I said, ‘I don’t know if this is for me,’” Jones said. At Freeman’s urging, she and David took a class with the Birmingham Canoe Club. In time, she grew to love being on the water. If her schedule allows, she makes the trip to Tennessee every other weekend. “You forget about everything else when you’re out there, and you make all these friends. It’s a community. It’s like family,” she said. Her 12-year-old daughter, Raleigh, is also a paddler and recently paddled the Hiwassee River in an inflatable kayak with her mother and grandmother. The Ocoee River, home to the 1996 Olympic whitewater games, was ranked the top destination in the United States for whitewater rafting by the American Outdoors Association in 2015. OAR offers rafting trips on the Middle Ocoee, which has
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five miles of class III and class IV rapids, as well as on the Upper Ocoee, which includes the section designed for the 1996 Olympics. True adventure seekers can sign up for the Class V Ocoee trip, which is only open to experienced rafters. Freeman travels to Benton two or three weekends a month during the rafting season. As a guide, he can tailor the experience to the customers’ desires. “We group the people by what we call their will to live. I’ve had people tell me, ‘We don’t care if you turn the raft upside down.’ Then I’ll have other people say, ‘We want the best ride you can have and still stay inside this boat,’” Freeman said. Several weeks ago, Freeman took out a group of teenage girls who asked for the wildest ride possible. He chose a spot on the river where he knew it would be safe for them to experience a swim in the Ocoee. “I dropped us off sideways and cleaned the boat out. They had a blast,” Freeman said. •
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"Rasslin'" NOT JUST
Promotion ushers in New Era of local wrestling Text by JEFFERY WINBORNE | Photos by MALARIE BRAKEFIELD, SCOTT ERIC DAY and RON HARRIS
Mr. 1985 has “Action” Mike Jackson in a headlock. 16 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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Immediately following the playing of the national anthem on June 8, a sound is heard that is all too familiar with those in attendance at Swann Gym in Jasper. It is “Bad Boys” by Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle. While it is most recognizable as the theme song for the hit television series “Cops”, on this night it again signifies the arrival of The Brawlers. Greg Dotson and Johnny Rage, known collectively as The Brawlers, are the biggest heels (antagonists) in New Era Wrestling (NEW). The duo have heat in spades as they swagger to the ring and proceed to use their physical dominance to push around a referee. In the world of professional wrestling, “heat” is something all heels strive for. The term is used to describe the fans’ disdain for a performer. On this particular night, The Brawlers will have an opportunity to regain the New Era tag team championship, but not before receiving some startling news. The special guest referee will be none other than their arch nemesis, NEW owner James Phillips. The fans in attendance cheer wildly at the tag team’s misfortune. They cheered even wilder later in the night when they did not win back the tag team titles. Being so widely hated isn’t something that bothers Dotson, a Walker County native who has been wrestling professionally for seven years. “I don’t care that people don’t like me,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t like them either. I get paid and don’t care if they like it or not.” His tag team partner for the past two years, Rage, is the veteran of the duo having been in the business for 22 years. “(We have been here) since the beginning,” said Rage. “Since the time that New Era Wrestling became the new company (in Jasper), we have been here since day one. We were the tag team champions when James Phillips came in and bought the old company and renamed it NEW.” Phillips said getting involved in the wrestling business was a lifelong dream. Walker County has a long history in the professional wrestling business, and
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Phillips said he is happy to help keep that history alive and provide quality, family entertainment in his home area. “I’ve been the owner for a little over a year now, and it has been a great experience,” Phillips said. “I have said from the beginning that I feel like I’ve joined the circus, and I get to be the ringmaster. Despite being an ‘outsider,’ I have been welcomed by the men and women in the locker room. I believe they see the passion that I
have for the business and for the product that we put out each month. We are putting on shows that have never been seen in our area.” Another mainstay in NEW is a face that has toured the world and performed with some of the biggest names in professional wrestling history. “Action” Mike Jackson is a 50-year veteran in the ring. Having wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance, Mid-South Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling against names like Ric Flair, Jake Roberts and the Road Warriors, Jackson brings unparalleled experience to NEW. That experience makes him the senior veteran in the NEW locker room each month, something that he appreciates. “A lot of guys are very nice and respectful to me,” Jackson said. “I’m on the WWE Network all the time from the old shows that I did for Vince McMahon. They see that and ask for pictures and things like that. I’m old, I know that. I know I don’t have many years left in me to keep doing this. But I appreciate the guys that show me
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Greg Dotson, left, and Johnny Rage, aka The Brawlers.
