volume 5 • issue 3 • spring 2017
Making A
Splash
Shop LocaL • Dine LocaL • hire LocaL
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The strength of a team with a single focus – you. Front Row: Leigh Ann Rotter, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager, NMLS #718264; Libba Elliott, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Lisa Killingsworth, First Bank of Jasper, Commercial Banker Back Row: Kenny Allen, First Bank of Jasper, Retail Market Manager; Bert Hendrix, First Bank of Jasper, President; Toby Banks, Synovus Securities, Financial Consultant; Phillip Lee, Synovus Mortgage, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #664139
In today’s busy world, your financial needs can be complex and ever-changing. It takes more than an individual to meet those needs. It takes a team. At First Bank of Jasper, we have a team of professionals with the expertise and resources you need. We work together with a single focus – helping you reach your financial goals.
firstbankofjasper.com | 205.221.3121
Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. GLOBALT Investments, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Synovus Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp and an affiliate of Synovus Bank. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank. NOT FDIC INSURED
NO BANK GUARANTEE
MAY LOSE VALUE
Banking volume 5, issue 3 products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast. 3
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • spring 2017
FromTheStaff... magazine Established October 2012
PUBLISHER James Phillips EDITOR Jennifer Cohron ART DIRECTOR Malarie Brakefield CONTRIBUTORS Johnathan Bentley, Jennifer Cohron, Brian Hale, Ron Harris, Elane Jones, Dale Short Advertising Jake Aaron, Brenda Anthony, Jerry Geddings, Renee Holly, Liz Steffan, Tammy Wood 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. © 2017 Daily Mountain Eagle Walker Magazine P.O. Box 1469 Jasper, AL 35502 (205) 221-2840 email: walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com 4
Walker Magazine
Every issue of Walker Magazine has at least one sports-related story. This time we’re presenting four. Local athlete Banks Ingle graces our cover and is also our “Why I Love Walker County” interview. Banks was one of the founding members of the Jasper Dream Team in 2009. In fact, he is one of the reasons it was established. Banks has loved sports from the time he was a toddler. When he came home from school with a Jasper Parks and Rec baseball registration form that he had filled out himself, his mother didn’t know how to explain that this team was not for him because of his special needs. City leaders responded by forming Dream Team baseball. The program has now grown to include several sports. Banks is also a member of the Aquanauts Special Olympics Swim Team, which has proudly represented Jasper in meets all over the state since 2004. For a glimpse inside a recent Aquanauts practice, see our photo essay that begins on page 24. This issue also features an interview with Sumiton Christian senior Kendall Beth Sides, who has won two state softball championships with the Eagles, and we tell the story of the Chicago Cubs’ historic World Series victory from the perspective of Amber Parsons, a teacher at Bankhead Middle School and loyal Cubs fan. Jasper’s Jason Reed, a former member of the Velcro Pygmies, graciously agreed to help pay tribute to his friend, Jacob Sanders. Sanders, a Cordova native, replaced Reed in the band before perishing in a boating accident last year. Local attorney Eddie Jackson shared his wonderful nature photos with us, and Betty NeSmith Hall shared a chicken salad recipe perfected by her mother, Onedia “Mama Nedia” NeSmith. Our Food for the Soul contest was so well-received that we would like to continue publishing recipes from our readers. Please send your favorites to walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com. As always, we also welcome feedback and ideas for future issues.
::: Subscribe to Walker Magazine! If you’re an out-of-towner, get a year of great stories right at your doorstep. Call: (205) 221-2840 Email: editor@mountaineagle.com
::: Follow the Daily Mountain Eagle and Walker Magazine on Facebook for the latest community news!
::: submit an idea We are always eager to receive suggestions from our readers. Please email your ideas to walkermagazine@ mountaineagle.com.
::: advertise For any information needed on how to promote your products and services, call (205) 221-2840 or send an email to advertising@ mountaineagle.com.
Jennifer Cohron, Editor
OnTheCover Banks Ingle sits by the pool at Memorial Park Natatorium. Photo by Ron Harris
GetHooked! For your entertainment we have placed this fishing hook (actual size) within the pages of Walker Magazine. This will be a permanent feature for our readers. We hope you enjoy searching for the fishing hook in each issue.
Happ y hunting!
spring 2017
Located next to ALDI on Hwy. 118
A second location now open near Love’s Travel Stop and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.
COMING SOON! Milo’s will be located in front of Scott Crump Toyota at the cross streets of Hwy. 78 and Industrial Parkway.
We’re Moving!
Johnny Brusco’s New York Style Pizza is moving to downtown Jasper next to Black Rock Bistro!
