Under the lights Small town heroes emerge on Friday nights October/November 2008 • www.LakeWedoweeLife.com •
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Table of
Contents
October/November 2008
Vol. 1 No. 5
Under the Lights: 23. Small Town Heroes Emerge on Friday Nights
Special this Month
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13. The Creative Side: Boone returns home to teach her passion 26. How it All Begin: Clearing lake lots is a way of life for Wortham 24. Community gathering: Local football is a community event 28. The Tradition continues: The Clay Bowl continues after 98 meetings 40. Home on the Lake: Imagination inspires design of Krug lake home.
Monthly Features
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7. Enjoy Life! - Letter from the Editor 8. Beyond the Lake 17. Simply Fabulous 20. Lake Map 28. Readers’ Photos 36. Hooked on Lake Wedowee 44. Wedowee Currents 48. Lake Levels 50. Redneck Adventures
Contributing writers Darlene Bailey, Lavoy Caldwell, Reed Montgomery and Skeeter Lake Wedowee Life 5
On the Cover For this cover, we decided to pay homage to the most important activity in the area during the fall. Football is king in this part of the world and the jerseys on the cover represent the six teams in Randolph and Clay counties.
Publisher
General Manager
KELLY WALDROP
LEISEL CALDWELL
Editor KELLY CALDWELL news@lakewedoweelife.com (256) 276-7959
Advertising Sales LAVOY CALDWELL ads@lakewedoweelife.com (334) 863-0737
Lake Wedowee Life 18285 Highway 431 Wedowee, AL 36278
Even Lake Wedowee Life
Lake Wedowee Life magazine is published six times a year and available around the Lake Wedowee area which includes Randolph and Clay Counties in Alabama as well as parts of West Georgia. Distribution locations available by request. Paid mail subscriptions are available for $12 a year.
Putting work on hold to appreciate life This issue of the magazine has been the hardest to get in the readers hands. It is even a little later than normal hitting the streets, but life got in the way of work this time around and I hope you understand. Bill Glass was my grandfather and on September 18 he decided this world wasn’t for him anymore. So work got put on hold and that’s something my granddaddy would never have done. A lot of you reading this knew him and know Bill Glass appreciated hard work but was always looking for a way to do things “cheapa.” I know when someone dies, it is supposed to be slowing walking and sad singing, but I have never been normal and that’s not what it is all about for me (even though I did my share of slow walking and sad singing.) What comforts me when I am mourning someone’s passing is laughter. Remembering the fun times and silly stories is what helps my grieving process. I’ll be the first to tell you. My granddad wasn’t the easiest person to know. He loved to call the shots, and he was the ALPHA male of the family. But, if you could make him laugh, you knew it. He wasn’t a person that laughed loudly, but when he laughed his whole body shook. He also has a quick wit about him that made other people laugh too. He wanted my younger sister to dye his white hair jet black after she experimented drastically with her hair color last year. It was also interesting to learn new things about my granddad because I didn’t know that he had been on the homecoming court at the University of Alabama. My younger sister didn’t know that he tried out of the University of Georgia basketball team and made it. (He enlisted in the Navy instead of becoming a Bulldog). It’s the little things in life that make the person who they are and hearing the stories is what I enjoy because that keeps him alive in my heart. And what’s life about if you don’t have the memories? The other thing my granddaddy’s passing made me realize is Life is too Short and you shouldn’t let pride stand in the way of your happiness. I have made mistakes and it is a hard pill to swallow when you realize you have made one but if you are holding onto pride at the expense of your happiness, then you aren’t really living. You have to create those memories that your grandchildren will share with others. So go out there and live!!!!
Enjoy Life! Kelly Caldwell Lake Wedowee Life 7
Sportsman’s paradise found at Circle W B
ack in the day, sometime along about the middle part of the last century, a young man could spend countless hours with a couple of dogs hunting partridge quail, the gentleman of all game birds. It was fairly easy to find coveys of quail anywhere you would hunt, both sets of my grandparents lived within a stone’s throw of each other and it was not unusual to find a couple of coveys working the broom sedge fields between their houses. That was back in the day. Nowadays one would be hard pressed to find a covey of quail in all of Randolph and Clay counties combined.
Beyond the Lake Story by Lavoy Caldwell Photos by Kelly Caldwell So what happened to the birds? Many things have combined to make quail hunting a difficult thing to do these days. Farming has been replaced by vacant land or development; fox, coyote, feral housecats, and other predators have been allowed to multiply and no one burns off their land anymore to clear out the underbrush. All these things contributed mightily to the demise of quail hunting. Fully aware of the rapidly declining “wild bird” population, Danny White wanted to provide a place for sportsmen to be able to experience the true joy of a “southern style” quail hunt. “Where there is no vision, the people will perish…” Proverbs 29:18 8 Lake Wedowee Life
Thrill of the hunt: Quail hunting is not as abundant as it once was. With the help of Danny White, new generations are exposed to the joy of hunting the birds. White had the vision, he had the available land, he had the dogs, and with God’s help he created one of the premier quail hunting and sport shooting locations in the southeast.
