Alabama Living Baldwin EMC April 2011 by American MainStreet Publications

baldwin emc news:

Green

tarting this month, taking part in Baldwin EMC’s Green Power Choice program has gotten easier. As of April 1, changes to the prices for green power kilowatts are in effect, meaning it’s now less expensive to be more green. Before now, green power was available in 100-kilowatt hour blocks at a rate of $2 per block. Now, when you purchase green power, your first five blocks will cost $2 each, and it’s just 15 cents for every block after that. Baldwin EMC launched its Green Power Choice program back in 2006. Since then, many of our residential and commercial customers have taken advantage of the opportunity to purchase power generated from clean, renewable energy sources – in this case, methane gas from local landfills. However, that participation comes at an extra cost. That’s because even though renewable resources like methane gas are free, the technology required to extract it and use it for power generation are more expensive than traditional power generation methods.

The greater your participation in green power, the greater positive impact you are having on our environment. But even a small commitment makes a big difference. Purchasing just two blocks of green power per month for one year is the environmental equivalent of recycling 480 pounds of aluminum (15,322 cans) or recycling 1,766 pounds of newspaper. Baldwin EMC views an investment in green power as an investment in the future of our communities – not only environmentally speaking, but also economically. Each kilowatt hour of green power purchased will offset a kilowatt-hour of fossil fuel generation, thus preserving nonrenewable resources such as natural gas, coal, oil and nuclear energy, which further stabilize our supply of generation fuel sources. Please take this important step with us to ensure a safe, clean environment for future generations. To sign up for Green Power Choice, visit us online at www.baldwinemc.com, or call us toll free at (800) 837-3374. 

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Vision Statement: Baldwin Electric Membership Cooperative will be the leader as a customer focused, efficient and community involved cooperative. Office Hours and Locations: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Headquarters: 19600 State Highway 59 Summerdale, AL 36580 South Baldwin Office 21801 University Lane Orange Beach, AL 36561 North Baldwin Office: 47525 State Highway 59 Bay Minette, AL 36507 Call Center Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (251) 989-6247 or (800) 837-3374 Automated Outage Reporting Line: (251) 989-9999 or (800) 287-5809 Automated Bill Inquiry Line: (251) 989-0202 or (800) 287-5809 Storm Restoration Updates: www.twitter.com/BEMCRestoration

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

3/18/11 12:29 PM

Growing Pains Building an affordable, reliable energy future is complicated – but necessary Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, based in Colorado, is part of one of the largest solar projects in the nation.

By Magen Howard

ighter government regulations – and the high cost to comply with new rules – may signal lights-out for many of the nation’s older coal-fired power plants at a time when forecasters predict energy demand will eventually outpace supply. “Americans could see power shortages by the end of the decade if new generation sources don’t materialize,” cautions Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). To meet the challenge, electric co-ops are using energy efficiency measures and innovative technology to reduce electric demand. But these measures will only go so far. Eventually, the need to build new generation to “keep the lights on” will take center stage. An investment of time, money The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC), the bulk power grid watchdog for the United States and most of Canada, estimates the country will need to build 135,000 MW of new generation by 2017 to meet demand. Facilities on the drawing board, though, will only deliver 77,000 MW – leaving an energy gap. Planning, building and launching a baseload power plant is no small feat. Even if the permitting process is non-controversial – meaning there are no significant objections to a facility – a coal-fired generating station takes six to seven years from start to finish, a combined cycle natural gas plant three to four years, while a nuclear plant requires 10 years at minimum, says John Holt, NRECA senior manager for generation & fuels. Wind farms and large solar projects, in many cases, need a shorter amount of time to complete – about two

years total – but they are handicapped by intermittency issues. Even with good location and plenty of breezes, wind generation is available at most 40 percent of the time, and seldom operates (due to a lack of wind) during periods of peak consumption on hot, humid summer afternoons or frigid weather. Solar power systems operate only during daylight hours and are affected by cloud cover. Wind and solar resources must have back-up generation, such as natural gas plants, ready to come on-line when the wind stops blowing or the sun stops shining, and that adds extra expense. Federal rules impact energy prices Rulemakings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will impact electric bills and put affordability and reliability at risk. According to the report Potential Resource Adequacy Impacts of U.S. Environmental Regulations commissioned by NERC, four pending EPA rules would place new and costly hurdles on power generators. In fact, regulations impacting cooling water intake, coal ash disposal, interstate transport of air pollutants, and using Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) to curb emissions from power plants could force electric utilities to retire or retrofit 33,000 MW to 70,000 MW of generating capacity by 2015. A fifth hurdle, reducing power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, presents an even greater challenge since no viable, commercially tested solution exists. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an electric utility research consortium that includes electric co-ops as members, contends if EPA designates coal

To reduce the need for new power plants, electric co-ops are fashioning a variety of innovative solutions to reduce load during times of peak demand 10

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

ash, a residue produced by coal-fired power plants that is used as a Portland cement substitute, as hazardous, it could cost utilities – and consumer electric bills – between $5.32 billion and $7.62 billion annually. “Because of these new rules, we’re expecting a number of existing coal plants be shut down,” says Kirk Johnson, NRECA vice president of energy & environmental policy. “The cost of compliance will simply be too much.” Only two alternate baseload generation options are currently available to meet America’s demand for safe, reliable, and affordable electric energy – natural gas, which is priced in a volatile commodities markets, or nuclear power, which requires a long lead time for construction. Natural gas at present seems like an attractive option to satisfy our nation’s energy appetite because the fuel is relatively cheap, power plants that use it can be brought on-line more quickly, and burning gas produces less carbon dioxide than coal. Keeping electricity affordable To reduce the need for new power plants, electric coops are fashioning a variety of innovative solutions to reduce load during times of peak demand – the electric utility industry’s equivalent of rush-hour traffic when wholesale power costs skyrocket. Having direct control of electric water heaters, air conditioners, electric thermal storage units and other appliances in the homes of volunteer consumers is

one way. Interruptible contracts with commercial and industrial accounts, such as irrigation pumps, large retailers and factories, that are able to temporarily shut down or run emergency generators is another way. The new kid on the block, however, is personal energy management – notably Natural gas power plants are in-home displays, web likely to fulfill our electricity portals, and smart needs in the short term. thermostats that inform consumers, in real time, when load peaks are happening, allowing them to voluntarily decide when and how to curtail electric use to save money. Most co-ops are also ramping up energy efficiency programs. According to NRECA Market Research Services, nearly all electric co-ops offer efficiency educational resources, and 77 percent offer residential energy audits. To find out about energy efficiency programs in Alabama visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency at www. dsireusa.org.d