Mayor David O’Mary District 1 Sonny Posey volume 5, issue 3
Inc. 1887
District 2 Danny Gambrell
District 3 Gary Cowen
District 4 Jennifer W. Smith
District 5 Willie Moore
(205) 221-2100 | 400 19th St. W, Jasper, AL 35501 | www.jaspercity.com
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What’sInside 08 | From The Vault Clean As A Whistle
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10 | Dep & Sandman Walker County’s connection to the Velcro Pygmies 16 | Frame Of Mind Eddie Jackson Photography
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24 | Photo Essay The Jasper Aquanauts
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30 | The Crimson Eagle Kendall Beth Sides
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36 | Overcoming the curse: Local Cubs fan was a witness to baseball history 42 | Food For The Soul Mama Nedia’s Chicken Salad Recipe 44 | Community Calendar What’s going on in the county
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46 | Snapshots Past events in Walker County 50 | Why I Love Walker County Banks Ingle
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AdvertisingIndex 52 - Allstate—Holladay Agency 39 - Bevill State Community College 15 - Blackwell’s Body Shop 15 - Byars-Wright Insurance 47 - Candyland Daycare 43 - Carl Cannon 02 - Chamber of Commerce of Walker Co. 05 - City of Jasper 42 - Cordova Health & Rehabilitation 49 - Custom Shirts and Signs 45 - Daily Mountain Eagle 22 - Daily Mountain Eagle (online)
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51 - Duskin Point Marina 03 - First Bank of Jasper 42 - First National Bank of Carbon Hill 35 - GCR Tires and Service 15 - Green Top BBQ 43 - High Point Furniture 23 - Honda of Jasper 45 - Hospital Discount Pharmacy 23 - Hyundai of Jasper 22 - Jasper Homes 35 - Jasper Main Street 07 - Jasper Mall 22 - Jones Accounting
42 - Ken Guin 45 - Lavish Boutique / Lavish Coffee Bar 35 - Lamar’s Glass 46 - Pampered Pets 44 - Pine Valley Rentals 22 - Pepito’s 35 - Perico’s 39 - Perico’s Express 39 - Reliable A/C Systems, Inc. 48 - Up Up & Away 42 - Witcher Office Supply 15 - Young Jewelers
spring 2017
Readers’
Choice Awards 2017
Changes Are Coming to
Jasper Mall!
Bath & Body Works • Belk, Carol’s • Cato • Cellairis • Deb & Co. • Factory Connection Fisher’s Men’s Shop • Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub • General Nutrition Center • Hibbett Sports JC Penney • Joe’s Shirt Shop • Lin Garden II • MasterCuts • Moon Day Spa • Nail Galaxy Prime Communications • Robin’s Nest • rue 21 • Shoe Dept. • Subway • Susan’s Hallmark The Children’s Place • The Jewelry Doctor • U.S. Military Career Center • Yogurt Street • Zales
Serving Walker And Surrounding Counties For 36 Years! volume 5, issue 3
Jasper Mall FP_03.indd 1
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From The
Clean As A Whistle Story by Jennifer Cohron Photos courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle
Commission Chairman John Ed Roberts announced the Clean as a Whistle campaign at a press conference on June 21, 1989. “The people of Walker County are tired of talking trash and seeing trash and dealing with trash,” Roberts said. The effort’s first phase was a series of cleanups led by individuals, groups such as People Against a Littered State and businesses such as First National Bank and Drummond Company. The second phase was an educational initiative to discourage littering. In January 1990, Walker County became the fifth county in the state to receive the PALS designation of “Proud County.” David Rowland served as the first chairman of the county’s Clean as a Whistle committee. He was succeeded by Don Goetz. The county dropped the program in 1998 citing financial difficulties, and the city of Jasper began financing and administering Clean as a Whistle. The program is currently operated as part of the city’s sanitation department.
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The Velcro Pygmies featuring Cam Flener, Chase West, Jason Reed and Chris Eddins.
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The Velcro Pygmies had just wrapped up one of their high-energy performance rock shows when a young man wearing an Affliction T-shirt and bracelets up to his elbows approached bass player Jason Reed. Known as Dep to fans because of his uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow persona, Reed saw something in 20-year-old Jacob Sanders that reminded him of himself. “He just loved us the way I loved them back in the day. I always loved talking to him because I remembered how it felt to be a fan,” Reed said. When Reed announced in 2013 that he was leaving the band to spend more time with his family, he supported Sanders as his replacement. The Cordova native would have to learn how to play the bass guitar, but he already had the look, the passion and the personality that would eventually make the Sandman a fan favorite. Reed and Sanders performed together only twice — at Reed’s last show on New Year’s Eve 2013 and a year later at The Hangout in Gulf Shores.
spring 2017
the brotherly bond of former velcro pygmies performers
Text by Jennifer Cohron Photos publicly available
Then, in a tragic twist of fate, Reed returned to The Velcro Pygmies briefly after Sanders, 24, and his brother, Jeremiah, 29, died in a boating accident in March 2016. During the two-week search and recovery effort in Florence, fans of the band saw the brotherhood behind the big hair, tight pants and eyeliner. According to the band’s website, The Velcro Pygmies are “everything that’s right about rock ‘n’ roll.” Before Reed found the love of his life and settled down to raise a family in Jasper, he was part of another family called Pyg Nation. Reed, a Birmingham native, joined the band in June 2005 when bass player Jimmy Mullins left to tour with country star Buddy Jewell. Pygmies founder and lead singer Cameron Flener offered him the gig based on his success with Fly By Radio, an ‘80s cover band that had developed a cult following at Auburn University. “He tricked me. He called and said, ‘Our bass player is going to be late. We need somebody to play one hour of the show
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Jeremiah Sanders, left, and his brother, Jacob, right, both died in a boating accident in March 2016.