Nestled along the banks of the Tallapoosa River with Mount Cheaha as a backdrop, Circle W Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays in Heflin is almost a trip back in time.
Fun for all: Danny White (above) opened Circle W Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays in 1997. The world class bird dogs are available for hunts or the hunter can choose to bring his own dogs if he wishes. A quail hunt at Circle W begins with the group being greeted by White, his son Josh or any one of the other 8 fully trained guides.
After licenses and guns are checked and the dogs loaded, it is off to the fields, where a couple of the finest birddogs are released to begin searching the area for birds. A whistle here, a voice command there and soon the hunter is presented with one of the most beautiful sights this writer has ever witnessed, a birddog frozen on point. Walking slowly up behind the dog, shotgun at high port arms, easing along, waiting, then suddenly from a clump of grass the bird burst into the air. The shooter swings the shotgun along the flight of the bird, pulling the barrel slightly ahead of the flying bird, the hunter squeezes the trigger. If he is lucky, a puff of brown feathers are floating in the air and the command “DEAD BIRD” is given to the dog, who then searches out and retrieves the bird. This scene can repeat itself many times during the hunt until the hunter has reached his limit of birds. Then it is back to the house for a wonderful southern style home cooked meal and relaxation, along with a bit of teas-
ing for all those “missed birds”. After relaxing a bit the hunter may choose to visit the sporting clays range to hone his shooting skills or simply sit on the patio and enjoy the gift of nature that God has given him. At Circle W, you can experience the true essence of a “southern style” quail hunt. Couple that joy with laughter, fellowship and general good time spent out in the country with friends, family, or business associates and you can honestly say…WOW!!! What have I been missing? Circle W Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays is located off I-20 in Heflin. For more information, visit www.circlewhuntingpreserve.com. Lake Wedowee Life 9
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Boone returns home to teach passion Being passionate about your work comes easier to Jennifer Boone than most people. She has loved dance since she was a little girl and for the past two years has used her passion to reach out to the next generation of dancers. “I started taking dance when I was 3 years old,” she said. “I absolutely fell in love with it. I wore a leotard every where I went until I went to kindergarten.
The Creative Side Story and Photos By Kelly Caldwell “Then, I would wear it under my dress to school because they didn’t let you wear leotards to school.” That spark has lasted for more than 20 years and Boone continues to wear a leotard most days as the owner of Dance Center on Main. “I started taking dance with Sonja Fincher when I was 10 years old and I absolutely fell in love with her,” Boone said. “She is one of my all time favorite people and I always wanted to be just like her.” She took dance at the Roanoke Academy of Ballet under Fincher for the next four years until Fincher left the studio to become the dance instructor at Southern Union State Community College. “I stayed in bed for a month and cried when she left because I wasn‘t going to be in college for a long time and I couldn‘t dance with her,” Boone remembered. “I went and danced with her anyway and pretended I was a college girl.” Boone danced her way through high school and college and during her time at Southern Union, Boone danced with Stephen Boss aka
Twitch from “So You Think You Can Dance.” When she went to Auburn Boss ended up helping get her a job at the Auburn School of Dance and Performing Arts. “He taught hip hop there and he was getting ready to go to Los Angeles and do all the amazing things he has done,” Boone said. “He gave me a great recommendation and Leslie Cook, the owner, called and offered me the job.” While working for Cook, Boone
realized she wanted to open her own dance studio, and when she decided to return to her roots, there was one person’s blessing she wanted. Vickie Parker took over the Roanoke Academy of Ballet when Fincher went to Southern Union all those years ago, and Parker was one of the first people Boone told about her idea. “She told me to please open the studio because she turned students away every year,” Boone said. “She
Family Business: Jennifer Boone may be the instructor at Dance Center on Main but she relies heavily on her parents Brenda and Charley Boone for support in this business venture. wanted me to go for it and has been very supportive.” Boone moved back in May of 2006, opened the studio that August and has been teaching ever since. She started a performance company and the competition team Diamonds and Perle. “Perle has been a family nickname for me since I was a little girl,” Boone said. “My dad gave me the nickname when I was little because I loved to watch HeeHaw and Minnie Perle was my favorite. So when I came time to name by competition team I decided to keep the nickname going.” The team has traveled all over the Southeast competing and have won countless awards for its efforts. For all the work Boone has done to bring her dream to life, she is the first to admit she couldn’t do it alone. “This has definitely been a family project,” she said. “I am the creative one , but my mom and dad have made this happen.” Charley Boone, her father, renovated the original location and the new one while her mother Brenda is the business manager at the studio. “She is the heart and soul of the dance center,” Boone said. “She deals with the things I don’t want to and she is what keeps this place going. “And, my dad did an amazing job with getting the building ready. None of this would be possible without him.” 14 Lake Wedowee Life
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Tailgating takes talent W
e are in the heart of football season and it doesn’t matter if you cheer for the Bobcats, Tigers or Bulldogs tailgating at a high school game could be a lot of fun. The key to it is making it as easy as possible.