the respect. “It’s a different world,” he continued. “The wrestling world is not what it used to be 25-30 years ago. There are three types of shows. There is WWE, Ring of Honor, and TNA (Impact Wrestling). These are the ones that have tv (exposure) and are out there nation-wide. Then you have your independent shows like this and like ones I run in the high schools. They try to run good family-oriented shows. Then you have your outlaw shows that just throw chairs and act stupid. I tell (young wrestlers) that if they respect the business and try to treat it like a business – everybody wants to go home safely – but treat it like a business and with respect and you’ll make money.” One of those young wrestlers is Cassandra Golden, 18 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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a Little Rock, Arkansas native who has been wrestling for just two years. The June show marked just her second time in Jasper. “I was excited to come back,” she said. “Like I said in the ring earlier (tonight), I got such a warm reception when I first came and it was even better this time. It’s always nice to come back to these places. I was super excited – I really like the fans here, I like the wrestlers. It’s great talent and a great locker room so you can’t really ask for much more.” Golden is coming up in wrestling during a time that women are being given a much larger spotlight than at any other time in the industry’s history. Promotions such as WWE and the newly formed All Elite Wrestling (AEW) are seeing a revolution in women’s wrestling, something SUMMER 2019
“Action” Mike Jackson
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Cassandra Golden, at right, wins her match against Ruthless LaLa.
that Golden sees happening on the independent level as well. “(Women are) not only just being used in these filler matches, but actually being the main event of different shows. Having different promotion online - I have my own posters, which is really cool. I could only imagine a long time ago you probably wouldn’t have that kind of promotion for women. Now it’s a different time and I’m very happy to be in this era of women’s wrestling.” Cody Windham is an Oakman native who has been wrestling since 2009. A lifelong fan of the industry, Windham was trained on yoga mats at Fitness Factory and has since gone on to become a prominent performer at NEW. He grew up as a fan of WCW, so much so he recalls that whether it was at high schools or bigger shows in Birmingham, Windham would even tell friends “I’ll come hang out with y’all later,” with wrestling being the priority. “I’ve been watching wrestling since I was probably three or four years old. I’ve always loved wresting,” he said. “I loved to play football. I would have loved to have gone to college and play football, but I was going to be a wrestler.” Milestones in Windham’s life have seemingly coincided with historic events in wrestling history, something that is not lost on the two-time NEW Open Champion. “I aways tell people it’s crazy how things lined up for me, because the first WrestleMania was five days after I was born. The last (WCW Monday) Nitro ever was on my 16th birthday. We had had my birthday that weekend because I had said I didn’t want to do anything. I just wanted to watch wrestling.” After some differences with previous management, Windham began working with the company as Phillips took over. “Every time (we have a show), it’s getting smoother and smoother. I get to see more and more fans come in that we have never seen.” 20 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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Cody Windham
Peanut
While NEW has consistently gained new fans each month, no promotion is without its regulars. Most notable in Swann Gym every month, with megaphone in hand, is the one known simply as “Peanut”. He can be found every month roaming around ringside screaming at the wrestlers. “Well, more or less I do it to entertain the people,” he said. “Now, I used to not care how it went as long as the people get a good laugh out of me. I love it.” The 76-year-old superfan has been watching professional wrestling since he was just 7 years old. It’s a love and a passion that Peanut could not imagine having to give up. “That’s my whole life. If you take wrestling away from me then you might as well shoot me,” Peanut said. “I have two things I do, go to church and wrestling. I’ve been going to wrestling shows since I was seven years old and have been yelling at the wrestlers since then. If they don’t know me when I get there, by the time it’s over, they know me.” While professional wrestling is hitting it’s stride again with the emergence of startup group AEW and independent groups like NEW again revolutionizing the local scene, the industry saw it’s most mainstream success in the late 1990s during the famed ‘Monday Night War’ between rival companies WWF and WCW. But even before that, the original SUMMER 2019