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Jason Reed, known as Dep to fans, performed with The Velcro Pygmies from 2005 to 2013.
if you can do it.’ I thought I was just filling in, but it was a secret audition,” said Reed, who became a fan of the Pygmies after seeing them perform at City Stages in the early ‘90s. While Fly By Radio was an up-and-coming band, The Velcro Pygmies had been entertaining rock fans for 14 years by the time Reed came aboard, and each band member’s stage presence was as important to Pyg fans as musical talent. Depp’s character from the wildly successful “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series became a source of inspiration for Reed’s Pyg persona. On-stage, Reed transformed himself into the rocker
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that he knew fans had paid to see. Off-stage, however, he was an introvert who geeked out about “Breaking Bad” on Facebook. In 2013, Reed’s 12th year on the road, his friendship with April Burton of Jasper blossomed into love. When Burton, her parents and her two children were in a near-fatal car accident returning from a beach trip in August 2013, Reed rushed to her side and continued to be part of her support system in the months that followed. Reed soon realized that touring had lost its thrill for him. On Dec. 31, 2013, he took the stage for what he thought would be the last time. Sanders, the young rocker
spring 2017
Jason Reed with his wife, April, and children (from left) Anna Grace, Bob and Maddox.
who would replace him, was standing next to Reed’s future wife in the audience. “I remember that he looked scared to death. He said, ‘My life is never going to be the same, is it?’” April Reed recalled. After initially struggling to find his way musically and personally, Sanders made the transition from unknown to rock star. When he called Reed from the road for advice, he always got the same answer — be cool, be yourself and have fun. “In just two years in the band, he touched so many people because he was accessible. As soon as he put
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down the bass, he’d jump down in the crowd to talk to people and get pictures with them. He talked with this Southern accent about fishing and hunting. Everybody could identify with him,” Jason Reed said. On Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Reed rushed to Florence after getting the call that Sanders and his brother had gone fishing the previous evening and had not returned. Reed brought along blankets and other first aid supplies, expecting to find the two shivering on the banks of the Tennessee River. An hour after arriving, he called his wife in tears after learning that search-and-rescue had turned into a recovery mission. The Velcro Pygmies canceled their weekend shows in
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“In just two years in the band, [Jacob] touched so many people...” - JASON REED
Texas so band members could assist in the search effort. An emotional Flener kept Pyg Nation updated on the latest news through social media updates. As the search stretched into its first week, the band made the difficult decision to begin performing again. “The best way to honor him is to keep rocking,” Flener told a Huntsville TV station the day before the show. “He would be mortified if we didn’t do that, because that is the only way we can honor him, is to put it back on stage. He was a part of building this machine into what it is. You dishonor him by dismantling the machine.” Reed, who hadn’t touched his bass guitar for over a year after leaving the band, agreed to fill in for Sanders. He went on stage Thursday, March 10 in Destin with Sanders’ bass guitar in hand. “I left all his knobs the same. I wanted to play his bass, his tone and just feel him the best I could,” Reed said. Fans rushed the stage to touch the guitar, which had Sanders’ signature furry pickguard. On March 15, the day Sanders’ body was recovered, the band was playing at The Hangout. Someone in the crowd captured a photo of Reed that went viral once it was posted online. A silhouette around Reed gave the appearance that Sanders was giving one final performance. In May 2016, Reed came off the road again when Max “Maximus Hawk” War replaced Sanders in the band, but his legacy lives on in Pyg Nation. “After he died, I realized how many people he touched in two years. He did way more than I did in 10. The whole Pygverse felt it. It was like they lost their brother,” Reed said. The body of Jeremiah Sanders was recovered on Saturday, March 19. The brothers were buried side by side in their hometown of Cordova. The Jeremiah and Jacob Sanders Scholarship Fund was established at Cordova High School in their memory.
