Events 2017 www.LakeWedoweeLife.com 1 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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Area Events: Your Summer Calendar. . 8 County School Creates a Fishing Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Area Events: Kid’s Fishing Day. . . . . . . . 12 Area Events: Knox Concert Festival. . . 14 Area Events: Summer on the Lake. . . . 16 Area Events: South’s Sweetest Stage. 19 Area Events: Summer on Main. . . . . . . 22 Area Events: SUSCC Kiddie Kollege. . . 24 Area Events: Summer Sizzle. . . . . . . . . . 26 Spend a Day in Ashland. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The House Built for Blessings. . . . . . . . 36I
In Every Issue
Letter from the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Living on Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Reader’s Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Where in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 What’s Cooking: Updated Southern Staple. . . . . . . . . . . . 50 The Tale of Jimmy Jack: The Truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lake Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Contributors Shondae Brown Ashley Butler Tracy Carpenter Tammy Cross Tom Garland Charley Norton 5 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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“Some of the best memories are made in flip flops” — Kellie Elmore
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I have said for years that the four seasons in my house are spring, lake, football and Christmas. While I do love each of these seasons, I mean how can you not... lake season just makes me happy! The days are longer, the weather is warmer and the pace of every day life seems to be slower... I just love it. It doesn’t hurt that my lake friends come back from their “regular” lives to enjoy another season on Lake Wedowee. The last few years obligations have taken me away from truly enjoying the lake, and if I am completely honest, I have taken it for granted... This summer that stops!
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If I have learned anything, you can’t take anything for granted and you have to live your life moment to moment because you never know when it will be your last time. So, this season, expect to see me on the lake A LOT! It’s time to have fun, laugh and stop taking this beautiful place called Lake Wedowee (that I am also blessed to call home) for granted! I suggest you all do the same! Work is for rainy days!
Enjoy Life!
Kelly
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Practice makes perfect...
Westen Bruton is working on his fishing skills off the dock of his grandparents house on Lake Wedowee. Doug and Robin Bruton live on the lake and their daughter-in-law Stephanie captured the moment. To see more readers photos, please check out page46-47 of this issue! If you want to submit for the next issue, please email news@ lakewedoweelife.com.
GENERAL MANAGER
EDITOR
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Leisel Caldwell
Kelly Caldwell
Lavoy Caldwell
holidaylifeads@gmail.com
news@lakewedoweelife.com
ads@lakewedoweelife.com
Lake Wedowee Life 256.357.4557
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877.959. LAKE (5253)
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104 West Broad Street
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Wedowee, Alabama
w w w . L a k e W e d o w e e L i f e . c o m
Lake Wedowee Life is published five times a year by parent company Caldwell Sales Inc., which also produces Friday Night Life and Southern Holiday Life magazines. All content in the publication is protected by United State copyright law and many not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Caldwell Sales Inc. © 2008-2017 Caldwell Sales Inc. 6 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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RCHS launches first B.A.S.S club in area
This team is the pioneering team for Randolph County and surrounding counties. There are fishing clubs already established in some schools in the Lake Wedowee area , but this is the first team to be affiliated with B.A.S.S. Nation. B.A.S.S. Nation is a nonprofit umbrella organization for affiliated fishing clubs in the state. Alabama is one of the largest state Nations with over 40 affiliated fishing clubs and over 1000 members. It is a total “catch and release� club. B.A.S.S. Nation puts on several qualifying tournaments for high school fishing clubs competing against each other leading up to the State Championship Tournament which will be held in Eufaula in June of this year. Due to a late start this year, the RCHS Team has only been able to compete in two of the qualifying tournaments, but has qualified one two man team for the State Final Tournament. With one more tournament to fish at Lake Wheeler near Decatur on May 13, the team is hoping to qualify more two man fishing teams. The team would like to thank Principal Darren Anglin, Superintendent John Jacobs, Coaches Robert Richards, Sheri Richards, and Sheri Brown, the boat captains who provide the boats, all of the sponsors and parents who actively support our first B.A.S.S. Nation fishing club. A special thanks to Jackson Bonner for his great help in getting this team organized and on its feet. We are expecting great things from this group of outstanding young men and women and hope to pave the way for future anglers while educating
themselves and others on the importance of keeping our beautiful lakes clean and preserving the wonderful wildlife for future generations to enjoy. Members of the RCHS 2017 B.A.S.S. Nation Fishing Team include Billy Bob Bain, Syon Barnes, Drew Cavender, Sawyer Cross, Tanner Harper, Weston Hawkins , Austin Hunter, Julianna Kelly , Luke Morgan, Drew Perry, Sam Perry, Gage Pinson, Kylee Ray, Trent Ray, Alex Shelnutt, Jerry Lee Sisson, Billy Turner, Noah Turner, The team is coached by Sheri Brown, Robert Richards and Sheri Richards.
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LWPOA Kid’s Fishing Day slated for May 18 LWPOA will hold its annual Kids Fishing Day on May 18 at 4:00 pm at Rice Pavilion, County Road 32, on Lake Wedowee. The event is FREE to kids, residents of Randolph and Clay Counties through age 15. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and must bring their own fishing gear. Bait will be provided. Nets will be placed by the Alabama Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Division. Channel catfish between ž and 2 pounds will be stocked in the lake by the Handley High School Outdoor Education Project. Free food and refreshments will include hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks. Sheriff David Cofield and Deputies will do the cooking. The Randolph County Rescue Team will be on hand as well as Southern Ambulance Transport . There will be trophies for First Fish, Biggest Fish, and Most Fish. Prizes of merchandise including fishing gear and gift certificates and coupons will be awarded by drawing of numbers issued at registration. Platinum sponsors for the event are Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., First State Bank, Tanner Medical System and Rice Family Pavilion. Gold Sponsors are Buster Miles Ford and Chevrolet, Rice Pest Control, Ken Seiffert State Farm Insurance, Eagle 102.3, Southern Ambulance Transport and Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. Tell all your family, friends and neighbors about
this free event. LWPOA members can volunteer to help with the event by contacting: Tom Garland, KFD Chairperson at (678) 2304886 or by email lgarland68@aol.com.
