JANUARY 2020
LAKE 1
160 Hawks Point
Lake Martin, AL
Located on an inlet off Blue Creek channel on Lake Martin with over 350' of waterfront. This newly updated lake home has it all. Beautiful private surroundings and just enough yard. Open floor plan with wood vaulted ceilings, fireplace, hand scraped wood flooring and views throughout. Master on the main level. Large second family room on terrace level. Screened porch, open decks for grilling, covered porches and a two car garage. A new dock with boat slips and lift and two PWC lifts. A must see!
$810,000
LakeMartinTeam.com
Rhonda Jaye
Allison J. Ladson
256.749.8681
256.750.0711
1183 South Holiday Dadeville, AL Lake Martin 2BR 2BA $299,000
175 Sunset Point Unit 722 Dadeville, AL Lake Martin 2BR 2BA $269,900 JANUARY 2020
49 Bald Cypress East Eclectic, AL Lake Martin 4BR 5BA $2,100,000 LAKE 3
Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Publisher STEVE BAKER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Managing Editor BETSY ILER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Distinctive Builders LLC
Assistant Magazine Editor AMY PASSARETTI
amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com
Winner of 11 Remodeling Excellence Awards
Art Director AUDRA SPEARS
audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com
Circulation ERIN BURTON
erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com
Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER
tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com
Marketing KATIE WESSON
katie.wesson@alexcityoutlook.com
MARILYN HAWKINS
marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com
JULIE HARBIN
julie.harbin@alexcityoutlook.com
ANDY CARR
andy.carr@alexcityoutlook.com
Digital Advertising Director KAT RAIFORD
kat.raiford@alexcityoutlook.com
Digital Advertising Coordinator ELLE FULLER
elle.fuller@alexcityoutlook.com
Contributors KENNETH BOONE JULIE HUDSON GABRIELLE JANSEN ROB MCDANIEL GREG VINSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LIZI ARBOGAST MATT SHEPPARD ERIC REUTEBUCH JOHN COLEY HENRY FOY
All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of: Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
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JANUARY 2020
P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281
On the Cover This year's swimsuit and lifestyle edition of Lake includes nine local models who are as bright and beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside, including Lorin Holcombe. A 3D mapper for a cardiac electrophysiology company, Holcombe indulges in pageant competitions to stay in shape and keep herself relaxed and stressfree. Check out the swimsuit and lifestyle section for more beautiful faces and places on Lake Martin. Photo by Kenneth Boone
www.Scag.com
DESIGNS BY TRISH - Custom Bedding - Draperies & Upholstery - Blinds & Shades
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Call Trish Ogburn for an appointment 334.315.0667 Find us on Facebook!
1584 US-280 | ALEXANDER CITY
6400 Highway 63 South, Alexander City, AL 35010 docksunlimitedllc.com (256) 203-8400 Check out our Facebook Page: Docks Unlimited
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 5
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We Touch the Lives of the People You Love
Innovative Design, Stylish Ideas Computer Generated Room Designs
Cabinets & Countertops Countertops displayed at Wellborn Industries Showroom 329 Piedmont Road, Jackson’s Gap, AL 36861
Denise Booth 256-749-6177 homeologylakemar tin.com homeology3D@gmail.com
Ask about the traveling granite car!
(256) 825-9244
Assisted Living & SCALF Short Term Rehab
(256) 839-6711
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Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Long Term Skilled Nursing Care JANUARY 2020
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Contents
18. THE OTHER SEASON PART II Hiking is a growing winter pastime at Lake Martin, as more than 175 miles in trails have been developed in recent years 28. 14TH ANNUAL SWIMSUIT & LIFESTYLE EDITION Mary Katherine Carlisle Lorin Holcombe Huell Lumpkin Katie Pemberton Olivia Hayes Scout Treadwell Kristen Powell Mary Beth Coker Chloe Spivey 72. SASQUATCH CAMO Brothers turn a childhood interest in Bigfoot into a new Lake Martin business
Lake Magazine's Monthly Features: 9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 12. WHERE IS LAKE? 14. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS 16. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 24. HEALTHY LIVING
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74. LAKE PROPERTY 76. FAB FINDS 78. LAKE WATCH 80. CHEF'S TABLE 82. BIG CATCHES 84. FROM THE CELLAR 87. PAR FOR THE COURSE
Katie Pemberton at Jim Scott's Garden
Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.lakemagazine.life.
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 7
Dr. George W. Hardy General Dentistry
A Place To Worship Lake Martin Area Churches
WATERFRONT Church of the Living Waters Inside StillWaters, Dadeville 256-825-2990 New Hope Baptist Church 529 Peppers Road, Alexander City 256-329-2510 Church in the Pines Kowaliga Road, Kowaliga 334-857-2133
OFF WATER Equality United Methodist Church 281 AL Hwy 259, Equality 334-541-4063
OFF WATER
OFF WATER
OFF WATER
First Baptist Church Court Square, Alexander City 256-234-6351
Alex City Church of Christ 945 Tallapoosa Street, Alexander City 256-234-6494
Hillabee Baptist Church Hillabee Road, Alexander City 256-234-6798
Red Ridge United Methodist Church 8091 County Road 34, Dadeville 256-825-9820
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Avenue Tallassee, AL 36078 334-252-8618 (12 Miles South of Lake Martin)
First Baptist Church 178 South Tallassee Street, Dadeville 256-825-6232
St. James Episcopal Church South Central Avenue, Alexander City 256-234-4752
First United Methodist Church 310 Green Street, Alexander City 256-234-6322 First United Methodist Church West Lafayette Street, Dadeville 256-825-4404 First Presbyterian Church 371 Jefferson Street, Alexander City 256-329-0524
Lake Martin Baptist Church 9823 County Road 34, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-7434 Lake Pointe Baptist Church La 8352 Highway 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-373-3293 Faith Temple Church 425 Franklin Street, Alexander City 256-234-6421
St John The Apostle Catholic Church 454 North Central Avenue Alexander City, Al 35010 256-234-3631 Flint Hill United Methodist Church 2858 Flint Hill Road Alexander City, AL 35010 256-234-5047 Good News Baptist Church 10493 Hwy 280 Jacksons Gap, AL 36861 256-825-2555
Small Space Advertising Works. Call Jolie Waters 256-414-3174 & ask for Lake Church Page
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Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
16 14 17
$493,760 $637,574 $430,441
$385,000 $329,500 $383,000
252 199 219
167 254 290
November 2019 November 2016 November 2013
Inventory/ sales ratio 5.71 9.71 14.03
The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single-family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy of Lake Martin Realty, LLC (a Russell Lands, Inc., affiliated company).