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Historic Downtown Jasper 205.221.6194 www.youngjewelers.com
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Jasper Location: Formerly Reece’s Drive-In • 221-2244 Dora Location: 7530 Old U.S. 78, Dora, AL 35062 • 648-9838 volume 5, issue 3
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Frame Of
mind
Photo by Dale Short
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E
Eddie Jackson was driving his pickup past a creek when he noticed a tiny brown shape swimming far out in the water. He stopped, got out his camera and tripod and walked down to the creek bank, where he saw that the shape was an otter. It was too far away for a good picture, so he set up his tripod and waited. And waited. Twenty minutes. Thirty. Forty. “Otters are curious animals,” he says, “so I was pretty sure that eventually he’d swim up to see what I was doing.” The resulting photo, of an adorable otter face swimming head-on, is one of Jackson’s favorites of the many framed works lining the halls of his law practice’s downtown office at Jackson, Fikes & Brakefield. Jackson has been an avid photographer for decades now, ever since a friend loaned him a Mamiya-Sekor 35mm single-lens reflex, a film camera in the days before digital. He used the borrowed SLR mainly on vacation trips and then started shooting nearer his own doorstep. “I shot somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 slides with it,” he says, “and then I sort of fell out of touch. Film was cumbersome and hard to keep up with, little rolls that held 36 frames, and then you had to pay for the processing. I kind of lost interest for 10 years or so.” But that hiatus ended when he bought a Nikon digital SLR and fell in love with the medium again: “I was like, ‘Wow! You can shoot a thousand pictures.’ Or whatever those small cards would hold back then. And you could put all the pictures on a computer. “The Adobe software products were beginning to make their way to the market. They were very sophisticated, but somewhat difficult to use. After I learned Photoshop and Lightroom, though, I enjoy the editing process as much as I do taking the actual photograph because you can do so much with it.” Jackson is self-taught, except for a few tutorials from the online service lynda.com, and he has some advice to pass along to novice photographers: “Most Text by Dale Short Photos courtesy of Eddie Jackson
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beginners have a difficult time discerning between what their eye sees and what their camera sees. You have to learn to crop out all that stuff that you didn’t see. That’s what got me interested.” His hallway gallery of photos covers a wide range of locations and techniques, from wildlife scenes in the Everglades to night-time cityscapes of Chicago to farmers in Amish country. And he’s planning a trip soon to Death Valley, just for photographic purposes. His photo techniques include high-speed shots of rodeo action, and long exposure times that transform a small waterfall into a supernatural blur that stands out
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“My ability is all learned, and hard-fought.” - EDDIE JACKSON
against the sharpness of the surrounding rocks. Part of the secret of taking good photos is watching the light change throughout the day, he says. One of his wall shots shows a downtown Jasper street scene that required him finding just the right spot at 5:30 a.m., setting up his tripod and patiently waiting for the gold-tinted rising sun to reflect off the building fronts at exactly the right angle. Likewise with a photo of the giant cross at Hunter’s Chapel Holy Church of Christ on I-22, framed by a dark rose-colored sky at dusk, with silhouetted pine trees at the horizon. Those are the photos that didn’t get away. But he also has lots of near misses that occupy an office wall he calls his “cull wall.” He goes through them pointing out small flaws, most of which are invisible to a non-photographer. He carries a camera and tripod in his truck, he says,
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ready for the right combination of lighting and subject to present itself. He also does some photography with his phone, especially since the devices’ high-resolution capabilities are beginning to compete with real cameras. “I don’t naturally have an eye for pictures, like [attorney] Pat Nelson does. You see one of his pictures and you go, ‘Pat, how did you learn to do that?’ He’s just a natural, with a lot of artistic ability. My ability is all learned, and hard-fought. But that’s another good thing about digital; you can take enough pictures so that you get one that’s exactly like you want it to be. “Photography is a great pastime. It’s relaxing, and not too physically demanding.” What’s more, he says, traveling the U.S. or the world is not a requirement for building your portfolio. “You can go within 50 feet of this office and take pictures that are remarkable.”
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Jasper
Text by stacy smothers, jasper aquanauts coach Photos by johnathan bentley, malarie brakefield and james phillips
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The Jasper Aquanauts was founded in 2004. The need for a special needs therapeutic and recreational program was a rising issue in Walker County at that time. The construction and renovation of the Memorial Park Natatorium helped support that need. Groups from different special needs organizations and schools utilized the facility, but each conducted their training and used the pool at their own discretion. Special Olympics of Alabama encourages cities to begin training staff to create athletic teams. Jasper decided to participate in a coaches and volunteers clinic, which led to the formation of the Jasper Aquanauts Swim Team. The Aquanauts practice from August to May and compete from January to May each year. Meets have taken the team all over the state to swim, be challenged and have traditional competition. In April 2004, Jasper hosted its first invitational swim meet that only involved a few teams. It didn’t take long for Special Olympics of Alabama to recognize the program. The city began hosting a sectional meet, which meant teams from all over the state would travel to Jasper as a qualifier for the State Games. Jasper has hosted up to 140 athletes from 17 different affiliates as well as numerous organizations and volunteers at its sectional meets. The popularity of coming to Jasper’s meet has grown so much that Special Olympics now puts a cap on the number of athletes that may attend. Currently there are 15 athletes in the program, along with several volunteer coaches and chaperones. Jasper started hosting pre-swim parties the night before each sectional that allow everyone to meet and socialize prior to the competition. Jasper has even had one athlete, Sadie Wyers, to be selected to compete in the Special Olympics National Games in New Jersey.