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Mr. 1985, Bubba Cagle
Center left: Bubba Cagle’s merchandise for sale during the show. Center right: Bubba Cagle grabbing onto “Action” Mike Jackson. At bottom, left to right: Wrestler “Romeo” shows off his championship belts; Alex Todd; Brad Adkins and son, Graham, enjoying the show; NEW owner James Phillips as a special referee. 22 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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“Serpent Dragon” Brando Whatley
Cortez
Bubba Cagle signing autographs
boom into mainstream culture for wrestling happened in what is now referred to as the ‘Rock ‘N Wrestling’ era of the 80’s. The WWF and Hulk Hogan teamed with MTV and NBC and suddenly it was cool to be a wrestling fan. In 2019, no other wrestler hearkens back to that age of the business more than ‘Mr. 1985’ himself, Bubba Cagle. With bright neon stars, tassels and his trusty fanny pack, the 13-year veteran embraces his 80’s persona as Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” plays him to the ring. “I was born in the 80’s and grew up with that,” Cagle said, “But it’s partly also a tribute to my dad. I grew up with him and the music of the 80’s. I always liked the rock styles back then, so I wanted to bring it back.” In addition to a successful wrestling career, Cagle also Announcer Noah Howell
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serves on the Parrish City Council as well as teaching at Parrish Elementary School. He says it’s all about keeping your priorities in line, even mentioning the time off he took from wrestling when his son was born. Cagle has been a part of local wrestling in Walker County for years, long before the formation of what is now New Era Wrestling. He has seen first-hand the evolution and growth of professional wrestling in the area. “It’s just amazing for me to look back and see the difference,” he said. “NEW is finally bringing something different to this area. It used to be just old-school wrestling, now it’s a mixture of old school and new school. There has been the core fan base for a long time, but seeing the company being able to expand and get different types of people at the shows has been big to all of us.” • “White Widow” Bristol Hayle
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Amazing Honey Bee The
A photo essay
Photos by JAKE AARON and MALARIE BRAKEFIELD
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In early Spring, beekeepers are often contacted when someone discovers a natural swarm of honey bees on their property. The swarm is caught, transported and placed into a hive body where they will stay for as long as its population is happy and healthy.
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During Spring and Summer, female honey bees, called worker bees, travel in and out of the hive to collect pollen and nectar from various flowers which is collected on their hind legs. A single worker bee can carry a load that is about half her body weight in pollen. Honey bees are known to be able to fly several miles away to forage. Male honey bees, called drones, have one role: to mate with the queen.
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This page: Local beekeepers from Carbon Hill, Wesley Clowers and Barbara Haynes, tend to a hive on Gamble Branch Farm. They are inspecting the hive to check on the amount of honey made over the spring and summer months. In the bottom right photo, honey has been made in the center of the frame and can later be extracted. Opposite page: During the extraction process, the frames filled with honey from the top boxes, called supers, are taken away from the yard and extracted. The bottom super as well as the brood box, where eggs, larvae and pupae develop, are left alone. For extraction, in this case, the capped honey is released from the frame using a hot knife. Once the honey has been uncapped, the frames then go into the extractor, spun at a high speed which throws the honey out of the frame, and rests at the bottom on the barrel. Once enough honey has been extracted the gate is opened and the honey flows out. From there it is strained to rid itself of impurities such as wax and insect parts. Any leftover honey on top of the frames is quickly cleaned up by the bees. During the winter, honey bees cluster together in the center of the hive to keep warm. The bees will surround the queen and shiver which creates heat within the hive. In order to keep their energy levels high they must eat the honey they created during Spring and Summer. This will be all they have to eat until the next Spring arrives and a new year begins.