Simply Fabulous Story by Darlene Bailey Photos by Kelly Caldwell We also have some pretty big college games coming up in the next few weeks and Saturday football is always a big deal no matter what team you cheer for. As you do your weekly shopping keep your eyes open for some cute theme or team colored dishes. This makes the displaying of your food more fun. I came up with a couple of crowd pleasing recipes to share with you for tailgating and I am sure you will love them so much you will do them again and again. So put on your team shirt and let's get cookin! This column is dedicated to the Jayda Leigh Henley family.
Weenie Bacon Wrap 1 pkg. hotdog weenies 1 (12oz) pkg. bacon
1 box light brown sugar toothpicks
Preheat oven to 375. Cut each winnie and bacon slice into 4 pieces. Wrap winnie bite with bacon and secure with toothpick (makes easy pickup when serving) Sprinkle generously with brown sugar. Bake 2530 minutes.
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In Memory
Jayda Leigh Henley One of the Woodland Bobcats youngest fans, Jayda Leigh Henley was visited August 30,2008 by Heaven's angel. Jayda is now in the arms of our Heavenly Father sharing her precious smile that so, so many of us will miss.
Cream Cheese Squares 2 cans crescent rolls 1 tsp lemon juice 2 pkg cream cheese
1/2 t. vanilla flavoring 1 c. sugar 1 egg yolk
Blend cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, egg and vanilla until creamy. Spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam and spread 1 can of rolls in bottom of dish.(pinch seams together so mixture will not escape) Pour mixture over crust then do the same with remaining can of rolls to make a crust. Bake on 375 until golden brown and center is set. Let cool completely or chill and cut into squares.
Clearing lots is second nature This is the second of a multi-part series on how Lake Wedowee has evolved into what it is today. In future issues, Lake Weowee Life will reach out to other pioneers around Lake Wedowee that have seen the transformation of this area. Chester Wortham has been a part of Lake Wedowee since the very beginning and continues the same work he did more than 30 years ago. “I went to work for Alabama Power in 1976 and I was the first one to run a tractor to grade off the start of the dam,” Wortham said. He continued with the power company until the early 1980s when he went into business for himself. “I have graded lots all over this lake,” Wortham said. “There isn’t anywhere I haven’t been with my equipment.” He admits now that in the early days it was easier because there were more lots with a gentle slope, but 30 years of experience and numerous equipment purchases later, Wortham feels confident in clearing any lot on this lake. “We have turned a few tractors over in my time, but we have learned a lot along the way,” he said. “There isn’t a lot I wouldn’t touch now. If people have the money, we can go in and clear it.”
Being one of the first graders on this lake, Wortham has seen it evolve not only in price but also in restrictions. “In the early days, Alabama
How it all began Story and Photos by Kelly Caldwell Power was a lot more lenient on what we could do on the water,” he said. “They have gotten stricter over the years and I guess it makes sense because it protects the lake. That’s one of the biggest changes other than the prices.” When Wortham first began clearing lots, the prices were a frac-
tion of what they are today. “Good point lots back there were bringing eight to 10,000 dollars,” he said. “And, some people thought that was too much because there wasn’t as much money around back in those days.” Over the years, Wortham has gotten into buying and selling property in addition to clearing and grading lake lots. “The lake has been good to me. I have done well working on it,” he said. “I am still doing what I started out doing, I just have bigger equipment now.” The lake and people’s demand for property continues to surprise Wortham. “We thought this things would have bottomed out years ago, but there is still a draw for this lake and it continues to draw people,” he said. While the demand is still here, Wortham chuckles at the people who didn’t buy into this lake when they had the chance. “When this thing first came in, people wouldn’t pay the prices back then, and now we hear all the time about people wishing they had bought back 10 years ago or in some cases 20 years ago. But, the thing is they had the chance and didn’t take the risk,” he said. “Life is about risk and this lake proves that.”
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Small town heroes emerge T
here are not many things that rally a community like high school football. Fridays are game days and every other day of the week is preparing for game day. The high school athletes participating in football are recognized
by their peers and members of the community because they don that jersey for their team on Fridays. Heroes emerge for a variety of reasons on game day some because they make the big plays or they rally the team or they are the
everyday hero that shows up to work. The four young men featured here exemplify that and more by their words and actions both on and off the football field. All four agree football is more than a game
Story and Photos by Kelly Caldwell Lake Wedowee Life 23
Local football is a community event
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Football is more than a team sport in this area. Friday night games are a community event. It doesn’t matter if you are a Tiger, Bulldog or Bobcat, football is a chance to catch up with friends and watch the game. With bands and cheerleaders there is also more entertainment than just the four quarters of play. The images here depict just how many people are touched by football on any given Friday. It reaches the young and the young at heart.
played on Fridays and involves more than just the players on the field. “Being part of a winning team is something you can’t really describe,” Handley’s Rob Harper said. “The adversity of losing seasons makes you want to try harder but the rush of winning is extraordinary.” Harper plays defensive end and guard for the Handley Tigers and will complete his senior year with them in the coming weeks. “Most of the time the younger players don’t realize the importance of football like seniors do,” he said. “IT comes with experience.” Wadley’s Tyler Clark relates to the football experience. “Football is a way of life,” he said. “The feeling of the game while you are playing it is indescribable.” The game of football is more than four quarters played during the fall. It teaches discipline, leadership and commitment as well as the opportunity to experience a thrill of a lifetime. “Football changed my whole life,” Clark said. “It has taught me to never give up and you can do anything you put your mind to.” Randolph County’s Ethan Fowler, a junior middle linebacker and center, knows there is lessons to be learned from football aside from winning and losing. “Football has taught me everything,” he said. “Hard times are going to come and you 26 Lake Wedowee Life
A way of life: Rob Harper (above) and Ethan Fowler (top) have played for their respective teams heir entire high school careers. They appreciate the fan support they see on Friday nights and know that football has taught them lessons for life after the gridiron.