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St. Paul & the Broken Bones headline Anniston Festival 2 Stages, 8 Bands Ready for an Old-Fashioned Block Party When you first listen to St. Paul and the Broken Bones, you might expect to see someone like Otis Redding belting out the tunes, (you tube them and you will see several Otis Redding covers, in fact.) However, open those eyes and you are faced with a guy that looks more like the dude that you would run into at the neighborhood market. St. Paul and the Broken Bones began in 2011 in Birmingham Alabama and have hit the scene with a steady stream of soul music. They have opened for the Rolling Stones and front man Paul Janeway was quoted as saying this about opening for the iconic rock band. “It was pretty neat, it was pretty crazy,” he said. “I love the Rolling Stones, but my train of thought is, you gotta try and blow ‘em off the stage. And, that’s still my goal.” The 8-member band is the headliner for a newly created outdoor music festival in Anniston this month called the Knox Outdoors Music Festival which will take over Noble Street on May 20 beginning at 2 p.m. “The idea for an outdoor music festival started a couple of years ago,” Jacki-Lyn Lowry, one of the event organizers, said. “Knox Concert Series pulled together a group of young professionals to determine in what ways they could attract a younger demographic to their series. An outdoor concert
Artist Keyton Pace House The Lie Within Callie Bright Light Social Hour Rattlesnake Rattlers The Seratones The Dexateens St. Paul and the Broken Bones
seemed to be the best fit for this area since we are currently lacking any sort of major music festival in East Alabama. Knox Outdoors Music Festival was born out of the idea to bring new faces to the Anniston area, while also promoting the arts.” The family-friendly music and arts festival will open its gates at 2 p.m. and play host to Birmingham area food trucks, such as Lazy Boy BBQ. Families with children 10 and under can enjoy free admission for those children and take advantage of the Knox Kids Zone. Arts and crafts vendors from across central Alabama will be set up along the festival streets for an opportunity to shop from some of the best Alabama-made items in the state. Live music featuring local artists will begin promptly when the gates open. Keyton Fike, an
Stage B B B A B A A A
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Start Time 1:45 pm 2:30 pm 3:15 pm 4 pm 5 pm 5:30 pm 7 pm 8:30 pm
up-and-coming local musician will kick things off, followed by Gadsden’s Pace House and Birmingham-based band, The Lie Within Callie. Wrapping up the lineup on the Alabama Power stage is local favorite The Rattlesnake Rattlers. Bright Light Social Hour will set up a stellar final lineup on the main stage, sponsored by F&M Bank, Webb Concrete and Building Materials, Sunny King Automotive Group, and B.R. Williams Trucking Company. Festival-goers will then enjoy the Louisiana based rock band, The Seratones before taking in the guitar rocking band, The Dexateens take center stage. St. Paul and The Broken Bones, led by vocalist Paul Janeway is headlining the evening. The band, known for their gospel-tinged, retro-soul garage sound, complete with horns, has recently sold-out shows across the country, preformed with Elton John, and are making waves across the world with their unique sound. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a music festival to Anniston. We have worked diligently with Red Mountain Entertainment, Knox Concert Series, the City of Anniston, and many others to pull this off. We are proud to bring such an amazing line-up of artists to the community,” Lowry said. “We hope the event will be successful and we can make it a signature event for the East Alabama region. Tickets are on sale now by visiting Ticketmaster. General admission tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $125. For a complete list of festival details, artist lineup, and other information, visit www.knoxconcertseries.org/knoxoutdoors or us on Facebook and Instagram @knoxoutdoors.
If you want to know more about the artists scheduled to perform, please visit them on social media or their respective wesbites.
Keyton
facebook @keytonrock
Pace House
www.pacehouseband.com
The Lie Within Callie www.theliewithincallie.com
The Bright Light Social Hour www.thebrightlightsocialhour.com
Rattlesnake Rattlers
facebook @therattlesnakerattlers
The Seratones www.seratones.band
The Dexateens www.dexateens.org
St. Paul and the Broken Bones www.stpaulandthebrokenbones.com
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Discover More About the Area at Summer on the Lake The first annual “SUMMER ON THE LAKE” Event will be Saturday, May 20 indoors at Wedowee Marine South on Highway 48 West, Wedowee. Hours are 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. If you are a lake property owner, a weekend visitor to the lake, if your schedule does not allow regular weekday visits, or you are looking for lake property, this is your opportunity to meet and speak with your local officials and with agencies, civic groups and businesses that represent and provide services to Wedowee and the Lake Community. Those on hand will include Commissioners Terry Lovvorn and Larry Roberts who represent the lake Area, State Representative Bob Fincher, Sheriff David Cofield with information about the new jail, Revenue Commissioner Pam Taylor and other officials will be on hand to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Agencies represented include Randolph County EMA, Alabama Cooperative Extension Services, Alabama Game and Fish Division of ADCNR, Volunteer Fire Departments, Randolph County Rescue Squad, Alabama Marine Police, and Wedowee Senior Center. Other exhibitors include Alabama Scenic River Trails, Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, Alabama Power Company, Tallapoosa River Electric
Cooperative, Southern Ambulance Transport, Air Medcare Network, SIFAT, Wedowee Garden Club, Master Gardeners, Lighthouse Kitchen, Randolph County Folk Pottery Exhibit, Randolph County Animal Shelter and the Hospital Auxiliary.