Efficiency tax credits drop, but don’t disappear Call 811 before you dig Alabama’s damage prevention Act 94-487 requires notification to underground facility owners a minimum of 48 hours prior to digging. A majority of utilities, including electric cooperatives operating underground facilities in Alabama, are members of Alabama 811, which means you merely dial 811 on your telephone. If an underground facility owner is not a member of Alabama 811, the excavator is required to contact all underground facility owners directly. Once the call is received

from the excavator, contractor or property owner intending to dig, the information pertinent to the excavation is immediately transmitted to the Alabama 811 member utilities. The underground utility operator will locate and mark the location of the buried facility with color coded marks. Dig with care by hand digging or use non-invasive methods within 18 inches on either side of the marked utility line until you determine its exact location and depth. For more information, visit www. al1call.com.d

Energy efficiency improvements are great for lowering electric bills. But sometimes the up-front cost can be a drawback. Last December, the outgoing 111th Congress approved extending some popular efficiency tax credits through Dec. 31, 2011, although at greatly reduced levels. The total lifetime credit that can be claimed on energy efficiency improvements made between 2006 and 2011 (excluding 2008, when no credit was available) has been reduced from $1,500 to $500. The percentage of efficiency upgrade costs consumers can recover also

has been lowered from 30 percent in 2009-2010 to 10 percent in 2011. There are also maximum allowances for different upgrades. For installing more efficient windows, the tax credit is limited to $200, and there’s a $300 cap for “any item of energy-efficient building property.” Details are available at energystar.gov/taxcredits For more information, contact your tax preparation professional, or check IRS Form 5695. For a list of federal, state, and local energy efficiency rebates and tax credits, visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency at www.dsireusa. org.d Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

One Year Later A year after a BP well spewed oil into the Gulf, Alabama coastal businesses plan for a better summer By David Haynes

year ago this month business people who rely on tourism and the seafood industry along Alabama’s Gulf Coast held their collective breaths and braced for the worst. On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire destroyed British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform, resulting in the deaths of 11 workers and a months-long flow of millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. By summer, tar balls were washing onto the sugar white sand beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast and oil was breaching booms set out to protect Perdido Bay at Perdido Pass near the Alabama-Florida state line. But according to Dr. Robert Shipp, chairman of the marine studies department of the University of

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

South Alabama, the effects of the oil spill itself were at their worst in mid-summer 2010 and have steadily improved since. Asked about the quality of seafood taken from the Gulf, Dr. Shipp is optimistic. “I’ve been quoted many times (as) saying that if a fish is healthy enough to bite a hook, it’s healthy enough to eat.” On a visit to the area last month, the beaches and estuaries were as beautiful as ever, with no visible sign that anything was ever wrong. The beaches

especially looked pristine, and I was treated to a spectacular sunrise walk near the Gulf State Pier as a reward for rising before dawn. My conversations with local folks in the fishing, restaurant, tourism and real estate industries all had the same tenor – a cautious optimism that the worst of the oil spill nightmare is in the past, and that better days are ahead for 2011. And quite a nightmare it has been for these folks. Last year and earlier this year, it was not uncommon to see signs stating: “Closed due to oil spill” outside businesses in and around the tourist centers of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Last year tourist spending was down almost $100 million in these areas, compared to 2009 levels. Mike Foster, vice president for the Gulf ShoresOrange Beach tourism agency, says $144 million was spent in the Baldwin County beach communities of Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan in 2010. That’s down from $241 million in 2009, the year before the spill. Spending figures include money spent at hotels, restaurant and beach-related businesses like souvenir shops. The challenge for businesses here has been like fighting a war on two simultaneous fronts: damage from the oil spill itself, and damage from public perception that everything on the coast is tainted by the spill. The first front – the physical effects of the oil spill

– has been publicized with vigor in the 24-hour-a-day world media news cycles. Now, as the physical and visible effects have diminished with time, the challenge is moving to the second front: to inform the public that they can come to a clean beach, have a great time and enjoy eating seafood with confidence. In this battle for public perception, one group of local leaders has been proactive. On June 2, 2010, the Coastal Resiliency Coalition was formed by the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce as a “leadership task force dedicated to help local Gulf Coast businesses and individuals…” The coalition’s goal is to provide tool and resources that will inspire and promote economic resiliency in the community. The group meets twice weekly in “The War Room” at a Gulf Shores real estate office to strategize and plan specific events aimed at improving the business climate for the area. Bob Higgins, vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, tells me the group’s efforts have resulted in a more close-knit business community. “We’re always looking for silver linings,” he explains, “like before the spill the restaurant owners were always so busy they never had time to sit down at a meeting like this.” Now he says business leaders in

A clean beach, a great time and safe seafood

The Coastal Resiliency Coalition meets twice weekly at a local real estate office

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Top: Billy’s Seafood is loaded with fresh fish from the Gulf. Middle: Billy Parks is optimistic business will pick up this year. Bottom: Bon Secour residents continue to pull fish from the bays that feed the Gulf.

the community are working together more than ever before. Just west of Gulf Shores is the sleepy fishing village of Bon Secour where I talked with Billy Parks, owner of Billy’s Seafood (slogan: “If it swims, we’ve got it!”). The day I was there people weren’t lined up out the door, but Billy’s employees were doing a steady business, scooping shrimp and other seafood out of bins and weighing them out for the sale. Parks tells me he’s “cautiously optimistic” about 2011. “We won’t really know how well this year will shape up for a few months, but business is picking up,” he says. “I can tell you this: I’m a lot more optimistic now than I was three months ago when our business was off by 50 percent. Now we’re only off by about 20 percent from last year.” Dr. Shipp cautions that there are still many questions about the long-term health of the Gulf marine fishery. “There’s still an unknown amount of oil out there in the water column.” But as far as the safety of Gulf seafood goes, he points out that with all the additional testing that’s being done as a result of the oil spill, seafood is probably safer now than ever.d