More than a game: Justin Heard (above) and Tyler Clark (top) love the game of football and give it all they have every time they enter the game. The duo also know the responsibilities of being a football player in a small town and how they are role models.
just have to tough them out and be prepared for them. It also teaches you so much discipline.” With the successes on the field, high school football players are often launched into celebrity status in small communities. “It is hard to believe when little kids recognize me as a football player,” Woodland’s Justin Heard said. “It puts a lot of pressure on me because they expect you to do the best and everyone knows what you are doing.” With that kind of exposure being a role model comes with the territory for these young men. “I hope I am a role model,” Heard said. “I do good on the field, I do good in the classroom and I try to do good in life so I hope I am a role model.” Regardless of the position the experience of playing under the lights on Fridays is something these four along with their teammates wouldn’t trade for anything. “There is nothing like Friday nights under the lights,” Fowler said. “You have butterflies at first and you know you have to go out and play. You can’t be scared. The crowd gets you excited and ready to go.” Harper agreed the fan support adds to the excitement on game day. “We have some of the best fans,” he said. “It doesn’t matter our record, they still come support us and it makes such a difference.”
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John Triplett
Brian Buck
Missy Ritter
Tammy Sweet
To be included in Life on Lake Wedowee; submit your photos to news@lakewedoweelife.com. Large photo files are preferred. Please include the name of the photographer and the details about the photograph.
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Missy Ritter
Dawn Peterson
Missy Ritter
Laura Krug
Summer on Lake Wedowee was enjoyed in a variety of ways. Some chose to take the plunge off a dock, ride intertubes, make a splash on a rope swing or taking boat rides. Next summer will bring even more memories. Pam Baker
Missy Ritter Lake Wedowee Life 29
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More than a typical game For the last 86 years there has not been a game more important in Clay County than when the Clay County Panthers face off against the Lineville Aggies. Fights have broken out because of it, injuries are common place and cheerleaders have been known to get suspended and all of those events have occurred prior to kickoff. “The Clay Bowl is serious busi-
ness around here,” Ricky New, a Lineville supporter, said. “It is bigger than the Iron Bowl to people in this part of the world.” While the fans get into the game, the pranks and stunts have been toned down over the years. For the 2008 regular season meeting, the two teams held pep rallies and bon fires on Thursday night and then the game occurred without major incident Friday with
Clay County winning Lineville leads the series 51-42-4 after this year’s regular season, but Clay County has a 6-game winning streak against its cross the creek rival headed into the playoffs. “It is tough just playing them once a year but because of the region, we can play them twice,” Panthers’ coach Danny Horn said. Before the current playoff model was adopted the Clay Bowl was
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traditionally set for the last game of the season. However, with the modern playoff system, the first meeting is played earlier in the season. In fact, there have been 10 times where the rivals have met twice in the same season and this year could be the 11th occurrence considering both teams are in the same classification again. One of the most important meetings of the two teams was in 1996 when they battled for the state title. “There are two Clay Bowls that mean the most to me,” Horn said. “Beating them in state championship game (42-0) and then when we had that 55 game-winning streak going and we won 10-7.” However, that state championship win was not the largest margin of victory. Lineville holds that honor. “Yeah, we beat them 48-0 my senior year,” Winford McDonald, Lineville supporter and former player, said. “That’s the biggest margin of victory in the series.” McDonald’s senior season was in 1961 and the most points scored in a single game was the second meeting of 1998 when the Aggies won 42-18. “This week is fun to see because of how excited people get and how hard they work,” Lineville coach Steve Giddens said. “I think the Clay Bowl is important to our way of life here.” There are several members of the Lineville and Ashland communities that have “switched sides” over the years and Giddens is currently one of the most prominent considering Horn and he played football for the Panthers in the early 1980s. “We were best friends from day 1 of the first grade,” Giddens said. “We played together at Clay County and we coached together
A way of life: The 98th meeting of Lineville and Clay County occurred Sept. 19, 2008. If both teams make the playoffs, the two teams could face off again before the season ends. at Randolph County, but I have been at Lineville for 14 years and my kids have gone to school here. I have been here long enough that I feel like I have always been here. “It’s hard to truly remember what it was like to be over there. I love Lineville and there is no other school I would rather beat than Clay County now.”
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Visit your Clay County Chamber of Commerce on the world wide web at
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Fall means BIG Bass on Lake Wedowee A
lthough the mid September period is officially the beginning of the Fall season its actually more like the first week of October, before visible changes take place. Leaves on the trees surrounding Lake Wedowee's shoreline begin their annual transition. Lake levels fall. Cooler nights slowly creep in and the days get shorter with each passing week.