Wedowee Marine, Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and Lake Wedowee Life Magazine. Alabama Power will have information about the permits process, electrical safety, environmental programs and lake cleanup and fish habitat projects.
Tanner Medical System will be on hand with information about the New Tanner East Alabama Hospital scheduled for completion this fall.
Wedowee Marine is providing its Marina Facility for the event and will have on hand all the new boats and water toys. If you have not yet seen the new marina, don’t miss this chance. Check out the specials and promotions.
You will also be able to visit with local Realtors, Home Contractors, Marine and Dock Contractors, Local Banks and providers of residential services, outdoor leisure, recreational and exercise activities and other local businesses. The event is sponsored by Alabama Power Company, Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association,
There will be door prizes contributed by the exhibitors. Hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks will be offered with all proceeds going to Randolph County Animal Shelter. Make your plans to attend this great, inaugural event and discover more about our community.
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The South’s Sweetest Stage
From Willie Nelson to the Beach Boys to the Temptations and Blackberry Smoke, Sweetland Amphitheatre at Boyd Park has welcomed nationally known recording acts to the “South’s Sweetest Stage” for close to a year now. “At times, its hard to believe we have just been doing this for a year,” Becca Eiland, Sweetland Amphitheatre director, said. “We are still getting our feet wet in many ways and its a priority for us to be quality over quantity.” Sweetland Amphitheatre was created, planned and built as a joint venture between the Callaway Foundation, the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority and the city of LaGrange as well as Troup County. “There were some visionaries within the Callaway Foundation for sure,” Eiland said. “It was land deeded to the city for public use.”
Upcoming Shows May 28 The area, established as a city park in 1935, once had a community swimming pool and years later a baseball field, all with assistance from the Callaway Foundation.
Kool & The Gang
“We have had a long history of private-public partnerships,” LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton said during the ribbon cutting of the venue last April.
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June 9 Vince Gill The Molly Ringwalds Sept. 29 TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band
become unused and had started to deteriorate. “When they were trying to figure out what to do with the land. They looked at the footprint of downtown. they thought have an entertainment venue at one end would solidify this area,” Eiland said. “The project is truly a by-product of a fantastic private and public partnership. The Callaway foundation gave 6 million of the 8 million needed for the project. The city and the county gave 1 million each in in-kind donations and monies.” The result of the partnership is Sweetland… a venue the
area can truly enjoy. In addition to big name concerts, other exciting events occur at the park to include Sunsets at Sweetland (music and movie nights in the summer) and festivals. “We are still getting our feet wet in a lot of ways,” Eiland said. “But a priority for us is to be quality over quantity and we do that by thinking of the little things. “We have been very intentional with creating an experience for our patrons,” she said. “It may not be Disney but we actively pursue to be the South’s Sweetest Stage and the experiences we create for our Patrons while there has to be great as well as affordable!”
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The venue is very family friendly and its not uncommon to see kids of all ages playing on the Great Lawn while their parents are catching a show on the stage. “Our Sunsets at Sweetland series is sponsored by the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority and its picnic approved and free,” Eiland said. “We have corn hole games, live music and then we show a movie on the Great Lawn.” The dates for Sunsets at Sweetland are June 2 - Rogue One - A Star Wars story; June 30 — Sing and August 4 — Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them. For more information on Sweetland Amphitheatre, visit our calendar of events as well as the website www.sweetland. events or like the venue on Facebook @sweetlandamphitheatre.
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Summer on Main Festival returns for 9th Year Summer on Main has been a staple of the summer season in downtown Roanoke for 9 years and the event will be once again broken into two separate events. "We have really listened to our vendors and the community," Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dorothy Tidwell said. "The first weekend in June can be extremely hot and make for a very long day, so this year we decided to break things up a little bit." Summer on Main will basically be split into multiple parts with a break during the heat of the day. The traditional Festival and Street Market will begin earlier than in years past. "We will be opening the market at 7:30 in the morning this year and it will last until noon," Tidwell said. "There will be a huge variety of arts, crafts, collectible and flea market vendors not to mention games and loads of fun for the entire family." An addition to this year's festival is the 5K Tiger Run sponsored by Handley High School. It will be a fundraiser for the organization and will begin at 8 a.m. "After lunch we are gonna shut the festival and market down, but we invite everyone to come back for the concert that night," Tidwell said. "Having a break during the day, we hope will make it more enjoyable for everyone!" The concert, which will begin at 6 p.m., will feature a few local gospel groups and will be at The Martin Theatre, the open air venue in downtown Roanoke managed by the Rotary Club of Roanoke. “Mt. Zion Baptist Church from Lafayette will
kick things off at 6 p.m.,” Tidwell said. “Then Voices of Praise will follow them at 7:30.” God’s Mercy will close the night beginning at 8 p.m. The Martin Theatre does not allow pets, glass bottles or smoking on its grounds. For more information on booths for the Summer on Main Market, please contact Dorothy Tidwell at the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce at 334.863.6612 or 334.863.1402. This is a rain or shine event and rental opportunities start at $10. All vendors will be assigned space at the discretion of the festival committee on a first come, first serve basis.