The Jasper Aquanauts team photo (opposite page)—Back row, left to right: Coach Stacy Smothers, Auston Hicks, Sadie Wyers, Coach Josh Bankston; 3rd row, Coach Rebekah Sparkman, Banks Ingle, Tabitha Morrow; 2nd row, Coach Emily Duncan, Dillan Sutherland, Ashley Sims; front row, Bo Daniel, Nathan Pike, Cari Beth McLain. Not pictured: Kenzlee Langley and Evan Hogan
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For most of her life,
softball has been an integral and guiding force for Sumiton Christian’s Kendall Beth Sides. From her early beginnings playing baseball and running the bases at Sumiton Christian’s softball field, to competing as a five-year starter and a two-time state champion for the Eagles, the game has helped define who Sides has become as an athlete, as well as affecting her character off the field. With her senior season at Sumiton Christian under way, Sides is considered to be one of the top prep players in the country. The University of Alabama signee was named to CBSsports high school affiliate MaxPreps as a preseason All-American and currently holds state and national records in stolen bases and runs scored. The awards, achievements and championships are evidence of her growth within a game that has shaped her perspective in life as well. “I’d say the biggest points the game has brought into my life are my heart and the way I look at things. Looking back from the time I was in seventh grade and began to play in this program, I’ve grown tremendously not only as a softball player, but as a person as well,” Sides said. “I remember in the season after I had committed to Alabama, the pressure that I felt as a 13-year-old was intense. It was tough at that age to have to learn how to deal with — everyone knew that I was the girl going to Alabama. It magnified everything I did, no matter if it was a game-winning hit or being struck out. I found quickly that I just had to relax and play the game. Since ninth grade, I’ve come to realize I have eight other girls in the lineup that I can rely on and who want to succeed as much as I want to. It’s lessons in life that I hope younger players will learn from to make them the athletes and people they’re capable of becoming.” Supportive relationships are extremely important to an athlete’s development, both on and off the field. Throughout her career, Sides has received outstanding support from her family — who have shared her tragedies and triumphs in the game and in her life. Her father, George Jr., and mother, Lynn, have provided much more than rides to games and practice. Her sister, Katlyn, who plays softball for UAB and was a teammate at Sumiton Christian for three seasons, has been a longtime mentor and has played a pivotal role in her life. “Without my family, I wouldn’t be the person that I am or even where I am today. Even though after some games my mom and dad tell me what I did wrong, I have to take it as I did when I was little, as no matter what my
Text by brian hale Photos courtesy of the daily mountain eagle
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Photo courtesy of kendall sides
dad is the best coach I’ve ever had,” Sides said. “Katlyn is so important to my life. She’s not the best athlete on the field, but I can guarantee she’s the hardest worker on a team. To me, that puts her above everyone else and I truly look up to and try to be like her. She gives everything she’s got. I have the best family and support group I could ask for — I’m definitely blessed and thank God for them every day.” Relationships with teammates have also been critical for Sides. Team members Jenna Ergle, Savanah Langston and Abbey Bice have formed the nucleus of success the Eagles have enjoyed through their two championship seasons. The addition of Kamree Lay last year, a close friend of Sides' for years, further established the base of veteran talent that is expected to challenge for a third-straight state title. “The relationship that I have with my teammates is one of the most special ones that I have. What makes this year’s team stand out more than any one I’ve ever been a part of is how close we are,” Sides said. “We lost in the Spain Park Tournament that began the season — it was the first time we’ve ever lost in it that early. We had to practice on Sunday following the tournament. Coach Jessica Aderholt talked to us and it was also a point where I stood up and said a few things. We talked about being seniors and how younger players look up to us — that bond that we share as a team is what makes us successful. Coach Aderholt and Coach Kara Kendall Beth Sides with the University of Alabama Softball coaching staff.
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Photo courtesy of kendall sides
Left: Sides with her family after the 2016 State Championship. Below: Sides surrounded by her family and previous coaches at her signing with the University of Alabama.