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

The Alabama Rural Heritage Center provides a cultural haven in the Black Belt

he west Alabama town of Thomaston in rural Marengo County is one of those places a traveler could completely miss if not looking up at the right moment to see the town limits sign. But this tiny berg where less than 400 people call home has emerged as a cultural and artistic beacon among the sprawling forestland, pastures and catfish farms that dominate this region of the state. The Alabama Rural Heritage Center, located in what was once the home economics and agriculture building for Marengo County High School, regularly hosts theatrical productions on both outdoor amphitheater and indoor stages, boasts a gift shop filled with the work of Alabama artists and craftsmen and hosts the popular Pepper Jelly Festival each spring. The day I visited, the center was bustling with activity. A gardening workshop filled the main meeting room where participants from

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

By David Haynes around the region were learning how to construct and utilize a “hoop house” greenhouse for seedlings presented by the cooperative extension service. In another part of the facility, the 10-member board that oversees the Alabama Rural Heritage Center Foundation was preparing for a planning meeting. Farther back, the ARHC gift shop was open for business and an enthusiastic gift shop manager – Barbara Akins – showed me and a friend around. The shop features a varied sampling of Alabama folk arts and crafts ranging from colorful paintings of cotton fields, to fishing lures made from bottle caps, to hand-turned wooden Christmas ornaments. But the biggest seller and staple product that helps sustain the center is the pepper jelly that’s made right there in the facility’s up-to-date commercial kitchen from

locally grown peppers. The center previously operated a lunch diner – Mama Nem’s Bistro – but it was closed recently after the economic downturn. The kitchen and facilities, however, are available for special events such as parties, weddings or meetings.

Pepper Jelly Festival Join the fun April 30. Enjoy old-time kids games, quilting and basketmaking exhibits, arts and crafts, and of course, plenty of locally made pepper jelly. Admission is free. For more information call 334-627-3434.

Thomaston

Barbara Akins and the ARHC gift shop Barbara explained that the gift shop was one of several projects in the area completed by Auburn University’s Rural Studio Project. Part of the school’s architecture department, Rural Studio students have completed numerous project helping small or economically challenged communities around the state over the years. Barbara explained that it took almost four years to complete renovations at the center, from 1998-2002, and many of the Rural Studio students were living in tents much of the time on site. “The people here in town helped feed them and looked out for them while they were here,” she adds. “It was a good experience for everyone.” Board member Cindy Neilson

The 2011 AREA Cooperative Quilt will be presented to the Alabama Rural Heritage Center in Thomaston in honor of this year’s theme, “Small Town Alabama.” The 2011 quilt includes the work of 25 quilters from 14 electric cooperatives. Rural Heritage Center board member Cindy Neilson says, “We would be honored to display the quilt.” The quilt will be presented at the annual Pepper Jelly Festival April 30.

– who also happens to be the Marengo County probate judge – told me the center’s premiere event each year is the Pepper Jelly Festival, which annually brings up to 1,000 visitors into this sleepy southern town. This year’s festival will be April 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature a 5-kilometer run, domino tournament, watermelon-eating contest, old-time kids games, health fair, quilting and basket-making exhibits, arts and crafts, barbecue, and of course plenty of locally made pepper jelly. Admission is free. For additional information on the Rural Heritage Center, its activities or the Pepper Jelly Festival, visit the ARHC’s website at ruralheritagecenter.com.d

A gardening workshop is one example of the types of activities at the center

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Celebrate Tiny Towns Join the fun at the 11th Old 280 Boogie festival in Waverly April 16 By Jennifer S. Kornegay

here are small towns, there are little towns, and then there are tiny towns. With a population of 184 residents, Waverly definitely fits best in the last category. And like most hamlets of diminutive size, this quaint spot tucked between Auburn and Alexander City on the border of Chambers and Lee counties does not bemoan its stature; it’s quite proud of it.In fact, in 2001 when a new four-lane Alabama Highway 280 bypassed Waverly altogether, replacing the original thoroughfare that ran straight through downtown, the community was thrilled. So thrilled that they felt like dancing in the street (that street being the old Highway 280 of course), and each year since this tiny town has held a big event to celebrate the demise of the former 280: The Old 280 Boogie.This year, the 11th Old 280 Boogie gets down on April 16. Scott Peek, a Waverly business owner, spearheads the annual outdoor music and arts festival and explained how the Boogie began. “It all started as a way to celebrate the opening of the 280 bypass in 2001,” Peek says. “Before that, we had all these trucks and huge 18-wheelers barreling right through the middle of town on a little road. It was awful and kind of took away from the town’s ambiance. So when it was gone, we decided that called for a party. Some townspeople and a few folks in nearby Auburn formed a small committee to get it going.” For years, the event was a true street party, with parts of the festivities held on a blocked-off portion of the old 280. The other venue was an outdoor stage fronted by a sprawling lawn and shaded by tall pine trees at Peek’s business, a print shop called Standard Deluxe. “We had been holding events and hosting bands at our property for years, so it was already set up to host something like the Boogie,” Peek says. But the event is currently so large, it’s no longer feasible to have the area’s main street closed to traffic. Everything is now centered around the space at Standard Deluxe. Every year since its inception, the Boogie has grown, almost exponentially. “The first time, we had maybe a few hundred people here,” Peek says. “Now, we estimate around 2,000-plus people come out. The word has just spread, and it is only getting better.” The steady increase has made other changes necessary, too. For its first 10 years, the Boogie and all its offerings could be enjoyed at no cost. This year the