Hooked on Lake Wedowee by Reed Montgomery Not only does the lake and its surrounding hillsides go through some major changes during the fall period, but the fish that occupy this lake begin to make their annual move towards the shallows to feed and fatten up for the upcoming winter months ahead. The largemouth bass, that are a major portion of Lake Wedowee's fish population, have reached enormous weights. Some bass now exceed 10 pounds and some bass are close to state record proportions, meaning they could weigh 16 1/2 pounds or better. Yes, you read it right. Bass in the "teens" are common on Lake Wedowee! There was a good population of big largemouth bass already in these waters (prior to impoundment), some bass exceeding that seemingly, almost magical mark of ten pounds. Some even bigger. Today those bass (and their offspring) have had over 25 years to grow and reach a possible size that will exceed Alabama's current 16 1/2 pound state record large36 Lake Wedowee Life
Big day on the lake: A good day this fall can show BIG Bass Action! (All bass were released alive) mouth bass. As the season progresses it marks the beginning of Lake Wedowee's "best six months of big, trophy bass fishing.� This opportunity continues right on into the Winter season and early Spring. As waters cool during the later part of the Fall season these huge bass often feed in reckless abandon, letting their guard down. At times they become very foolish in their attempts to chase down the days next meal. Which is often not a meal at all - but some fake offering - some skilled angler has thrown their way to entice them to bite. Anglers attempting to fool one of these true, trophy sized Lake Wedowee largemouth bass, can make the mistake of trying to tackle such an adversary with the
wrong equipment. Usually the end result is inevitably very sad. Many anglers, those that are even fortunate enough to get a one of these rare, Big Bass Bites...only have the old tale to tell of, " the one that got away." Preparation is the Key to Success Like any endeavor, preparation is the key to success. Make no mistake about it -- there are some huge, tackle-testing bass-- in this lake! But always keep this thought in mind, if you are considering going after such an adversary. You only get one chance. Most anglers only hook into a bass exceeding ten pounds in this lake maybe once or twice in a lifetime. Why mess up the only chance you will have, by not being ready for that bass of lifetime? REELS AND RODS
To tackle such a huge bass you need a good, strong dependable reel and a rod that will aid you in setting the hook and landing these huge bass. REELS - Use reels that will hold plenty of heavy, thick line. Keep in mind the thicker the line, the more space it takes up on your reel. Wide spooled reels are suggested. Reels with ratios of 4.7 or better, are suggested. You will need line test of 17-20 pound test or better. I prefer Trilene Big Game 20 pound test monofilament line. Some anglers use braided line or fluorocarbon line. Always adjust your reels drag each morning of your trip. A reels drag can be frozen or locked up at any time of the year. RODS - Most anglers have a specific rod they enjoy fishing with. That's OK. But some old rods have weak spots from constant years of use. If you are one of these anglers get a new one. When a rod breaks you usually do not get a good hook set and the end results are lost bass. Rods with a good backbone should have a good tip as well. Lighter tips on strong rods are great for sensitivity and feeling strikes, like from the use of such lures as worms, jigs and tube baits drug across the lakes bottom. FISHING LINE, HOOKS AND KNOTS Fishing line, hooks, and the knots you tie your lures with, are
Prize winner: It’s possible to fool a real 10-pound bass like this one with a little preparation! all major links between you and that, "bass of a lifetime." Don't make the mistake of using old line that has been on your reel for months. Or the use of cheap, weak line or using line that is less than 17 pound test, that can get damaged easily and break. Going to 20 pound test monofilament line (or even bigger) is security when you do manage to hook into one of these huge, Lake Wedowee largemouth bass. Good, quality sharp hooks are worth the extra money you pay for them. Today's hooks are very sharp, right out of the package. Most hooks do not even need to be
sharpened. However, hang-ups and dragging your lures through all of Lake Wedowee's wood cover and rock cover can damage hooks real fast. Even the mouths of these bass can dull a hook. Anglers should make sure they choose the correct size hook for each lure choice as well. Small, six inch worms call for the use of size 1/0 to 2/0 hooks. Anglers looking for trophy sized bass often use big lures. A 10 -12 inch worm requires a hook size of at least 5/0 to 6/0. Big, thick plastic lures such as large worms, large lizards and oversized tube baits, will "ball up" when using to small of a hook. Always have a good hook sharpener in the boat or replace dull hooks with new ones. Re-tie after every hang up or after you catch a fish. Run your fingers down the last 10 feet of line. If you feel nicks, kinks or any type of irregular feeling on your line, cut it off and retie it. Its worth the effort and any weak spot in your line will break at the slightest pull, always at an inopportune time. Knots are used to secure your lures to your line or they are tied to your hook. The wrong knot can slip, become weak or break when you least expect it. The proper knot can mean the difference between success and failure. There are many types of knots, but most anglers tie one they know. Become
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familiar with knots and use the best and strongest knot available. Some well known types of knots are; The Trilene Knot - The Trilene knot is excellent for tying to lures, hooks, swivels or snaps. It includes a double wrap of monofilament ran through the hook eye or lure eyelet, that provides added resistance to slippage and greatly increases breaking strength. The Palomar Knot - The Palomar knot is easy to tie and it is one of the strongest knots available. It consists of a strong, overhand knot and includes doubled line that reduces slippage. The Snell Knot - A good strong knot connection with the use of live bait or cut bait. It is also a good knot to use when fishing with a leader line of different pound test. The Uni-Knot System - A single uni-knot is good for just tying on a lure, hook or swivel. Double uni-
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knots are used to join two lines together. It is a good, strong knot for joining together two different line types like braided line, monofilament line or fluorocarbon line leaders. The Albright Knot - This is the most common type of knot used for joining two types of line of unequal diameters or for creating shock leaders. The Albright Knot is also used for connecting wire lines to monofilament or braided line, titanium leaders to monofilament line, or it can be used to connect braided line to monofilament line for backing on your reel. The King Sling (or Loop) Knot The King Sling knot is a rather easy knot to tie. It is often called the Rapala Knot or Loop Knot. It is generally good for just tying your line in a loop and connecting it to the reel handle for storage. It is also a good knot that allows your lures to perform better. * If you tie a lure or hook on, always wet the knot first. A wet knot will snug up better than a dry knot.