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Cashatt have done such a great job with us. We’re our own family.” Sides’ relationship with her future head coach, Alabama’s Patrick Murphy, is also playing an important part in her life. The Crimson Tide’s softball program quickly appealed to Sides and made it an easy choice for her collegiate home. “What I love about Alabama is the way they include your family in everything and how they care for everyone. Whenever I attend a game, they all want me to stop by and spend time with them. They’re always so happy to see all of us, which even extends to my sister who plays at UAB. It’s all so genuine and I can’t wait to be a part of the family that they have in Tuscaloosa,” Sides said. “Coach Murphy has so many amazing attributes and is a person I admire. He’s very courteous and kind to everyone. At a catered dinner we attended this year, he made a point to find the manager and thank them for the service. It’s the little things like that endears the Alabama coaching staff and program to me. They’re so giving and involved in your personal life — and each one of them tells you to leave something better than you found it. It’s what I’ve tried to accomplish every day here at Sumiton Christian.” The start of the 2017 softball season and her senior year came as a bittersweet realization for Sides. Although eager to begin the pursuit of a third state championship and fourth for the program, Sides also has strong emotions on leaving a school and a softball program she has called home for over half a decade. “During the Spain Park Tournament when I was putting on my uniform, I looked in the mirror and it hit me — it’s my senior season and my time at Sumiton Christian is coming to a close. It brought tears to my eyes because I’m so proud to wear my No. 8 Eagles jersey and I can’t tell you how much I love this program. If anyone asked me if I would want to be anywhere else, the answer would be an absolute ‘no’,” Sides said. “Coach Aderholt and Coach Kara are two of the most loving women I’ve known in my life — each of them has meant so much in my life. When I take my last ground ball on the home field, it will break my heart. I didn’t realize how fast it would go by until this year. It’s going to be hard leaving my coaches and my girls that have been with me every step of the way.” Walker Magazine
spring 2017
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Photo by jennifer cohron
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Overcoming the curse: Local Cubs fan was a witness to baseball history
The Chicago Cubs
were in a slump as Game 5 of the World Series began at Wrigley Field on Oct. 30, 2016. The team, feeling the pressure of several generations of loyal fans begging them to snap a 108-year championship drought, had already lost two games in front of a hometown crowd. Now with the Cleveland Indians up 3-1 in the Series, the perennial “Lovable Losers” were facing elimination. Unbeknownst to them, their good luck charm from Alabama had arrived. Amber Parsons, a Chicago native and teacher at Bankhead Middle School, watched most of the game from the street outside the stadium. During the seventh inning stretch, she joined thousands of other fans in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” around the
statue of legendary Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray. When Cubs pitcher Aroldis Chapman struck out Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez for the last out, sealing a 3-2 win for the Cubs, Parsons felt like she was back in the right field bleachers of her childhood. “It was a bleacher moment because beer and drinks went everywhere. You were covered in whatever anybody around you was drinking,” she said. Parsons was raised in Melrose Park, a suburb of Chicago. Her mother was the Cubs fan in the family. “White Sox was not even in our vocabulary,” she said. After her parents’ divorce when she was 13, Parsons stayed with her father in Chicago and often skipped school to attend Cubs games. She made sure to bring a change of clothes with her because alcohol flowed freely in the cheap seats.
Text by jennifer cohron Photos courtesy of amber parsons
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“It’s really more of a Cubs thing than a baseball thing. I’m not a huge baseball fan. It’s always been the Cubs culture...” - AMBER PARSONS
“We were bleacher bums, and as far as I remember, we sat in the right bleachers. Mom would let me chant, ‘Left bleachers suck!’ over and over again, which I thought was the coolest thing,” Parsons said. While Parsons was heckling people in the opposing bleachers, players whose names she has long since forgotten were slogging through another losing season at the Friendly Confines. Parsons’ loyalty to the Cubs was never dependent on wins and losses. Her mother, a Southerner whose family migrated north in search of work, embraced the culture of Chicago by supporting the Cubs, and Parsons did the same. “It’s really more of a Cubs thing than a baseball thing. I’m not a huge baseball fan. It’s always been the Cubs culture — the bleachers, the organ music at Wrigley — that I enjoyed,” Parsons said. Parsons continued to support the Cubs after she relocated to Alabama. Her students and fellow teachers at Bankhead Middle School have no doubt where her loyalties lie. A giant W flag like the one raised at Wrigley after a Cubs win hangs on the wall behind her desk. As the Cubs entered the postseason, Parsons was careful to avoid mentioning the team’s success too often lest she curse them. Once the World Series was set, she notified her older brother in Chicago that she was coming home for Game 5. Saturday, Oct. 29 was Game 4 for the Cubs. It was also the day that the Blue Devil Robotics Team competed in the Bevill BEST competition in Fayette. The team brought home two first place awards and three second place awards — their best showing since the team was formed in 2012. Parsons, the club sponsor, celebrated with her students as long as she could before she had to catch the plane to Chicago. On Oct. 30, Parsons took the L train to Wrigleyville with her brother, a White Sox fan, and sister-in-law, a fellow Cubs fan. The game was underway by the time they arrived at the stadium. Fans not lucky enough to get tickets and unwilling to pay inflated cover charges watched the game on big screen televisions through the windows of the neighborhood bars. “There is a 38-second delay between real life and TV, so you would hear the stands explode and everybody would be glued to the windows trying to find out what had happened,” Parsons said. The three spent the 9th inning in a bar that had lowered its cover charge. When the last out was recorded, the people in the bar threw their drinks in the air and started hugging and kissing anyone standing near them. As Parsons and her family made their way back to the L train, two single file lines moving in opposite directions had formed on the street. 38
Walker Magazine
Parsons outside Wrigley Field at Game 5 at the 2016 World Series.