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

The Pine Hill Haints at last year’s festival event is charging admission. Tickets are $10 for adults, but kids are still free. “It has finally grown so much that we have to have extra staff and facilities to accommodate all the visitors,” Peek says. “We had to start charging something.” Yet for everything Boogie guests enjoy at the event, a measly 10 bucks seems like a real deal. At this homegrown gathering, southern bands fill the warm spring air with sound, playing a grab bag of musical styles including southern rock, Americana, indie-folk, bluegrass and some tunes that are a delightful mishmash of multiple genres. The scheduled 2011 line-up includes Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil, Cary Hudson and The Pineywood Playboys and The Tony Brook Band, to name just a few. Peek describes the event’s appeal like this. “In addition to some great music, it’s just a day to get together and enjoy the nice weather outside,” he says. “People bring blankets and coolers and just hang out.” Waverly resident Carolyn Stubbs was born and raised

Woody Pines in 2010 there and has been involved with the Boogie for years. “People just love it because it is a family oriented, family friendly event and so laid back,” she says. “There is an old-fashioned atmosphere that reminds you of a simpler time, and that really speaks to people.” Other offerings include a variety of food vendors and area artists showing their wares. “It is everything you think an outdoor music festival should be,” Peek says. And there are usually some surprises. “Last year, a 5-year-old fiddle player in the audience got up on stage and jammed with one of the bands. It was amazing.” While the Old 280 Boogie is certainly one of the biggest things happening in Waverly each year, the town is not without its own charm. “It is the quintessential Southern small town,” Stubbs says of her home. “Good people live here; things move at a slower, easier pace; and there’s also a very artistic vibe here. We have a lot of artists and some Auburn University professors. But the constant is that everyone here really cares about the town.” Peek believes the factors that make Waverly special also have driven the larger and larger crowds to the

Boogie. “People love coming to Waverly because it has the feeling of the old, rural South,” he says. “Not a whole lot has changed here through the years. There’s not that much going on. We do have a post office, but no major stores. It’s nice to not have billboards and strip malls and horns honking. But it is still close to major metropolitan areas like Atlanta, Birmingham and Montgomery.” The fact that many creative types are spawned and drawn there may be why Peek’s company Standard Deluxe is so at home in Waverly. The design and print shop preserves the craft of hand-printing and creates posters and T-shirts for a diverse array of bands and musicians that are works of art in themselves. “We are doing a poster for a Diana Ross tour right now,” Peek says. The company’s interest in the music business goes far beyond making the materials used to promote it, though. Standard Deluxe also puts on a series of music events each year, usually about 12, including the Boogie. Peek has been pleased with the evolution of the Old 280 Boogie and believes there’ll be an even larger crowd this year. “We’ve got a few new things: free pony rides for kids, and we’re also trying to step up the number the art vendors, so we have more variety,” he says. Whether you go for the music, go for the art, go for the fresh air or go to hang out, just make sure you grab your boogie shoes and head over to Waverly this month.d

11th Annual Old 280 Boogie Arts & Music Festival Saturday, April 16 in Waverly; Rain or Shine Admission: $10; children free Find it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Old280Boogie

Waverly

D.B. Harris and his Men of Action play last year

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Safe@Home

DOG DAMAGE Electric cooperative workers encounter dogs frequently. Help them stay safe

Send your questions: Safe @ Home Alabama Living P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-215-2732

safety@areapower.com

Jason Saunders & Michael Kelley are certified managers of Safety & Loss Control for the Alabama Rural Electric Association.

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

Utility employees regularly visit homes to read meters and provide other types of service to customers, but they also frequently encounter aggressive dogs. According to records kept by the Alabama Rural Electric Association, electric cooperative employees across the state average about one dog bite every two months while conducting their job duties. This does not count the countless times our employees are chased by dogs, but not bitten. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports in a recent year that 4.7 million Americans sustained dog bites and one in every six required medical treatment. Small children are the most frequent victims, but utility workers are particularly vulnerable to attacks by dogs, which treat them as trespassers and are merely trying to protect their homes and owners. Home and business owners can help themselves by being familiar with the schedule for reading meters, and plan ahead for a visit by a meter reader. Also, try to find out when a utility worker is anticipated to arrive to provide a service. Confine a dog if necessary, keeping the animal either inside or outside, and away from the utility employee until the service is completed. Relocating the animal temporarily will also reduce

its concern for your welfare. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;beware of dogâ&#x20AC;? sign near the home will help the utility employee anticipate a potential encounter, or allow him to contact the owner of the home or business to help avoid such an encounter. A note on the electric meter will help a utility employee understand how the animal is confined and whether a problem might occur. Ensure your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vaccinations are up to date. Training a dog with simple commands, or more formal obedience training, will help you restrain the animal when utility employees approach your home or business. Provide a collar for your dog to more quickly control its behavior if it becomes aggressive toward a utility employee. AREA Safety Director Michael Kelley says home and business owners can help their dogs by being prepared for an encounter, and handling their animal in a manner that is respectful to both it and the utility employee. For more information on electrical safety and to see videos about power line safety, visit www. SafeElectricity.org. Safe Electricity is a program of the Energy Education Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting electrical safety and energy efficiency, and is supported by the electric cooperatives of Alabama.d

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Alabama Outdoors Make your opinion known…

Should deer season be extended in south Alabama?

very year hunters look forward to the whitetail deerrutting season. During this time the older, wiser bucks become less wary and actually move around more often during daylight hours because they are looking to breed the female deer that have entered their yearly estrus cycle. For deer hunters, this period offers their best chance to bag a mature buck. However, for hunters in most of the southern region of our state, hunting season ends just as the rut is getting into full swing. According to wildlife biologists, the northern part of our state experiences the rut in late December and early January. But the rut is just getting started around Jan. 25 in the southern region of the state. Unfortunately, the hunting season ends on Jan. 31 for the entire state. Neighboring states like Florida and Mississippi have adapted to this situation by extending their deer season to accommodate the rutting period in certain areas. And now there’s a concerted effort by a group of sportsmen to convince our lawmakers to consider the same in Alabama. The group is currently lobbying the Conservation Advisory Board by attending the board’s periodic public meetings, writing letters to wildlife officials and gathering support through an on-line petition. They’re asking that the deer season be extended until Feb. 15. No other Alan White is publisher of Great Days Outdoors magazine. To learn more, www.greatdaysoutdoors.com or call 800-597-6828.