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Summer Programs Brings Kids to College at SUSCC Don’t miss the flurry of activity that will be taking place at Southern Union State Community College’s Wadley campus this June! Children entering the first through the sixth grades are invited to attend the annual Kids Kollege day camp. Held June 12-16, Kids Kollege gives the youth of east central Alabama an opportunity to explore various subjects in a fun, supportive environment. Children participate in sessions such as art, sports, science, dance, and health, giving them a taste of “college life” at SUSCC. The camp also includes a day of fun at a field trip. “We always look forward to Kids Kollege week,” said Shondae Brown, Director of Public Relations at SUSCC. “These students bring such vitality and energy to campus; it is just a fun atmosphere.” Kids Kollege is sponsored by the SUSCC Alumni Association. A $65 registration fee applies which covers snacks each day and the field trip. T-shirts are available for an additional $10. Older students will also have a chance to have some fun at Southern Union this summer. Fine Arts Camp, scheduled for June 21-22, is open to students in grades 7-12 or college age. At a cost of $136, the camp may be taken for college credit by students who meet the college’s entrance requirements. Fine Arts Camps offers training in dance, music, and theatre with intensive instruction in the area of the student’s choice. The camp draws students from throughout the Southeast. Attendees have a chance to study with SU’s renowned fine arts faculty as well as guest instructors. “Studies have shown that education in the arts helps to develop a well-rounded individual and helps to improve learning in all academic areas,” said Brown. “Fine Arts Camp gives students exposure to various disciplines in the arts and hopefully helps them develop an appreciation for things they may not otherwise experience.” Brown added, “These camps are just examples of how Southern Union works to enhance cultural exposure for our area’s youth, to stimulate interest in arts and sciences and to promote community spirit.” For registration information for Kids Kollege visit www.suscc. edu or contact Brown at 256-395-2211 ext. 5145 or sbrown@suscc. edu. To register for Fine Arts Camp contact Dean Steve Spratlin at 256-395-2211 ext. 5105 or email him at sspratlin@suscc.edu.
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Otis Redding III joins Kevin Moon for Summer Sizzle A little bit of Southern Soul will be taking the stage with Kevin Moon for the third week of Summer Sizzle in Clay County.
Sizzle! The Heritage Hall Jazz Band returns featuring local county & state musicians , school and church band instructors. It is directed by Jeff Wood. Opening the Show will be Clay County local group Big Sexy and the Twins.
Otis Redding III will join Moon and friends when they take the statge July 20 and he will bring the smooth tunes his daddy made famous so many years ago. “O3 and I got to talking about a project he was wanting to do and it just came to be,” Moon said. “We have always brought guests with us in the past for Summer Sizzle and we wanted to continue that trend.” Moon has been a fan of Otis Redding Jr. for a long time thanks to a family member turning him onto the great musician. “Really I am a fan of Otis Redding because my brother Shannon was,” Moon said. “He was a huge Otis fan.” Otis Redding III of course will play hits his dad made famous like (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay; Try a Little Tenderness and These Arms of Mine, but Otis Redding III is recording artist in his own right and will bring original songs to the stage for the Lake Wedowee Area to enjoy! Moon and Redding will entertain the crowd with their own take of Country Rhythm and Blues. “We always have a really good crowd in Clay County,” Moon said. “I get to come home and then to have somebody like O3 with me is just the best. I don’t get to play in front of a home crowd often and its even rarer to play in front of a sober crowd… (he laughed) so its always a treat to come
One of the highlights of the series will be July 27 with "Gospel Hour - Clay County Style."
home and play Summer Sizzle!” Summer Sizzle will celebrate its 14th season in 2017 and event organizer Barbara Pollard hopes it will be the biggest crowds ever. “We are so tickled to have the talent week to week,” Pollard said. “It is amazing what Clay County has to offer locally in terms of musical talent and the park is such a great venue to showcase it!” The first night of the music series, July 6, will feature Ryan Robertson and friends in what has become known as Patriotic Night. It will be a mix of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel. "Our first night is always dedicated to our active and retired military," Pollard said. There will also be a special fireworks display after sunset. Everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs for a night under the stars and expect to be entertained by some of the best local artists around. On July 13, Jazz Night will be the theme for the second week of Summer 26 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
"I have always watched Gaither Gospel Hour and have been to so many singings in Clay County, that I knew we could have something similar here," Pollard said. "So I went to Kenneth Yates to help me pull this one together." Last year, Gospel Hour- Clay County Style featured more than 60 gospel singers that entertained more than likely Summer Sizzle's largest crowd to date. The Gospel Hour will also feature a special appearance by the Carter-Robertson Band featuring Ryan Robertson, Roger Hammett and Bryan Carter along with their wives. "We are really hoping to average 1,500 to 2,000 people this year," Pollard said. "If the weather holds, we should be able to reach that goal." Pollard realized in the early stages of Summer Sizzle that she could only do so much to make the event a success, and is the first to admit the Clay County Arts League could not achieve their goals without the help of the local media. The free event also would not be possible without the help of sponsors and grant opportunities. Summer Sizzle is every Thursday in July with music starting at 7 p.m.