“People were high fiving each other all the way down,” she said. Three nights later, Parsons stayed up until midnight to watch the Cubs clinch their first World Series since 1908. A plethora of young talent, shrewd management and a 17-minute rain delay have all been credited with helping the Cubs overcome a 108-year-old curse. The momentum of the Series shifted in Game 5, the only game the Cubs won at Wrigley Field — and the only game that Parsons was able to attend in person. “I think I take more credit than anyone gives me. Obviously, I’m the reason they won,” Parsons said with a smile. spring 2017
2301 Hwy. 78, Jasper
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Anyone who attended a Halloween carnival at Townley Jr. High School from the 1950s to the 1980s probably tasted one of the many chicken salad sandwiches made by the late Onedia NeSmith of Townley. “People couldn’t wait until Halloween carnival time to get mother’s chicken salad sandwiches,” said her daughter, Betty NeSmith Hall. “Some folks would buy the sandwiches to take home.” NeSmith was known as Mama Nedia by all the kids at the school. “Mother had five granddaughters who went to the school at that time and that is what they called her,” Hall said. “So naturally all the other kids called her that as well and she loved it.” NeSmith began making her famous chicken salad sandwiches for the Halloween carnivals when she started working at the school’s lunchroom. Hall said her mother and the other lunchroom workers would cook chicken for the salad all day. Then they would mix in the other ingredients and put the dish in the refrigerator until it was time to make the sandwiches. “They would have a huge pot full of the chicken salad and would make the sandwiches right before the carnivals opened,” Hall said. “They also made hotdogs to sell. And she did this every year until she retired.” Hall said her mother’s chicken salad recipe would only make 10 to 12 sandwiches, but the recipe can be adapted to make more as needed. “When mother made it for the Halloween carnivals she made enough to feed probably 200 people,” Hall said. Mama Nedia retired from the lunchroom at Townley in 1980. After retiring she helped her husband, Travis NeSmith, run NeSmith Groceries, which was located on Alabama Highway 102 in Townley. “They ran the store together for several years until they both finally had to give it up for health reasons,” Hall said. Besides Hall, Travis and Onedia NeSmith also had two boys, Leon and Willard, and they were the proud grandparents of five grandchildren. The NeSmiths were married for 60 years, until Onedia passed away in 1993 from complications of diabetes. Travis passed away four years later in 1997. Hall said her mother almost lost her eyesight due to the diabetes, but she continued to cook until she could no longer stand up for long periods of time. “Mother was an old-fashioned cook and one of the best,” Hall said. “She had a lot of really good recipes. But her chicken salad recipe was the one that was shared and enjoyed by so many people.” Text by Elane jones Photos by malarie brakefield 40
Walker Magazine
Mama Nedia’s Chicken Salad (Serves 10 to 12 people) 6 boneless chicken strips 1/2 rib celery 1/2 large apple 2 boiled eggs 1 tablespoon pickle relish 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 3 tablespoon mayonnaise 1/2 cup pecans (optional)
Boil chicken until done. Chop chicken, celery, apple and eggs together in a large bowl. Stir in relish, vinegar, sugar and mayonnaise, and mix well. Place in refrigerator to keep cool until ready to serve on your favorite sandwich bread. — By Betty NeSmith Hall Have your recipe featured in “food for the soul” by emailing us at walkermagazine@mountaineagle.com spring 2017
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april - june
april
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tasting of the arts
Tasting of the Arts, sponsored by the Walker County Arts Alliance, will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Tallulah Brewing Company on 4th Avenue South in downtown Jasper.
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The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament - North Division will be held at Lewis Smith Lake Dam, drawing hundreds of angler teams to the area. Launch will be at 6:30 a.m. or at safe daylight.
may
6
horse creek jubilee 2017
The 4th Annual Horse Creek Jubilee Arts & Crafts Festival and Car Show will be from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Dora Shopping Center. The event will feature working artists and craft vendors, delicious food, a music and entertainment stage, a children’s play area and more.
downtown throwdown
The 3rd annual urban disc golf tournament will be held from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in downtown Jasper. Spectators are welcome, but watch for flying discs!
6 ALABAMA BASS TRAIL NORTH DIVISION
may
may
Ivy g’s derby dash
Ivy G’s Derby Dash 2017 will benefit Life is Hope whose mission provides food, shelter, love and hope to children in Haiti. Starting at the Jasper Memorial Park Natatorium, the half marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m., the 5K will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the 1-Mile Fun Run will begin at 9:00 a.m. Medals will be awarded to the top 3 runners in each division and to every half marathon finisher.
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Eldridge Fireman’s Gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Eldridge Community Gym. Tickets are $15 per person or $120 to sponsor a table. Tables and tickets are limited and by reservation only. All proceeds go to the Eldridge Fire Department. For more information, contact the Eldridge Town Hall at (205) 924-4383.
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simmons at sunset
The 5th annual Simmons At Sunset 5K Run will begin at 6:00 p.m. at T.R. Simmons Elementary School on Viking Drive in Jasper.
art in the park
Art In The Park will be from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Gamble Park on Gamble Avenue in Jasper. This event is hosted by the Walker County Arts Alliance and will feature artisans from across the Southeast.
Mother’s day brunch
The Pregnancy Test and Resource Center will host a Mother’s Day Brunch at Musgrove Country Club from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite or by calling the PTRC at (205) 221-5860.