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

details are being presented. The group is simply counting on legislators to work out the particulars, if any occur. The Conservation Advisory Board assists and advises on matters relating to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), including hunting seasons and bag limits. The Board is composed of 10 members appointed by the governor for alternating terms of six years, and three ex-officio members in the persons of the governor, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Industries, and the director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The ADCNR commissioner serves as the ex-officio secretary of the board. Additional Ideas Other ideas that have been talked about (but not included in any official requests) include:  Adding additional days for primitive weapons only;  Requiring the purchase of a special permit to hunt the extra 15 days in order to raise more revenue for enforcement officers;  Closing the season from Dec. 1-15 in the southern region, and giving the deer herd a rest period. This period is traditionally a time when less deer are seen and hunting pressure has caused them to become even more nocturnal than usual. Unless you use dogs, deer hunting in December is relatively unproductive. None of these additional ideas are being lobbied for at present. The group simply wants the opportunity to experience the rut, much like most of the other hunters in the United States. They are leaving all

the details to conservation department officials. I spoke with several hunters and outdoor businessmen in south Mississippi who report that since Mississippi extended the season for primitive weapons only, they are all very happy with the new dates for hunting. Businesses report increased “second season” sales on bow hunting and muzzleloader equipment, plus hunters are seeing more mature bucks. If you want to help the effort to lobby for an extended deer season, visit www.extenddeerseason.com, or contact Jerry Ferrell at 251-7140130 for more details. You can also make your opinion known by calling the office of wildlife and freshwater fisheries at 334-242-3465. However you feel about the issue, you should make your opinion known.d

Wildlife Management Tips for April

If you want to help the deer herd on your property, make sure you have supplemental mineral blocks out now. The spring and summer months is when these minerals will help with the fawn’s survival as well as antler growth for bucks. Make sure to use the best mineral blocks you can find because they are not all created equal. Screen your property lines to prevent poaching. Use natural barriers such as crops, shrubs and other plants to keep people from seeing into your hunting property. Also, make sure your gates are secure and place fresh signs around your property lines. Let poachers know you are serious about protecting your land.d

Tables indicate peak fish and game feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour before and an hour after. Minor peaks, half-hour before and after. Adjusted for daylight savings time. a.m. p.m. Minor Major Minor Major

Apr 16 04:31 11:01 11:31 05:46 17 05:01 11:46 - 06:31 18 12:01 05:31 07:31 12:31 19 12:46 06:01 08:31 01:01 20 01:16 06:31 09:16 01:46 21 02:01 07:01 10:31 02:31 22 02:46 07:31 - 03:31 23 08:01 12:01 - 04:31 24 08:46 01:16 - 05:46 25 08:31 02:01 12:01 07:16 26 09:01 02:31 02:16 08:16 27 09:31 03:01 03:16 09:01 28 03:16 09:46 09:46 04:16 29 03:46 10:16 10:16 04:46 30 04:01 10:46 11:01 05:31 May 1 - 05:07 06:52 12:07 2 - 05:37 07:37 12:37 3 - 05:52 08:07 01:07 4 01:07 06:22 08:52 01:37 5 01:37 06:37 09:37 02:07 6 02:22 07:07 10:37 02:52 7 03:07 07:37 11:37 03:37 8 04:07 08:22 12:37 04:37 9 06:07 09:37 - 05:37 10 11:52 01:22 - 06:52 11 08:52 02:07 02:22 08:07 12 02:52 09:37 03:52 09:22 13 03:22 10:22 10:22 04:52 14 03:52 10:52 11:07 05:52 15 04:22 11:37 11:52 06:52 16 - 05:07 07:37 12:22 17 - 05:37 08:22 01:07 18 01:22 06:07 09:07 01:37 19 02:07 06:52 10:07 02:22 20 02:52 07:22 10:52 03:07 21 03:52 08:07 11:37 03:52 22 05:07 08:52 12:37 04:37 23 06:37 10:07 - 05:22 24 08:07 01:22 12:22 06:22 25 08:52 01:52 02:37 07:37 26 02:22 09:37 08:52 04:07 27 02:52 10:07 09:52 05:07 28 03:22 10:37 10:37 05:52 29 03:52 11:07 11:22 06:22 30 04:22 11:37 11:52 07:07 31 - 04:52 07:37 12:07

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Alabama Gardens

Powerful Tools Here’s how to use chemicals and protect your family, your neighbors and your pets By Katie Jackson

ou’ve probably heard Auburn’s 130-year-old Toomer’s Corner oaks were poisoned with a powerful herbicide and, while many people are working diligently to save them, few experts are optimistic about their survival. That bleak outlook is due mainly to the fact that the herbicide used in the poisoning is highly effective when used properly, but also devastatingly harmful if misused.

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

Like any powerful tool, this and other pesticides should only be used with care and, preferably, by a trained applicator. However, it’s easy to buy the less powerful over-the-counter pesticides and fertilizers for our homes and gardens without a lick of training. The truth is that, while most of the readily available lawn, garden and home chemicals are less toxic and relatively easy to apply, they all have the potential to do harm

if they are misused or misapplied. As we move full steam ahead into the 2011 gardening season, here’s a little primer on how to use chemicals when needed and still protect yourself, the environment and the health of your family, neighbors, pets, plants and local wildlife. The single most important rule to follow before using any chemical – pesticides or fertilizers – is to make sure a chemical is truly needed.