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HYUNDAI OF JASPER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 7 PM | SATURDAY 8 AM – 6 PM SERVICE DEPARTMENT: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 6 PM WWW.HYUNDAIOFJASPER.COM | 4011 OLD U.S. 78, JASPER, AL 35501 | (205) 282-4601 | (205)282-4427 34 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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NEON PIG Text by JAMES PHILLIPS Photography by JAKE AARON and MALARIE BRAKEFIELD
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Trish House McCluney started Neon Pig in Tupelo, Mississippi with two business partners in May 2012. McCluney, a Jasper native with a background in education, would never have imagined owning a food-related business. “If someone would have said we would be talking about this 10 years ago, I would have thought they were crazy,” said McCluney, talking about her old school butcher shop/ restaurant that has been a hit in Tupelo since its opening more than seven years ago. Neon Pig is an old school butcher shop, breaking down whole animals from local farms. It is also a restaurant/café that has become known for its award-winning burgers. The business also has seasonal fish and seafood delivered three times per week and gets fresh vegetables from local farmers. All the products are used in the café and sold in the grocery side of the business. “We wanted to be different,” she said. “We wanted to be appealing to our community and surrounding communities by filling a niche. People like to know where their food and other products come from, and we can tell them exactly where it all came from if it is sold here.” Neon Pig makes its own rubs, sauces, bacon, sausage, tasso and jerky. Prosciutto can be found hanging from the ceiling for at least two years before being used on charcuterie plates or sold to customers from the grocery.
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Products on the shelves are from Tupelo, the state of Mississippi, or other small, locally-owned businesses across the South. My Brother’s Cup coffee roasted down the road in Shannon, honey from Red Belly Bee Farm in Mrytle, Memory Orchard preserves and cakes from Tupelo, Grit Girl grits from Oxford and hot sauce from Papa Lynns in Ecru are all available. The café also offers some great tasting cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia. People drive from across the Southeast to try Neon Pig’s Famous Smash Burger, which was named by Thrillist in 2015 as the Best Burger in America. The burger is a combination of aged fillet, ribeye, sirloin, New York and Benton’s bacon ground together to give a strong, smoky flavor. It is served on a ciabatta bun with bacon bits, cheddar cheese, onion and a special comeback sauce. “We have a lot of customers who are travelers; they’ve heard about us and come in to try the food,” McCluney said. “I think that is how we did so well in the burger contest. They went back home and shared it on social media, getting us votes from all over the country.” Although Neon Pig is known for the Smash Burger, other customer favorites are the pork belly on a homemade bun or a smoked chicken sandwich with house-made jerky sauce, as well as the shrimp po boy. Starting at 5 p.m. each day, customers can pick out a steak from the butcher counter or fresh fish from the case. “We cater to every type of person. Everybody and anybody feels at home here,” she said. In recent years, McCluney said she has become more health conscious, even becoming a certified personal trainer.
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She said that is now reflected on the menu at Neon Pig with its new “Lean and Clean” offerings. “I used to pop in and just fix myself some healthy protein and vegetables,” she said. “My employees named it the Trish Bowl. The ‘Lean and Clean’ menu is all lean proteins and fresh veggies. Any of our sandwiches can be made in a lettuce wrap. And at least we know that none of our meats have any antibiotics or hormones if someone does want red meat.” McCluney grew up in Jasper, going to T.R. Simmons, Maddox Middle and Walker High schools. She graduated from Walker in 1993 before going on to Birmingham-Southern College where she got a degree in English. She taught high school English in Fultondale, Memphis and St. Louis before moving to Tupelo. It was in Tupelo where she met her business partners Mitchell McCamey and Seth Copeland. “Being a part of Neon Pig has been a great experience,” she said. “It is not what I had planned on doing, but it is exactly what I needed to do.” While the restaurant and personal training businesses keep her busy, McCluney said her favorite job is being a mom to her two young sons, Richard (13) and Tristan (10). “They are No. 1 to me,” she said. “Being selfemployed, I can reschedule clients or work for the restaurant from home, so I can be as involved as possible in their lives.” Tristan McCluney summed up Neon Pig with only a few words, “BEST BURGERS I’VE EVER HAD!” For more information on the butcher shop/ restaurant, visit www.eatneonpig.com. Neon Pig is located at 1203 N Gloster Street in Tupelo, Mississippi. • SUMMER 2019