Always leave at least one quarter of an inch of tag line, after you tie and cut off the excess line. If you tie a knot and it just does not look right or feel right, cut it off and re-tie again. It only takes a minute. Anything left to chance can give and off goes another trophy bass...due to angler negligence. Next Lake Wedowee Life:"How to Catch Trophy Sized Largemouth Bass During the Winter Months on Lake Wedowee" Reed Montgomery, owner of Reeds Guide Service / Website: www.fishingalabama.com has been guiding on Lake Wedowee since its impoundment in 1983. He has dozens of trophy sized largemouth bass (some weighing up to 13 1/2 pounds), to his credit. From October until Spring, more trophy-sized largemouth bass are on record (those weighing more than ten pounds), have been taken on Lake Wedowee. Let the next one be yours!
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Imagination drives design I
magine has been a special word to Laura and Bob Krug and since they like to name things, its only fitting their lake house is named just that. “With the house named Imagine and John Lennon downstairs, you would think we were big Beatles fans,” Bob Krug said. “But we’re not, it just evolved that way.”
Home on the Lake Story and Photos by Kelly Caldwell Bob and his wife Laura discovered Lake Wedowee in 2005 and plan to make it their permanent home in the future. “We have always wanted to have a place on the lake,” Laura said. “We had looked at several lakes before we came to Wedowee on a friend’s suggestion. When we crossed (Highway)48 Bridge, we knew we found what we had been searching for.” The couple along with their daughter Hannah looked for property with Tony Motley of RE/MAX Lakefront and after looking at several houses, they found the lot where their home is today. 40 Lake Wedowee Life
Designed for comfort: The Krugs made their house easy to use today and when it’s time to retire. The couple spent a season planning their home before construction began.
“Mac McKinney was next door and he came out to meet us,” Laura said. “He and his wife Julie offered to take us out on the water and that was it for us. We felt an instant connection with the McKinneys and Lake Wedowee.” The Krugs didn’t rush into the building process. Instead, they chose to truly enjoy the land they had purchased. “That first year, we brought in camper, it was knockoff of an air tran,” “When we Laura said. “We gutted crossed it and made (Highway) 48 it funky.” “That Bridge, we gave us one knew we full season and time to found what we figure out had been exactly searching for.” what we wanted to Laura Krug build,” Bob said. The initial drawing of the house was on a cocktail napkin and instead of straight lines and angles, it was circles. “Most people get hung up on the ruler and precision when drawing a floor plan,” Bob said. “We drew this in circles so we get the proportions right and then we focused on the details.” The house is also very trendy even though the Krugs didn’t really plan it that way. “Everyone is going ‘green’ right now, and when we were building the house, we were going green and didn’t even realize it,” he said.
Lake Living with relaxation in mind: Bob and Laura Krug named their house Imagine not for John Lennon, but because the word was used repeatedly during the planning and building processes. Lake Wedowee Life 41
Some of the energy efficient (green) aspects include bamboo flooring, a passive solar building design, a tankless water heater and granite countertops. “We picked these things because that’s what we liked,” Bob said. “But, our house is very energy efficient now because of it.” The home was also designed with future plans in mind. “We plan to retire in this home,” he said. “So we put the master on the main level and made the doorways larger. We kept saying the word imagine in the early stages of planning this house and that’s how it got it’s name.” The other two bedrooms are on the basement level of the home along with a game room and bar area. “We have had a blast decorating the basement,” Laura said. “We have used our old album covers on the walls and it’s still a work
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Playroom for all ages: The basement has a home theater system perfect for watching concerts and the wall is decorated with old album covers. in progress.” They also found artwork featuring John Lennon which is prominently displayed in the basement. The outside area is just as inviting with an outdoor shower and
ample seating. “We love being outside when we are here and when we designed this house, we wanted to capture the beauty that is here,” Laura said.