Garden tips for

April

Many pest and plant health issues clothing such long-sleeved shirts, can be solved without the use of long pants, gloves, goggles and chemicals or by using only small face masks when you apply any amounts of chemicals. In fact, chemical. And keep children and there is an entire management pets out of newly treated areas for system called integrated pest as long as the label prescribes. management that can help The very best way to ensure everyone, from home gardeners to that you are using chemicals large-scale farmers, reduce their wisely and conscientiously is to use of chemicals. To learn more do your homework. You can find about IPM in Alabama go to www. a wealth of information about aces.edu/anr/ipm/. proper pesticide handling through Whether you adopt an IPM a variety of Extension publications strategy or not, including ANR good stewardship publication All lawn, garden and of chemicals is 733, Pesticide home chemicals are less Handling and relatively easy to achieve if toxic and relatively easy Storage Safety you take the (www.aces.edu/ to apply, but still have time to evaluate crd/publications/ your situation. the potential to do harm ANR-733. Before buying if they are misused or html), and ANR or applying publication misapplied. any chemical, 0500, 2008-2011 properly identify Alabama Pest the types and quantities of the Management Handbook â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Vol. pests or diseases you want II (www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ to control. Test your soil to ANR-0500-B/). determine the types and amounts Heaven forbid that you ever of fertilizers that are needed for have to deal with pesticide plants. Advice on this is available poisoning, but if you do, call the through local Alabama Cooperative National Pesticide Information Extension System offices or other Center at 800-858-7378 or the pest or gardening experts. Poison Control Centers at 800-222If chemicals are needed, handle 1222 for immediate assistance.d them with care. Always read the label to ensure you are using them in the proper areas, under Katie Jackson is associate the proper conditions and at editor for the Alabama the proper levels. Avoid spills Agricultural Experiment or over-application when you Station. Contact her at are using them. Wear protective csmith@acesag.auburn.edu

3 April is National Gardening Month. Celebrate it along with Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 29) this month. 3 Visit local farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; markets, many of which will be opening this month and into May. 3 Plant bean, corn, squash, melon and other summer vegetable crop seeds. Put in transplants of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. 3 Plant strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. 3 Plant summer annual flowers after the last predicted spring frost date. 3 Host a plant swap with friends and fellow gardeners come together to swap cuttings or seeds. 3 Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as spirea, flowering quince, azalea, jasmine and forsythia after they have bloomed. 3 Put house plants outside when any chance of a hard freeze has passed. 3 Fertilize warm-season lawns and plant new lawns.

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Alabama Recipes Puddings

Cook of the Month Mrs. Harold Batchelor, Covington EC

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum

2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2 4 ½-ounce cans fruit cocktail, undrained

2 eggs, beaten 1 9-ounce box raisins 1 pinch salt 1 or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cube donuts into large bowl. Pour other ingredients on top of donuts and let soak for a few minutes, until donuts have soaked up as much liquid as possible. Bake 1 hour until center had jelled. Top with Butter Rum Sauce. Butter Rum Sauce 1 stick butter 1 pound box confectioner’s sugar

Rum to taste, optional

Melt butter and slowly stir in confectioner’s sugar.Add rum, heat until it bubbles. Pour over each serving of Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding. I would like to encourage you to submit your favorite recipes that coincide with our monthly themes. We have had some reader requests for serving sizes, so please remember to include how many servings your recipe will produce. I know sometimes I like to halve recipes and other times I like to double or triple them, so knowing how many servings are in a recipe helps to assess that question. When submitting a recipe to us, please include your recipe, number of servings, name, address, cooperative, and any other information about the recipe you’ve found useful. I appreciate all the submissions every month and I hope you enjoy the recipes your neighbors share with our magazine.

1 small package (4-4 ½ -ounce) instant chocolate pudding

Beat the peanut butter and ¼ cup milk with electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add the remaining milk, beating until well blended. Add the pudding mix; blend well. Pour into serving dishes. Chill. Melissa Gandy, Cullman EC

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

Peanut Brittle

3 cups sugar 3 cups peanuts 1 cup Karo syrup (light) 1 cup water

1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 ⁄3 stick of butter

Cook sugar, syrup, water, peanuts and salt stirring to “softball stage” 238 degrees. Cook to “hard crack” 320 degrees stirring occasionally.You need to see smoke and smell peanuts. Don’t hurry. Remove from heat. Add butter. Stir slightly. Add soda. Pour onto well-buttered pans. Cool partially by lifting around edges with a knife. When cold, break into pieces.

You could win $50!

Peanut Butter Pudding ¼ cup peanut butter 2 cups milk

William Rankin, a trustee from Black Warrior EMC, would like to share his recipe for Peanut Brittle:

If your recipe is chosen as the cook-of-the-month recipe, we’ll send you a check for $50! Upcoming recipe themes and deadlines are: June Under 5 Ingredients April 15 July Tomatoes May 15 August Breakfast June 15 Please send all submissions to: Recipe Editor P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 or e-mail to: recipes@areapower. coop. Be sure to include your address, phone number and the name of your cooperative.

Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Brandy Cream

Corn Pudding

Brandy Cream: 3 large egg yolks 1 ⁄3 cup sugar 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Pudding: 1 loaf brioche (12 inches), cut into 12 slices, or 6 to 8 croissants, halved 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

1⁄3 cup milk 1/4 cup brandy 1 ⁄8 teaspoon salt

3 cups heavy whipping cream 1 cup milk 12 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 ⁄8 teaspoon salt

Brandy Cream: Whisk egg yolks and sugar until well blended. Bring cream and milk to a boil in a heavy saucepan over moderately high heat. Whisk half of the hot cream into yolk mixture and then whisk yolks back into remaining hot cream in saucepan. Whisk mixture over low heat until thick, but not boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in brandy and salt. Strain Brandy Cream and chill overnight. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brush bread slices with melted butter and toast on both sides until golden brown. Watch carefully so bottoms don’t burn. Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler. Combine cream and milk in a separate saucepan, and heat until almost boiling. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. While whisking, slowly add hot cream mixture to egg yolk mixture. Strain mixture into a separate bowl and skim off foam. Slowly add strained mixture to melted chocolate, whisking constantly. Stir in vanilla and salt. Arrange bread slices in a 9x13-inch baking dish, overlapping rows. Pour chocolate mixture over bread. Cover dish with plastic wrap, placing 2 small plates on top to weight it down. Press down every 10 minutes for 1 hour. This will allow the bread to totally absorb the liquid. (At this point, pudding can be refrigerated overnight, but bring it to room temperature before baking.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap from baking dish and place in a hot water bath 11/2 inches deep (1/2 inch, or slightly more, from top of baking dish). Bake 45 minutes, or until pudding looks glossy and liquid is absorbed. Serve with Brandy Cream.Yield: 12 servings. Larry “Doc” Hudson, South Alabama EC

Want to see the Cook of the Month recipe before the magazine gets to your door? Become a fan of Alabama Living on facebook.