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Spending a Day in Ashland is Worth it Retail is a live and well in Ashland! At Christmas, we played a game on Lake Wedowee Life’s Facebook page about naming things you could not buy in Randolph County… You got points awarded to you if you named an item that couldn’t be purchased, but you got more points if you could prove that person wrong… The point of the game was to show what was available in small town USA, well Ashland has even more!!!! Three new businesses have opened on the square in Ashland since December. (Yes, for those that haven’t traveled to Ashland which is about 20 minutes from the heart of Wedowee, the downtown area is arranged around the Clay County Courthouse.) Dreams Bridal, Revive Home Decor and Consignment and Cheaha Music Company have all opened their doors in the last six months. And all offer something unique for the community.
Dreams Bridal Glenda Willard had never heard of Ashland, Alabama until she and her family moved to the area. She had lived in Florida for most of her life and ran Dreams Bridal in Tallahasse, Florida for nearly 30 years. In December, she and her daughter-in-law Robin opened Dreams Bridal on the Square in Ashland and have quickly become a favorite to area dress shoppers. “We offer something unique to the area. We keep a registry and during prom season, we sell one style dress per school,” Glenda said. “A girl can come here and know that we will not sell another dress like hers to anyone at her school.”
Cheaha Music Company Kevin Moon has been in the music business for years and recently opened Cheaha Music Company which is the only music store in the Lake Wedowee Area. “I was working on something with Bryan Carter a couple of months ago and a guy came in looking for guitar strings,” Moon said. “I saw a need so we made some things come together and now we have a music store as part of Cheaha Music Company. We do entertainment booking, recording and sell the occasional pack of guitar strings.”
Actually on the day Lake Wedowee Life visited Cheaha Music Company, Moon did a little more than sell a few strings. He had sold three guitars and brought in a stack of vintage country vinyl. “We have plans to expand… We want t-shirts, and a place to buy locally recorded music. “And, we want to be the place to go to if your mic cable burns up or something else happens and you need a music store close by… Kinda like Harold Harmon and H&M Drugs… I will have the keys in my pocket!”
Revive on the Square Revive Home Decor & Consignment is a collaboration of friends Kim Cain and Cheryl Coleman. “It started as a way to get rid of things that we didn’t want anymore,” Cain said. “But, now we are enjoying playing store and seeing
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all the new things we can find.” Revive is a cool little store located inside Now and Again Boutique (which also sells gently used consignment clothing). The ladies have taken a shine to Southern Brand Favorite Dixie Belle Paint Company products, which is not only available for purchase in the shop, but has also been used to REVIVE several of Cain and Coleman’s treasures.
These three Businesses join Ashland Pharmacy, Britches and Bows and Planters Hardware as must see shops when in Ashland.
Ashland Pharmacy Don’t let the name fool you, Ashland Pharmacy is more than a drug store. If you are looking for a special gift or new outfit, check out this cute little store. You never know what you might find.
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Michelle Burns Phillips takes pride in offering cute boutique clothing and gifts at affordable prices. She carries brands such as Simply Southern, Girlie Girl, Main Street Collection and Mudpie. She has something for the guys too with collegiate t-shirts to support your favorite team.
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Britches and Bows Is the place to go for monogramming in Ashland! If you want one of a kind custom creations, go to them. They do big jobs and custom personalization on all types of things not just t-shirts! No job is too big or small for the ladies at Britches and Bows!
Planters Hardware Planter’s Hardware is an old time hardware store in the truest form, you can buy virtually anything you might need for a house or a farm. From the lumber to build your house to the cross ties to outline your garden you can get it from Walt Runyan at Planter’s Hardware on the Square in Ashland. At Planter’s you will find a selection of Carhartt Clothes, Richard’s Paint, a great selection of hand tools, and even have a new car key made while you wait. Now at this point if you have shopped in all of these stores, you have probably worked up an appetite, well The Square probably has what you are looking for in that department too!
Anderson’s Bistro
Courtsquare Cafe Good ‘ole fashioned meat and three lunch buffet… ‘Nuff Said, right… Well, they also do a seafood buffet once a month and specials all the time!. Keep up to date with them on facebook
Dari Delite
Super Cute little Coffee Shop on the corner of The Square. I am personally a fan of the banana nut french toast! (HEAVEN!!!!!) And, what is so cool about Anderson’s is that they do their desserts with diabetic sweet tooth’s in mind. All of the desserts are sugar free and for those without diabetes, I can tell you, you won’t miss the sugar!!!! They also have a great selection of coffee drinks and sandwiches.
Cassinelli’s The only restaurant on this tour of the town that offers a full drink menu. They have some super cool things on the menu too, like eggplant and Italian specials on Friday nights and oh my gracious the stuffed sandwiches! I had the Philly cheesesteak and it was great but next time I know I will be getting the Cuban and I KNOW I will not be disappointed!
The sauce…and they have ice cream and banana splits and milk shakes… But the sauce… For real… It’s secret yummy goodness that takes me back to my college days!!! Seriously get the sauce! Ashland also has some cool family friendly events planned on the second Saturday of each month. For May, Family Fun Day will be from 8 a.m. until noon and then at 2 p.m. the Ashland Music Festival will take place on The Square. It will feature games, vendors and more along with music of course! Local acts slated to perform are Terry Robbins, Kevin Moon, Argie Darnel, Rocky the Sax Player, and Steve Gaither, Tony Jones, Big Sexy and the Twins, Bryan Carter and Friends, Tommy Sellers and More! The headlining act is Party with Rebel out of Birmingham.