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Wedowee Currents Oct. 11 Astronomy Hike (Heflin) fieldschool.jsu.edu. Admission charged. Talladega National Forest Shoals Creek District—Join JSU astronomer Dr. Laura Weinkauf and Anniston Outdoor Association for an autumn evening hike along the Pinhoti Trail to observe night skies and learn more about the stars. Oct. 11 5th Annual Alabama Teen Challenge Buddy Bass Tournament Lake Wedowee Safe daylight to 3 p.m. Highway 48 Bridge boat ramp $80 entry fee. $2,670 Guaranteed Payout. For more information, call Terry Hand at 334.863.2843. Oct. 11 Lake Wedowee Jubilee Luther & Laska Rice Pavillion. Southern Gospel Concert featuring the Diplomats, Karen Peck & New River and The Mark Trammell Trio. The show begins at 4 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs, concessions will be available. A Free will offering will be taken. For more information, call 357-2390. Oct. 11 Alexander City 28th Annual Oktoberfest www.alexandercityonline.com Free admission. Charles E. Bailey Sr. Sportplex--A community favorite featuring arts and crafts, food, entertainment, children's activities, sports program, antique car show and more. 8 a.m.5 p.m. Oct. 13 Learning by the Lake Series: Forest Fire (Heflin) fieldschool.jsu.edu. Free. Coleman Lake Recreational Area—Join U.S. Forest Service biologists and JSU Field School experts for educational fun in Talladega National Forest. Take advantage of the beautiful location and camp for the weekend. 7 p.m. 44 Lake Wedowee Life
Fun for everyone
Oct 17-18 Storytelling Weekend at Cheaha State Park(Anniston) Admission charged. Cheaha State Park—Join Alabama storytellers Nina Reaves and Renee Morrison for a weekend of storytelling fun ghost story shivers and a "how to" workshop to learn tale tellin' for yourself. Oct. 18 Wedowee Marine Customer Appreciation Day Come preview the 2009 products with factory representatives from G3, Nauticstar, Yamaha, Caravelle, Mercury and Yamaha Waverunner. The FUN starts at 8 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. At 5 p.m. the party moves to Chimney Cove to watch Hired Guns Georgia’s #1 Party band. Oct. 25 Wedowee Trade Day and Tractor Show Kiwanis Park Free Admission. Arts and Crafts will be available antique farm equipment shows and demonstrations, tractor and lawn mower pulls, food and drinks available. Event begins at 8 a.m. Nov. 1 Lineville Merchants Association Heritage Festival (Lineville) Lineville Lineville Merchants Association Heritage Festival 256396-9121. Free. Downtown— Enjoy a 1890's period costume contest, historical displays, tractor show and parade, vintage quilt show and live music featuring local talent. Great food, craft vendors, and activities for the whole family. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Nov. 02 Alcazar Car Show 21st Annual (Lineville) www.claycochamber.com. Admission charged; under 12 free. Lineville Recreation ParkHwy. 9—Acres of an-
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tique cars, street rods and more. 9 a.m.4 p.m. Nov. 8 Roanoke School Association Market Place (Roanoke) Old National Guard Armory LaFayette Highway 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All handmade arts and crafts welcomed. Free Admission For more information contact Janie Danner (334) 863-8418 or Martha Shelnutt (334) 863-2472. Nov. 15 Autumn Hike Through the Choccolocco Mountains (Anniston)fieldschool.jsu.edu. Admission charged. Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge—Enjoy the splendor leaf color and unique habitats of the refuge. Moderate level hike. Bring water and snacks. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. [more] [Add to My Vacation] Nov 1-22 Thanksgiving Sound Light Water Show (Childersburg) Admission charged. DeSoto Caverns Park--Special Thanksgiving Sound Light & Water Show is presented on every tour in the gigantic Cathedral Room. Tours every hour on the half hour from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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Area Haunted Houses Halloween Plantation– Newell. Open Thursdays 7 to 10; Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m. to midnight. $10 admission. For more information visit www.halloweenplantation.com
20house.htm
Horror Hill and Vertigo Haunted Trails—Newnan GA Open Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 23 then open Oct. 24 through Nov. 1. AdmisHaunted Chicken House– Heflin. sion $18 to $25 with discounts availOpen Thursdays 7 to 10; Fridays and able. For more information, visit Saturdays 7 p.m. to midnight. $10 Ad- www.horrorhill.com mission. For more information, visit www.hauntedchickenhouse.com Haunted Rocky Branch—Bremen GA. Open Fridays and Saturdays Camp Blood & Slayer Manor — through Oct. 23 then open Oct. 24 Carrollton, GA Thursday through through Nov. 1. Admission $20. For Saturday in October Admission varies more information, visit $15 to 22. For more information, visit www.hauntedrockybranch.com www.campblood.com Psychoshack—Douglasville GA. Realm of Terror –Franklin, GA Open Open Oct. 4 through Oct.19 and Oct. 21 through Nov. 2. $19.99 admission Fridays and Saturdays in October with discounts available. For more from 7 to 10 p.m. $10 admission. For information, visit more information, visit www.psychoshack.com. www.heardfire.com/haunted%
Red my left coming toward me, I turn and shine my light expecting to see one of the dogs coming back to Me at the tree, instead I see a pair green eyes about fifty yards away, perfectly still, looking in my direction. Well I guess you are thinking, so what, lots of things got green eyes. This is true, but as I continued to shine my dim flash light I realized that the pair of eyes I’m looking at are about eight
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to ten inches apart, and as best as I could see were only about a foot off the ground. At this time, I can’t distinguish a head or a body to go with this low pair of staring eyes. Dog? Out of the question ; Bear? Maybe ; Alligator? Doubtful ; BOOGER? Quite possible. Well I decided right then and there, if I was gonna get out, I wasn’t going easy. I upholstered my trusty 22 pistol and began to walk towards
them wide apart; piercing; motionless green eyes. After covering about half the distance; my hair, I’m sure, was standing straight up, I was just about ready to let out a rebel yell and attack. Just then, to my amazement and somewhat relief, the biggest, blackest ANGUS bull raised its head turned and walked away! Skeeter
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Lake Wedowee Life 47
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Index of Advertisers A & E Metal
15
M.L. Awbrey Inc.