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YOUR STORY
Starts Here Academic Transfer | Career Technical | Workforce Solutions | Adult Education Fayette | Hamilton | Jasper | Sumiton | Carrollton
800.648.3271 www.BSCC.edu
Independent Investment and Financial Planning Firm
Michael W. Wiginton, CFA mike@hlwiginton.com
Tom Ferrell, CFP® Vice President of Investments tom@hlwiginton.com
Office: 205-384-4402 • Fax: 205-384-4307 www.hlwiginton.com 102 19th Street East, Suite 200 • P.O. Box 1444 • Jasper, AL 35502 Securities and Advisory Services offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC 44 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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Here. For you. At Synovus, we truly understand what matters to you; that’s why we’re doing all we can to help you grow. Not just a bank, we’re your neighbors and friends. People from here who understand here. And we’re here. For you. 1-888-SYNOVUS | synovus.com
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2403 Hwy. 78 East Jasper, AL 35501
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h
The Dora Cowboy Text by RICK WATSON | Photos by JAKE AARON, MALARIE BRAKEFIELD AND RICK WATSON
C
Charles Dollar of Dora fell in love with horses when he was a little boy, according to his widow, Sandra. Early in Dollar’s life, a neighbor, Charles Blackmon (Big Daddy) owned horses, according to Dollar’s sister, Pat Morris. She thinks that might be when he became a cowboy. “Even before he rode his first horse, he rode broomsticks around the yard and dreamed of riding the real thing,” Morris said. “Daddy had horses, so Charles got one when he was about 12 years old,” Morris said. As he got older, he got in with his cousin, R. O. Sherer, who raised cattle and horses. Sherer had an arena at his place in Jasper, and on Sunday afternoons, he would invite people from all around to come and watch the men ride. “That’s where he got his taste for riding the wild broncos
and bulls,” Morris said. Dollar also roped steers. He did all the categories of rodeo riding, according to Morris. He dressed and walked like a cowboy, but it wasn’t a “put on,” according to Mrs. Dollar. “It was his nature,” she said. He wore cowboy boots and a hat along with jeans and a western shirt. “Some people called Charles the Dora Cowboy, but I don’t know how it came about,” Morris said. Back in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, rodeos came to Dora and other small towns around the south. “I was just a kid back then,” she said. “When he would ride, I would hide my face because I didn’t want to see him get thrown.” Morris remembered a time in Mississippi when a bull threw Dollar. The injury required stitches. Usually, the only time Dollar wore a hat was when he was riding, but after the
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Top: Some of Dollar’s horse riding gear. Bottom left: Dollar’s cowboy hat. Bottom center: Sandra Dollar, Charles’ widow, holding his portrait. Bottom right: A look into an old barn where Dollar kept his horses.
injury, he wore one around the house for several days so his father wouldn’t know he’d gotten hurt riding. “Mama had to take the stitches out,” she said. Dollar rode the rodeo circuit all around the South. “Sometimes he made $5 and sometimes he didn’t even make gas money,” Sandra Dollar said. “When Charles did rodeos, sometimes they had no place to stay, so they would park their cars and sleep on the ground to be ready for the rodeo the next morning,” she said. Mrs. Dollar remembered one of her husband’s stories when he had to ride a demon bull. Everyone told him not to get on that bull because they feared he would get hurt. “He was hard-headed, and he got on the bull,” she said. “The bull threw him through a fence, and it knocked out all his 48 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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teeth.” He went through the rest of his life without teeth. The Dollars didn’t marry until late in life. “I was 61 and Charles was 71,” she said. When they did, it was a cowboy wedding complete with bales of hay, western wear and “all the bells and whistles.” A friend brought the couple to the wedding in a horse and buggy. Flipping through albums of pictures of her late husband, Mrs. Dollar became wistful. “I wouldn’t take anything for those few years we spent together.” Dollar was a small man. “He always watched his weight because he didn’t want to get too big to ride,” she said. When Dollar died in 2015, his wife buried him in his cowboy shirt with his hat on his chest. That was how the Dora Cowboy wanted it. •
SUMMER 2019
Brian Alexander Broker/Co-Owner
Email: blalexander01@yahoo.com Cell: (205) 275-0602 www.brianleealexander.com
M-S 8am-8pm • Sun. 9am-8pm
504 Airport Road South, Jasper, AL 35501 (205) 295-LAKE | 205-221-8822
The Pregnancy Test and Resource Center is a nonprofit pregnancy center offering free and confidential services. We strive to serve with excellence and offer a nonjudgmental atmosphere.