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The House Built for Blessings
Blessing…Depending on who you ask could mean any number of things…It’s what is said before you eat…It’s God’s favor and protection according to the dictionary… And for Ellen Sewell its the reason behind Brown Gables. But to tell the story of Brown Gables you have to go back to a sadder time for Sewell. “My mama had been sick with cancer for some time,” Ellen said. “And that hospital hallway was like our living room for the longest time. But when she died, we didn’t know what to do next. “The hospital was done with us and we had been living on candy bars and junk so my brothers and I decided to go to the Blue and White and figure out what to do next.” Well, when they go to the Blue and White, the hustle and bustle of a restaurant wasn’t exactly the right place for Ellen and her family. “We go there starving, but couldn’t eat a bite,” she 36 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
said. “I couldn’t believe that all this life was happening around us when my mama just died… Didn’t they know? “It was then I realized that it was Fourth of July, and no those people didn't know. I also realized that there should be a place for families in need to go so they can just be.” That was in 1983 and Ellen was 22 years old, but an idea was born that day. It might have taken close to 30 years for that idea to become a reality but it did. Brown Gables is a place for people that need it. “God sends me people to stay here,” she said. “If He didn’t send them, I don’t want them.” Ellen doesn’t advertise and she doesn’t worry about payment. “This is a blessing to me,” Ellen said.”When I was rebuilding this house, gossip traveled all over town and the health inspector came to see me one day after hearing I was opening a B&B… “I’ll never forget it, he said if you are serving breakfast to people, you are gonna have to get inspected… I said I wasn’t opening a B&B, (bed and breakfast). I was opening a B,B & B. I am going to offer people and families in need a bed, a bath and I’m gonna get a blessing!” And, that’s exactly what Ellen Sewell set out to do. “This house wasn’t much when I bought it. In fact it was a boarded up shack that most people would have torn down. I just couldn’t do it. This house was in my soul…” Ellen along with the help of her brother Stephen and 37 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
support from friends and family made the dream into a reality, but it wasn’t without bumps along the way. “We had a a fire in 2008 and had to start over, and I know a lot of people wondered why I didn’t just tear the old Workman house down and start from scratch… but all I can say is this house got a hold of my soul and I had to save it,” Sewell said. Save it she did. Sewell opened it and has been providing a place for families in need ever since. “This house and the people that have stayed here have blessed me in ways I can’t really describe,” Sewell said. “I didn’t do this for any other reason than to provide something for someone when they need it most.”
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Your Whole Home Cabinetry Solution Call us today for an estimate. New home build and remodeling. Office: (256) 396-6533 Fax: (256) 396-5127 Email: jdaugherty@wellborn.com 234 Highway 48 East | Lineville, AL 36266 38 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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The Truth It was time for the women to leave. We took them back to the dock where there were 4 men in a Chevy Suburban waiting. Our wives’ cars were gone from the parking lot and B instructed the women to go with them. “I have the kids at a secure location”, B said. “And the girls will be taken there. I have a house that only I know about that they’ll be in and it has already been worked out with the family and employers that they’ll be gone a while”.
I left the skies at the dock and headed to Delta where I had property, thanks to Jimmy Jack.
When we got to the property, there was a half caved in house and behind it, a barn. We drove around to the barn and pulled the door open to find Jimmy Jack’s truck parked inside . I carefully opened the door, aware that Jimmy Jack had a knack for booby traps. Once inside the truck, I found the key under the visor but when I tried to crank it, the “That’s nice B, battery was dead. but how’d you go We popped the about that?” I asked. hood and I checked by “ Well”, he said. the battery with “Apparently, Kim now, the truth is more my multi meter won the lottery, and it was fine so I of what you want than crawled under the so she is taking us all to Hawaii truck to check the the gold I promised. for a vacation. It’ll connection to the be a while before starter and it was anyone knows loose. An envelope what’s going on, so was attached to it gives us time to the starter. After figure all this out”. tightening the bolt, B cranked the truck up and drove We took the pontoon boat it out of the barn while I opened back that I borrowed and picked the envelope to find another up the skies I had modified note from Jimmy Jack. It read: and launched them behind my
...I think,
house. Big A headed back to the shack while B George and
“Charley, or at least I hope this is you. The only way I figured you would
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find this is to disable my truck and hope you would try to fix it like you did the day we met. I can only hope this is you so I could tell you something you need to know and explain it before someone else tells you something that isn’t true. My name is Jimmy Jack, but it used to be Jimmy Jack Manus. I had it changed when I found out the truth and I think, by now, the truth is more of what you want than the gold I promised. The truth is that my mother died when she gave birth to me. After that , my dad raised me. He used to tell me stories about the treasure and that there was a map his grandad had that showed where the treasure was. He died before he could tell me where it was. This, you already knew to some extent. I was only 7 when my dad died. I have very few memories of him other than when he picked me up from the neighbor’s house after work, took me home, fed me, and went to bed. But I do remember the day he died. A man came to our house that morning looking for dad. Dad was at work and I told the man he’d be home that night. I left to play with my friends and when I came home around dark, there were several cars in front of the house, one was a police car. When I got to the door, I was met by a policeman and he took me out on the porch. He told me there was an accident at
the mine and that my father was involved. He told me my father was dead. Then the man that had come by the house that morning came out to the porch and told me he was my father’s brother and that he was going to take care of me.