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Eldridge fireman’s gala
june
8-10
tallulah bankhead tribute weekend
The 3rd Annual Tallulah Bankhead Tribute Weekend will be held Thursday through Saturday on the square in downtown Jasper. This year the event will feature a family movie night, concert by The Velcro Pygmies and the Tallulah Half Marathon, 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run.
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SNAPSHOTS
kiwanis club pancake breakfast february 25, 2017 BSCC Jasper campus cafeteria
2017 Miss Walker County Mary Katherine Holloway, 2017 Walker County’s Distinguished Young Woman Jessie Ferris and 2016 Miss Walker County’s Outstanding Teen Gracey Baker
Allison Homan, Anna Allred, Lydia Morrison, Kayley Perry, Elizabeth Drummond and Carson Otwell
Sonny Richardson, Angie Jo Harris and Jason Adkins Randy Redmill and Andy Byars
Frank Caldwell and Terry Gurganus
Billy Doss and Jess Drummond
Susan Odom, Donna Kilgore, James Usrey, 2017 Miss Walker County Mary Katherine Holloway, 2016 Miss Walker County’s Outstanding Teen Gracey Baker, Robert Richardson and Billy Doss
P ampered P ets
All Breed Pet Grooming 46
Walker Magazine
Dana Scheile Owner/Groomer
Tues.-Sat. Closed Monday
4 Wright Street Jasper, AL 35501 (205) 221-0657
spring 2017
february 28–march 3, 2017 parrish elementary school, memorial park elementary school and carbon hill elementary school
SNAPSHOTS
read across america
Mason Myrick reads to a class at Memorial Park Elementary
Susan Godsey and Windy Carlee
Ethan Sanders, Cam Muhammad and Cole Yates
Trey Ariss and Karis Jones
Jeremiah Hammond reads to students at Memorial Park Elementary
Jenna Laye, Diane Robins, Taygen Dozier and Madi Gilreath, Carbon Hill Elementary
DeeDee Ingle’s second grade class at Memorial Park Elementary
Lily Chappel and Belle Gurganus
CANDYLAND DAYCARE, INC. Curry Highway • Jasper • 221-5683
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a trusting touch Breakfast, Lunch, & Snack Provided on USDA Program
Infants • Toddlers 3, 4 & 5 Yr. Old Preschool
Celebration 25 Years In Business
6am to 6pm 47
SNAPSHOTS
mardi gras open house
Martha Tubbs and Rita Evans
march 15, 2017 daily mountain eagle
Joan and Ernie Wattenbarger
Sharon Briggs and Lisa Underwood
Isalliegeo Foster, Jon Cagle and Sadie Wingo James Phillips and David O’Mary
Bevill State Community College Jazz Band
Indoor/O utdoor Party Supplies W edding and G ift B askets Reception Store B alloons 48
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Up Up & Aw ay
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600 20th Ave.•Jasper,AL
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spring 2017
march 31, 2017 jasper civic center
SNAPSHOTS
arc of walker county annual fundraiser
Willie Abrom, Shawana King, Brittany Morris and Secunda Abrom
Stacie and Britton Lightsey and Billy and Kathy Doss
Valerie Sauls with Candace, Thomas, Peggy and Tim Whitaker
Lindsey Dill, Chase Dill, Savannah Banks, Chad Daniels and Logan Wright
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with Banks Ingle Story by James Phillips | Photo by Ron Harris
Banks Ingle is a 17-year-old sophomore at Walker High School. He has been involved with the Aquanauts Special Olympics Swim Team and the Dream Team sports program in Jasper for several years. Banks is the son of Phil and DeeDee Ingle. His sisters are Kate Ingle and Lauren Bright. His brother is Christopher Ingle. Banks has one brother-in-law, Neal Bright, and a niece, Lainey Bright. His grandparents are Neil and Martha Banks and James and Billie Ingle. Banks says family is the most important thing in his life.
Q: What do you like about living in Jasper? A: I have a lot of good friends here, and I just love living here. Everybody I care about lives here in my hometown, and that makes it special to me. Q: What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Aquanauts Swim Team? A: I like showing people how good I do, and one day I would like to be a coach for the Aquanauts. When I finish school, I would like to be a coach and also get a job here (The Memorial Park Natatorium) as a lifeguard. Q: Share with us your thoughts about playing baseball with the Dream Team. A: I like sharing my talents on the Dream Team. I play first base, and I’m a good batter. The older I get, the more I want to be a helper to the other kids with the Dream Team. It all started when I was a little boy, and I played a lot of sports very competitively, but now that I’m older, I thought it would be best to help others. Q: What are some other things that are important to you? A: I love going to church (at Jasper First Baptist Church). I have so much fun in the youth ministry program. I like singing songs and listening to music. Bible study is good because I get to know God better. Going to church makes me feel safe. I know that when I die that I will go to heaven to be with Jesus. I also love going to school. I like learning. It makes me wiser. I also love my family very much. They are the most important thing in my life. 50
Walker Magazine
spring 2017
Voted “Best Marina” in Walker County for 5 years straight!
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