THINK YOU MAY BE PREGNANT AND DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO? CALL US.
1707 2nd Ave., Jasper, AL 35501 • www.ptrcjasper.org • 205.221.5860
We offer FREE pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and information on pregnancy options, a clothes closet, parenting classes, new moms support group, father support group, postabortion recovery Bible study, and more!
Open Monday–Tuesday 9am–4pm, Wednesday 8am–2pm, Thursday 9am–5pm The Pregnancy Test and Resource Center is a 501.c.3 ministry that operates primarily through donations of individuals, churches, and businesses. Donations of new or gently used baby items up to size 2T are accepted. Volunteer positions are available.
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july – october
CommunityCalendar To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com.
July 20 THE GROOVE REVIVAL The Bankhead House and Heritage Center will host The Groove Revival on Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. Free admission. Originating through connections at Cordova High, the band members follow all genres of music but their hearts belong to rhythm and blues. You will hear songs you love such as “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett and “Vehicle” by the Ides of March to “Hold on I’m Coming” by Sam and Dave. August 2 BACK 2 SCHOOL SUPPLY & BACKPACK GIVEAWAY Capstone Rural Health Center will host its annual Back2School Supply and Backpack Giveaway on Friday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Old Parrish High School. The event will feature Alabama Wildlife Petting Zoo, Disney characters, free food, haircuts, and health screenings, door prizes, vendors, family resources, and much more. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to the Jasper Civic Center. Children must be present to receive backpack and school supplies. August 8 NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS Students in the Walker County and Jasper City school systems will return to school on Thursday, Aug. 8. August 9 SONGS OF SUMMER Lavish Coffee bar will host Songs of Summer on Aug. 9 from 6–8 p.m. Come out and experience beautiful downtown Jasper for delicious Lavish treats and free entertainment by the students of the Athletic Arts Center. August 17 REWIND OF THE SHOALS The Bankhead House and Heritage Center will host REWIND of the Shoals on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. Free admission. Playing throughout the southeast, REWIND of the Shoals is an Oldies/Motown band performing the most requested hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s as well as many other top 40 hits from yesterday’s charts.
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August 17 TWO JIMMY BAND Tallulah Brewing Company will host Two Jimmy Band on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8–11 p.m. Come out to enjoy the cool evening summer breeze with a beer and plenty of Blues and Classic Rock songs. September 6–7 FOOTHILLS FESTIVAL The 2019 Foothills Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7 in downtown Jasper. Brent Cobb, Drivin N Cryin, Alex Williams, Whiskey Myers, The Red Clay Strays, North Mississippi Allstars, and Blues Traveler will be performing. This is an all ages, free event. Come out and experience music, food, kid’s activities, and so much more. September 13–14 HILLFEST Hillfest 2019 will be held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13– 14 in downtown Carbon Hill. Come out to enjoy live music, food, and local vendors. October 5 FROG FESTIVAL Frog Festival 2019 will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5. Come out to enjoy free entertainment, food, and vendors. October 6 MISS HEART OF DIXIE SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION Official Open Preliminary Competition to the Miss Alabama Pageant and Miss America Organization will be held on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. Miss and Outstanding Teen will be held simultaneously, with two Miss titles and two Outstanding teen titles to be given. If you would like to receive paperwork, email missheartofdixiepageant@gmail.com and specify if you want Teen or Miss paperwork.