The letter was to me. It warned me of the Manus family and that they could part of me that says forget it, find never know about the map. Then I started the gold and be rich. to realize that Willard Earl’s father showing up the very day my all the time. Sometimes when I was father died was probably not a bad and sometimes for no reason. I coincidence……. I wasn’t a Manus. I think he hated me and I hated him was the farthest thing from a Manus. back. If it wasn’t for Willard Earl, I
There’s
Everything happened so fast after that. Other than a few things, everything in the house, including the house, was auctioned off and a few days later, I was living in Wedowee with my uncle and cousins. My uncle used to ask me about the gold and the stories my dad told me. Sometimes he would have someone there taking notes. I don’t think he could write. But I couldn’t write either. My cousins went to school, but I couldn’t. My uncle said that I had to stay behind and tend the farm and that’s what I did. He beat me
wouldn’t have learned anything. He would get me up after everyone went to sleep and would teach me how to read and write. He was the closest thing to a friend and a brother I ever had, and to this day, I wish I had that back, but it wasn’t meant to be.
I was twelve when I found the map. Only then did I realize that this man wasn’t my uncle. Along with the map, there was a letter from my father. I think he knew there may be trouble from the Manus family.
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I left that minute. It didn’t matter what my age was. I was as old at heart as those that abused me, and thanks to the beatings and the scars I received from my uncle, I looked much older than my age. But even then, people knew I was young. There was kindness from strangers and others that weren’t so kind but I learned how to take care of myself. Everything I earned, other than what it took to survive, I saved. I worked the Florida panhandle in the orange orchids and when I
had enough money, I would buy property. As I got older, I got better skilled and made more money until one day, I decided to return to Wedowee and claim what was mine. When I returned, at the age of nineteen, I found the Manus family squatting on the land that my father left me. I filed a lawsuit and got awarded the land that was deeded to me, the Manus’s had the rest, leaving my property landlocked. Willard Earl, who was the closest thing I had to a brother, hated me. I don’t know if it was because of the law suit or something he was told but that was the end of our friendship. My self-proclaimed uncle was dead, buried on the land that was rightfully mine. Then came the Korean conflict. I did two tours in Korea, and later, one tour in Vietnam as a munitions expert. Then, once again, it was time to go home. But this time, I had my fill of battle, my fill of conflict. I had saved my money and bought a farm in Delta. I wanted to put the treasure behind me and just settle down to a normal life so I bought the farm in Delta and began raising cattle and growing hay. But Willard Earl wouldn’t have it. He would take down the fences and steal my cattle. He burned my hay fields. He persisted until I had no option. I wasn’t going to let them walk all over me again. If it was my father’s land they wanted, they would have to be willing to die to get it because I was willing to die to keep it from them. I had nothing to lose. I would fight these people until there was no one left. I learned, through a long military career, exactly how to do that and if they wanted a fight, I was totally willing to give them one. I’ve got no family left and that is why I gave it to you. I saw strength and honesty in your eyes and knew you would respect my wishes and my ancestors who have long past. They died to protect what is ours. You have to be strong and willing to defend yourself and your family as well as the legacy I’m leaving to you. Fight them, Charley, fight them. But be smart about it. Someone has to end this but it won’t be me. I’ve reached my end, which is why I’m calling on you to make things right. Do what you have to do but follow your heart. You have to understand this, and that is that it’s time for the feud and the bloodshed, to end. I have too much hate in my heart to do it. That’s why I’m calling on you to step up and do the right thing.” “The right thing?” I thought. “What is the right thing?”
Charley Norton is the co-owner of Norton’s Flooring with his brother Tom. His mom and dad started the company in 1976. The tale of Jimmy Jack is a work of fiction, please do not attempt to harm Charley in an effort to claim the treasure for yourself! Enjoy the story and see where it takes us all! 42 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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W h e r e
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Nancy & Richard Burnes, Nic, Laurie, Evan, Alex Katherine and Tony Griffith brought LWL to Harbour Island Bahamas; Ashley White celebrated graduating from Auburn University with her sons River, Wade and Caulder on a recent trip to Disney World; Alex and Ashley Raughton visited Washington DC with LWL; Berta Nardaciones en-
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joyed LWL while visiting from Ururguay; Jackie Wiggins and her family visited Kilauea lighthouse on Kauai in Hawaii recently. Not so recently, (2012 in fact) Steve Blaskowski accompanied Ashley White to adopt Caulder in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. ď Š 44 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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R e a d e r ’ s
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Clancy Weaver
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Brittany Campbell To submit readers photos, please email hi resolution pictures to news@ lakewedoweelife. com Us the subject line Readers Photos. Thanks!
Clancy Weaver
Deanna Bohannon 46 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
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Ashley Butler is a wife and mother of two boys. Throughout her journey, she has witnessed the ever-changing colors of the kaleidoscope called life. But, most importantly, she has experienced the true transforming power of Jesus Christ. Her heart’s desire is to apply her unique perspective and encourage others along the way, knowing that they too can benefit from the same redemptive power she knows through Christ.
Just Drive
Most of us have heard the quote from Mark Twain, “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” I love that. I love it right up to the point of letting go of the trunk of the tree. Yep, that’s when my love for that quote rapidly shifts from admirable to afraid. Letting go of the familiar to step directly into the unfamiliar seems to be a problem for me. How about for you? If you are much like me, my comfort zone seems pretty secure. The scripture says in Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)” Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Nothing about that verse says, “I might help you”. It specifically says, “I will”. Let me be clear, I am a pansy and typically a chicken. Too many things from my past tell me “I can’t”. God tells me “I can”. He is with me. He is with this tree trunk clenching scaredy-cat. The Lord created us so fearfully and wonderfully, that He already knew my strengths and weaknesses before I took my first breath. Yet, He uses me anyway. Each one of us has a story. A beautiful story penned by the
Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. Someone reading this is standing on the corner of “I can’t” and “I can”. Philippians 4:13(KJV) lets us know “I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me.” That is a promise. Take that promise and make the turn on the down the road of “I can” and just drive. One of my favorite things to do is to hop in my car, roll down the windows,
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pump some jams and just drive. No directions. No certain destination, just knowing that I’m clearing my thoughts, moving forward and trusting the journey. Life choices should be the same. Keeping our eyes fixed on the cross, let’s jump into our dreams and just drive. I believe in the power of Jesus Christ and I believe His power will work through you. Just drive.