22
Air/Electric
15
Norton's Floor Covering
10
Aliant Bank
34
Partners’ Pit BBQ
16
Ashland Family Care
35
Payne Furniture
39
Ava Hills Assisted Living
12
Randolph Co. Industrial Development Council
4
B&L Glass
18
RE/MAX Lakefront, Caldwells
35
Bank of Wedowee
6
RE/MAX Lakefront, Stones
21
Benefield Masonry
30
Rice Pavilion and Boat Storage
11
Chad Lee
11
Roanoke City Schools
48
Chimney Cove
52
Russell Do-It Center
43
Circle W Hunting Preserve
22
Satellite Specialists of Alabama
35
Clay County Chamber of Commerce
34
Sears
43
Custom Marble and Granite
47
SmallTown Bank
16
D & S Marine
12
Southern Home Comfort
21
East Alabama Antique Farm & Equipment Club 42
Southern Union
10
El Jalapeno
2
State Farm
11
Farmers Insurance
39
Steele Chiropractic
39
Find-a-home
42
Steve Morris
47
First State Bank
10
StoneCo
38
Fishing Alabama
37
Summit Storage
34
Grandview Antiques
31
Superior Gas
43
H& M Drugs
15
Thackston & Son
2
High Point Coffee & Books
39
The Galley
21
Jimmy Stephens Construction
35
Tallapoosa River Electric
11
Lakeside Grill
51
W & M Grocery
16
Lake Wedowee Bait and Tackle
21
Wedowee Building Supply
12
Lake Wedowee Rentals
22
Wedowee Hospital
46
Mac McKinney Properties
31
Wedowee Marine
3
Meadows Farm Equipment
31
Wellborn Cabinet Factory Direct
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“BOOGERS ”, No I’m not talking about something you flip off the end of your finger. I’m talking about sho-nuff make your hair stand up, run for your life or they’ll git ya, BOOGERS. Now you’re probably thinking, Skeeter you’re nuts there is no such thing as a BOOGER. Well folks this is where we have a difference of opinion. Now I’ll be the first to admit they’re few and far between, but they’re out there just the same. Out where if probably your next question I’d imagine, well let me just give you a quick course on the subject that we’ll refer to as “BOOGERS 101”. Now one of the first facts about BOOGERS is that they are pretty much nocturnal, you will probably go your whole life and never see a BOOGER in the daytime. And second you’ll probably never see a BOOGER in your front yard. You just about have to be on a creek or river or in the woods, but away from folks as a rule of thumb. You see, BOOGERS don’t like folks and tend to stay away from them, unless by some freak accident paths cross. Now this is why BOOGERS are so hard to see, and I’ll be the first to admit I’ve personally never seen one, but I have been pretty close before. My Ole Cuz Thornt said he had seen one down on Cornhouse Creek one night, but he never could describe any features for me, so it wasn’t a verified sighting, in my opinion. Anyway I think Ole Cuz may have been deep in a jug of Alabama Branch 50 Lake Wedowee Life
Water at the time, but to this day he still swears that he saw a BOOGER that night. As I said earlier I’ve been pretty close numerous times before, and a couple of times was almost sure I was gonna get got. You see, that’s what BOOGERS do, they git ya. Now I don’t know what they do with you after they git ya, cause like I said before I ain’t never been got.
Redneck Adventures By Skeeter The close encounters are to numerous to describe them all, but I will tell ya’ll about one not to long ago that comes to mind. I had turned my coon hounds out of their pen one night about ten o’clock. It was a dark fall night, no moon, just right for treeing coon.
The dogs struck and crossed a dirt road into a big patch of hardwoods, shortly after crossing the road they got treed. I sat and listened to their sweet harmony for about twenty minutes or so before heading out to the tree, armed with a 22 pistol and a flash light. I had failed to put my good headlight in the charger after the last hunt, but I figured the small handheld light would be good enough. Now usually if the dogs are good, and my dogs are good, they stay on tree until you either shoot the coon out of the tree or leash them and go back to the truck. Well for some strange reason just as I got to the tree all three dogs tore out away from the tree headed deeper into the block of woods. I just stood there scratching my head trying to make some sense out what my dogs had just done. About then, I heard something to
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