SUMMER 2019
Snapshots TALLULAH HALF MARATHON AND 5K June 8, 2019 | Downtown Jasper
Brittany Hayden and Jeff Turner of Birmingham, Alabama
Chernita Robinson and Tracy Miller of Birmingham, Alabama
Justin Aldridge, Jay Evans, Donald Beck and Rosemary Beck of Hoover, Alabama
Hannah, Laurel, Greg, Eliza and Hazel Jacobs of Owensboro, Kentucky
Greg Kitchens of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Blair Zamboni of Phoenix, Arizona; and Riley Blair of Dothan, Alabama
Call us for all your plumbing needs.
(205) 282-1918
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THE BEAST AND THE BIRDIE DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT June 22, 2019 | The Eagle and North Jasper Park Disc Golf Courses
Grip and Rip Disc Golf Club had a great turnout with 63 players traveling from all over Alabama. Competitors played their first round at The Eagle Disc Golf Course and second at North Jasper Park. A lightening delay slowed the second round, but players were able to finish as the storms passed. This event is a practice round for day two of the Downtown Throwdown, which will be back for its 5th year in Historic Downtown Jasper on October 5th.
FIVE POINTS PAWN & STORAGE OWNER: TED NORRIS
SUMMER 2019
GOLD ELEC TRON ICS
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2924 Hwy. 195, Jasper, AL 35503
(205) 221-0807
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Snapshots CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST MEETING July 10, 2019 | Jasper Civic Center
Britton Lightsey, Al Moore and Billy Doss
Bert Hendrix, Linda Lewis and Ted Killingsworth
Carl Carpenter and Darrell Mote
J.R. Minshall, Greg Williams and Anna-Michelle Williams
Jonathan Holladay and Jared Johnsey
Joe Herron, Heath Allred, Coach Scott Cochran, Kevin Callahan and Matt Woods
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GOLFING AT HORSE CREEK July 11, 2019 | Horse Creek Golf Course, Dora, AL
Tommy Baccus, Charlie Pilcher and Ron Fowler. Chris Nielsen and Don Glasscock. Ray Tidwell, Larry McGuff, Joey Vick and Tim Herron
Hole 4
Rick Ward, Jim Riddle, Dave Quick and Jimmy Dale Burgess
Ronnie Hale, Ronnie Golden and Chris Ponder
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Wilson Funeral Home & Crematory In times of grief, making difficult decisions about how best to honor the memory of someone so important can be overwhelming. We are here to help with complete, professional and compassionate funeral planning services to meet your needs and respectfully celebrate the life and legacy of your loved one. Please come by and visit our newly remodeled chapel.
Offering: •TRADITIONAL FUNERAL SERVICE •CREMATIONS WITH MEMORIAL SERVICE TO FOLLOW •TRADITIONAL FUNERAL SERVICE WITH VISITATION AND CREMATION TO FOLLOW •DIRECT CREMATIONS •FULL SELECTION QUALITY CASKETS, VAULTS AND URNS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES • PRE-PLANNING
31404 NE 1st Ave., Carbon Hill, AL 35549 56 / WALKER MAGAZINE
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(205) 924-4147 SUMMER 2019
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WeAreWalkerCounty with
Drake McKenzie
“Knowing that it’s grown locally is very important to most of the people who buy my corn. I had dinner at Black Rock the other night. They had my corn on the menu, and it’s listed as local corn. At the school, one of the kids asked me, ‘Where did you get this?’ I said, ‘I grew it.’ He said, ‘Where did you grow it?’ I said, ‘I grew it in Jasper.’ He said, ‘Oh, right down the road.’ Most kids probably think corn comes from a can. They need to know that it had to be grown in a field before it ends up in that can.”
Drake McKenzie, 32, started McKenzie Farm and Forest in Jasper’s Sunlight community in 2016. McKenzie planted approximately two acres of sweet corn this year. His corn is sold in local supermarkets and ser ved in area restaurants such as Black Rock Bistro and D’s Downtown BBQ. McKenzie also made a deliver y to Carbon Hill Elementar y/Jr. High School’s summer program this year.
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nelsonbryancross.com
Jasper, AL 205.387.7777
Pat Nelson
Bob Bryan
Gina Cross
WE HANDLE THEM ALL
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.