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Updated Southern Staple For anyone who grew up with a sibling or two, you probably understand the chaos of having brothers and sisters around. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles before, I grew up with five siblings—two sisters and three brothers. Having that many siblings around increased the likeliness of fights and arguments. Now that we are grown and on our own, living separate life journeys, I find that we are growing closer together. We’ve all heard the saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but I guess all it takes is a change of location, address and territory to remind you that family is forever. I have grown especially close to my older sister, Michelle. She is beyondbeautiful, inside and out. Since we spent a good bit of our time bickering and making annoying comments to each other, etc. typical sister stuff, I don’t think she realized how much I always looked up to her. Most of the time I envied her. Things always seemed to come easy for Michelle. She was always on the all As honor roll throughout her school career. (Elementary through college) I have always admired her maturity and her courage to stand up for things especially her family. I’m lucky enough to call her my best friend now. I simply can’t imagine what my life would look like without her.
Tracy Tip: Other Veggies can be used for this delightful sandwich. Suggestions to try include squash, zucchini or even eggplant.
We get together as often as we can. During one of my recent visits she made and served a sandwich that I am utterly obsessed with right now. I have made it three times within a week. It’s so simple and easy to make and perfect for tomato season so I would like to share it with you.
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Roasted Tomato Panini 1-2 fresh Roma Tomatoes Sliced Pepper Olive Oil Preheat oven to 375 degrees Place sliced tomatoes on a jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil then pepper. Bake until shriveled (you could also roast with garlic if there isn’t any in your pesto) Slice the focaccia bread and spread basil pesto on both sides of the bread. (Careful, pesto has a strong flavor)
Mozzarella or smoked Provolone Cheese, sliced Basil Pesto (optional) Spinach leaves Put a layer of spinach on one side of the bread. Place your tomatoes on top of the spinach. Put a layer of mozzarella slices on the opposite side. Return to the oven to melt the cheese and toast the bread on broil. Once the cheese has melted and your bread is toasty remove from the oven and place the two
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sides together and enjoy.
Notes: I used an infused olive oil called Tuscan Infused Olive Oil which adds even more flavor but you can use regular olive oil and I find that the sliced block cheese melts much better than the prepackaged shredded cheese.
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Index of Advertisers 431 Boutique Affordable Tire and Repair AGL Andersons Bistro Ashland Pharmacy Ballard Stump Grinding Bank of Wedowee Benefield Funeral Home Bonner Heating and Air Britches & Bows Cassanelli’s Chad Lee, Attorney at Law charles thompson Cheaha Music Co. City of Ashland Clay County Arts League Clay County Tire and Retread Corson’s Tree Service Court Square Cafe Dari Delite Deason Home Inspections
45 42 12 31 33 43 43 10 27 33 31 42 3 33 35 47 34 17 31 31 25
Docks Plus More 27 Dr. Michael Edwards 25 Dreams Bridal 33 Ego 35 EHC Pharmacy 51 Emergency Medical Transport 23 First Bank 41 First State Bank 29 Genesis Weightloss 45 GLL Marine 20 H&M Drugs 18, 25 Halls Gas 22 Happy Trails Resturant 17 Hunterbend Realty 21 Jon Boys Smoke House 21 John Keith Warren 32 Knox Outdoor Music Festival 17 Lake Wedowee Body Shop 23 Lineville Clinic 27 Lipsense 56
Main Street Animal Hospital Miss Amber’s Main Street Coffee Shop Norton’s Flooring Perry Land Foods Planters Hardware Randolph County Farmers Coop Randolph County Appliance RE/MAX Lakefront Grady and Linda Stone RE/MAX Lakefront Leisa Waldrep Revive Robinson Relics Russell Do It Center Smalltown Bank Southern Holiday Mini Shops Southern Home Comfort Southern Union State
23 39 49 51 32 28 25 40 23 35 38 43 45 53 49
Community College 28 State Farm Agent, Ken Seiffert 39 State Farm Agent, Mike Coleman 28 Steele Chiropractic 48 Superior Gas 21 Superior Pest Control 27 Sweetland Amphitheatre 2 Tanner Medical Center 4, 13 Traylor’s Retirement Community 49 TREC 39 Waste Solutions 39 Wedowee Building Supplies 47 Wedowee Lake and Lands 17 Wedowee Landscape 53 Wedowee Marine 11 Wellborn Cabinet 39 WM Grocery 55 Worship on Water 39
Mini Store Location Main Street Coffee Shop Wedowee, AL
Find Our Southern Brand Favorites Dixie Belle Paint, Southern Sisters Gourmet, Ala Cart Alice Soups, Jennifer’s Kitchen Pepper Jelly Aunt Bee’s Pie Mixes, and Lake Wedowee T-Shirts and Caps 53 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE 2017
Parting Shot
Photo by Bob Krug “My mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, ‘Mom, they weren’t trying to teach you how to swim.’” Paula Poundstone
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