4 large eggs, beaten ⁄3 cup sugar 11⁄3 cups milk 2 cups white or yellow corn, fresh or frozen

½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour 3 tablespoons butter

Mix flour, salt and sugar with corn; add beaten eggs. Stir in milk and butter. Be sure eggs are mixed well with other ingredients. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until you have a good firm look to your dish. Faye McCallister, Clarke-Washington EMC

Strawberry Pudding ⁄3 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon flour ¼ teaspoon salt 2 eggs, separated 2 cups milk, scalded 1½ teaspoons vanilla, divided 1

1 16-ounce package vanilla wafer cookies 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen, sliced

In top of double boiler, combine 1/3 cup sugar, flour, salt, egg yolks, milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla; cook, stirring constantly until custard thickens. Line bottom and sides of a baking dish (1 ½ quart size) with vanilla wafers, alternate layers of custard mix, wafers and berries. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; add the tablespoon sugar and remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla. Spread meringue over custard and bake in a 325 degree oven until meringue is nicely browned. Barbara Ehl, Coosa Valley EC

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Chocolate Pudding: Rich and Creamy

Date-Pineapple Pudding

1½ cups sugar ½ cup cornstarch ½ cup cocoa ¼ teaspoon salt

2½ cups milk 3 egg yolks ½ teaspoon vanilla flavor 1 carton Cool Whip

Mix sugar, cornstarch, cocoa and salt together. Mix egg yolks and ½ cup milk. Pour into dry mixture and blend, and then add remaining milk. Mix well and cook in double boiler until lumpy and sticking to the spoon. Remove, add vanilla and beat mixture until smooth. Pour into pan and place in refrigerator until completely cooled and set. Spread Cool Whip over pudding and serve.

1 cup plain flour, sifted 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup dates, chopped

1 cup crushed pineapple ¼ cup milk 2 cups water 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon butter

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in large bowl; stir in dates, pineapple and milk. Pour into greased 13x9x2inch baking dish. Combine water, brown sugar and butter in saucepan; bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute; pour over pudding. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until done. Dorothy P. Lowery, Pioneer EC

Carol Kelley, Central Alabama EC

Grandma Myrtle’s Chocolate Pudding

3 heaping tablespoons self-rising flour ¼ stick butter 1½ cups sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa 1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring 3 cups milk

Stir flour, sugar and cocoa together in a medium saucepan. Add milk and butter. Stir with whisk to dissolve dry ingredients. Cook over medium heat until desired thickness, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Stir well. Serve in bowls or can be poured in a baked pie crust. Ann Jones, Sand Mountain EC

Chocolate Éclair Pudding Cake Chocolate Pudding Individual Cakes

10 tablespoons butter 8 1-ounce squares semisweet chocolate ½ teaspoon instant coffee granules 3 large eggs

3 egg yolks ½ cup sugar 1 ⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons brandy 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease 10 ramekins. Place ramekins on rimmed baking sheet. In a medium bowl combine butter, chocolate and coffee granules. Microwave on high at 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until chocolate is melted and smooth (about 1 ½ minutes). Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat eggs, yolks and sugar at medium-high speed with electric mixer until thick and pale (about 5 minutes). Add flour, brandy and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate mixture. Spoon into prepared ramekins evenly; bake 11 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Run knife around edges to release sides. Invert onto a plate, garnish with ice cream and berries. Jennifer Robinson-Tijsma, Sand Mountain EC

| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

1 box graham crackers, divide for 3 layers 2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 8 ounces Cool Whip

Butter a 9x13x2-inch dish. Line bottom with 1⁄3 of the crackers. Mix pudding, milk and vanilla; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour ½ of mixture over crackers. Add a second layer of 1⁄3 of crackers and pour the rest of the mixture over them. Add one more layer of 1⁄3 crackers and frost. Let set over night in the refrigerator. Frosting: 3 packages liquid unsweetened chocolate (Nestle ChocoBake) 3 tablespoons soft margarine

3 tablespoons light corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1½ cups powdered sugar 3 tablespoons milk

Beat all ingredients on low speed until smooth and easy to spread. Pat Cobb, North Alabama EC

Dorothy Pudding

1 cup dry bread crumbs 2 cups milk 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs, separated

2 tablespoons butter, melted ½ cup seedless raisins Juice of 1 orange

Put bread crumbs in 1 cup of milk to soften. Beat egg yolks with ¾ cup sugar until creamy. Stir in 1 cup milk, butter and orange juice. Add soaked bread crumbs and raisins. Bake in moderate oven until slightly firm. Beat egg whites with remaining ¼ cup sugar. Place meringue on top of pudding and return to oven, baking 10 more minutes. Dorothy Thomas, Black Warrior EMC

Pecan Spinwheels Bread Pudding 8 pecan Spinwheels ¾ cup milk 2 eggs 1 ⁄3 cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon melted butter

⁄8 teaspoon salt ⁄3 cup raisins 1 ⁄3 cup dried cranberries 1 ⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg 1 ⁄8 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1

M&M Pistachio Squares

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or grease muffin pan. Combine milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in medium bowl. Mix well. Cut pecan Spinwheels into quarters and add to milk mixture. Add raisins and cranberries to mixture. Let stand 15 minutes to soak up liquid. Spoon bread mixture equally into prepared muffin cups. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake 30-35 minutes or until the bread puddings are puffed up and golden brown. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Norma Jean Roberts,Tombigbee EC

1 3-ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix 1½ cups flour Old-fashioned or quick oats (optional) 1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt ⁄3 cup vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 3 eggs 12 ounce (medium bag) plain M&M candies 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or use non-stick cooking spray to prepare 9x13-pan. In a large bowl combine pudding mix, flour, oatmeal (if using), baking powder and salt. In a smaller bowl that can be used with your electric mixer, beat oil with sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour oil mixture into flour, add M&M candies and stir well. Pour into pan and bake 20-25 minutes until light brown, they get darker as they cool; don’t over-bake unless you like crunchy edges. Adding oats is optional, but they thicken the batter and add fiber and whole grains. Add chocolate frosting for an extra treat. Karin McSheffrey, Baldwin EMC

Hot Dog Bun Pudding 4 hot dog buns 11⁄3 sticks margarine, melted 3 eggs lightly beaten

1½ cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups milk 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Open buns and lay face down in greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour melted butter over bun. Combine sugar, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla and milk. Mix well, pour over buns. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until firm. Philena Peterson, Baldwin EMC

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

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| APRIL 2011 | www.alabamaliving.coop

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Real Estate MOUNTAIN VIEW HOME SITES atop Sand Mountain. Protective restrictions, www.pellsgap.com GULF COAST HOMES / CONDOS unbelievable prices. Jim Bailey, Century21 Meyer Real Estate (251)213-0100 BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN LIVING HOME with 8 acres near Red Bay, AL - Huge front porch and mother-in-law wing - forsalebyowner.com ID # 22890092 – (256)668-5671 WE BUY LAND AND HOUSES in Marshall, Etowah, Dekalb & Blount

Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Classifieds Counties. Call Wells Bros. Real Estate, Matt Burnett (256)572-1474 or Tom Gilbreath (256)251-1944 SECLUDED 38 ACRES – WOODED with 1,800sqft house – Elmore County, Millbrook area – (334)857-2229 COOSA RIVER – 3BR, glass enclosed porch w/ water access - $45,000 – (205)807-3947 ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE NEEDS – Timber, Mining and Land Sales Consultant – Rated A-Plus by the BBB – Jim Johnson, Broker #46880, Jim Johnson Realty #71809 – www. sesore.com, (256)602-4565 WE PAY CASH for SELLER FINANCED NOTES, Trust Deeds and Commercial / Business Notes, Nationwide! Free Quote / Fast Closing. Call (256)638-1930 or cwbell@consultant.com

Travel CARIBBEAN CRUISES AT THE LOWEST PRICE – (256)974-0500 or (800)726-0954

Musical Notes PLAY GOSPEL SONGS by ear! Add chords. 10 lessons $12.95. “Learn Gospel Music”. Chording, runs, fills - $12.95 Both $24. Davidsons, 6727AR Metcalf, Shawnee Missions, Kansas 66204

Education BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus #104207 Peoria, Arizona 85381. http://www.ordination.org FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE – write to 23600 Alabama Highway 24, Trinity, AL, 35673 WWW.2HOMESCHOOL.ORG – Year round enrollment. Everybody homeschools. It is just a matter of what degree. Contact Dr. Cerny (256)705-3560 or website.

Critters FREE – 5 EXOTIC CHICKS or 3 ducks with 100 frypan special @ $35.95 plus shipping. Also Cornish cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. Brochure Cackle Hatchery – A P.O. Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536, www.cacklehatchery.com CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES. Tiny, registered, guaranteed healthy, raised indoors in loving home, vet records and references. (256)796-2893 CKC – MINI DACHSHUNDS, CHIHUAHUAS AND JACK RUSSELL PUPPIES – 1st shots, stud service – (251)609-6602, (228)313-9907

Fruits, Berries, Nuts & Trees GROW MUSCADINES AND BLACKBERRIES, half dollar size – We offer over 200 varieties of Fruit and Nut Trees plus Vines and Berry Plants. Free color catalog. 1-800-733-0324. Ison’s Nursery, P.O. Box 190, Brooks, GA 30205. Since 1934. www.isons.com

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Alabama Living | APRIL 2011 |

Our Sources Say

CONNECT THE DOTS The bill would take tax money from the South to subsidize jobs in Michigan When I was young – before cable television, before computers, before DVDs and before the Internet – we read books and worked puzzles. One of the popular things was a book that contained pages of numbered dots and hints of what the picture would be once you connected the dots. We would look at the dots and guess what the picture would be and then connect the dots. Of course, the picture would be crude, but an image would be formed. You never see those puzzles anymore, but the saying “connect the dots” is still used to express the process of looking at something and understanding how the image comes together as the dots are connected. As I read about events in Washington, sometimes I wonder if anyone there ever played “connect the dots.” This week, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.), proposed legislation that would give car purchasers a $7,500 cash rebate from the government for the purchase of an electric vehicle like the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. She states, “These

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

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vehicles represent the jobs of the future, and the more that are sold, the more Michigan jobs will be created.” The bill follows the White House’s plan to have 1 million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015. Senator Stabenow’s legislation also contains a provision that provides businesses that invest

Where does the fuel come from to power these new, modern subsidized cars and trucks? in electric trucks a $15,000 to $100,000 tax credit, dependent upon the size of the truck. Senator Stabenow states: “This bill provides a tremendous economic potential that will allow Michigan innovation to continue to out-compete the world and create new jobs here.” And I always thought that outcompeting meant to provide a better product at a lower cost. I guess that doesn’t apply in Michigan anymore, and all that is really important now is a large government subsidy that promotes the sale of certain vehicles with our tax dollars. In essence, Senator Stabenow’s bill would take our tax dollars from the South and use them to create thousands of

jobs in Michigan. In fact, she is right – more cars sold mean more Michigan jobs created and more of our taxes being sent to Michigan. Where does the fuel come from to power these new, modern subsidized cars and trucks? As the senator from Michigan and the White House conjure up ways to promote Michigan jobs through subsidies, the EPA plots to close down coal-fired generation plants that provide about 50 percent of the country’s electricity. If those plants are closed as advocated by environmental groups and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, there will not be sufficient electric power to provide electric service as we know it today, much less power a million plug-in electric cars and trucks. Has Senator Stabenow or the White House connected those dots? Occasionally, when we were doing those connect the dot puzzles, something would happen and we would lose our way, get out of sequence and the picture would make no sense at all. I still remember the frustration and confusion about what went wrong. It is obvious that Senator Stabenow doesn’t know how to connect the dots and make a picture, unless of course that picture is using tax dollars to create jobs for people that can vote for her. Maybe she knows how to connect the dots after all.d

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