Children's Harbor Landmark Trivia The lighthouse at Children’s Harbor’s Providence Point just below the Kowaliga Bridge offers a beacon of hope to the seriously ill children and their families who seek respite, refuge and retreat. Established The Children's Harbor in 1987 by lighthouse is a symbol Ben and of the camp's goal Luanne
Russell, the campus is styled after a New England seaside village, symbolizing the camp’s goal of helping children and families through the treacherous and troubled waters in which they sometimes find themselves. The Hank Williams cabin on the grounds at Children’s Harbor had been moved to Pitchford Hollow but was returned to its original location in 2002 and was restored and decorated to resemble photographs that were taken when Williams stayed there as a guest of then-owner Darwin Dobbs. The restoration included the placement of decorative plates, a card table, alarm clock, bottle opener, ukulele and The Hank Williams cottage has other been restored to its condition items. at the time of his visit Legend has it that Williams was inspired to write his novelty hit, Kaw-Liga, during his stay at Lake Martin.
Weather Outlook for January December 2019 Forecast
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid50s with average lows in the low-30s and about 5 inches of precipitation in the month of January. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be somewhat above average and rainfall will be in the normal range this month.
Year to Date (2019) Precipitation: 49.56 inches Avg. high temp.: 78.3 Avg. low temp.: 53.9 Avg. temp.: 66.1
Our Normal January Precipitation: 5.21 inches Avg. high temp.: 55.2 Information from the Avg. low temp.: 31.6 National Weather Avg. temp.: 43.4 Service.
JANUARY 2020
Last Month's Lake Levels Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 484.51 Lowest: 483.68 Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit the website lakes.alabamapower.com.
Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.
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Lake Scene n People & Places
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
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READER SUBMISSIONS
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(1)Tony Johnson sent this photo of a beautiful autumn day at the lake. (2) Boykin brothers Tom and Jerry Mosley enjoy a boat ride on the lake. (3) Bobby and Wylone Brewer's grandson, John Parker Brewer, caught this 18-1/2-pound catfish on Thanksgiving Day at Wind Creek State Park. (4) Lydia Passaretti, Amy Passaretti's niece, loves the pretty pictures in Lake magazine. (5) Randy McClendon took a kayak ride on a beautiful November day as the leaves began to change at Lake Martin. (6) The sun rises over a glassy smooth lake on a cool fall morning at Lake Martin.
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JANUARY 2020
Lake Scene n People & Places
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
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(1) A sliver of sunshine illuminates the glassy water on an overcast day at Lake Martin. (2) Audra Spears captured the fog, as it rolled across the water early one morning in November. Photo taken from the River Bridge (3) Beverly and Bob Bush caught this monster on Lake Martin. (4) Abby Grace Graham, Katie Calvert and Shelby Harrison visited Goat Island over Labor Day weekend. (5) Johnny Spears sits atop a rock while taking a break from swimming this past summer. (6) The last full moon of 2019 casts a bright light as it rises over the shoreline of Lake Martin.
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 11
Where is Lake? n People & Places
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Julia Kilby and Karen Kison took Lake to the Magnolia Silos in Waco,Texas. (2) Lake magazine visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris with Sheila Brown, Alice Major, Diane James, Phil Spraggins and Fran Walker. (3) Susie and Bob Wise took Lake to Lassen National Park and climbed the volcano, saw the redwoods and the Beach Boys Memorial in California. (4) Ella and Dale MacFiggen took Lake magazine on safari in Kenya, Africa. (5) Lake magazine made its way north to Alaska on the Silver Muse with Tom and Charlotte Bryant, Mike and Margie Miller and Guerry and Nancy Denson. (6) Kevin and Courtney Hall, Landon Hall, James Mynard, Zack Brown, Brittany Hall, Ann Atkins and Linda Cosby took Lake on a mission trip to Queens, New York. (7) Amy Passaretti took Lake magazine to Jamestown, Rhode Island, for a family reunion to celebrate the life of her late grandfather, Ettore Passaretti.
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Lake Martin’s Marine Construction Company 6732 Highway 63 South, Alexander Cit y, AL 35010 | (256) 392-5200 | www. sunrisedock sllc.com
JANUARY 2020
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Jan. 4 A Night of Squeaky Clean Comedy
Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a 6 p.m. showtime at Cooper Community Center, 625 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Alexander City. This will be a night of entertainment from Stephon Smith, Patrick Washington, Aunt Mable, Asher Havon, Broziski McElrath, Andrea Carlisle, Hwy. 22 E Podcast, Marquita and more. Sponsors and vendors are welcome. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door; and $20 for VIP table seating. Purchase tickets at Bentons Beauty Supply and For Heaven Sakes Book Store in downtown Alexander City.
Jan. 13-24 Martin Luther King Jr. Display The Concerned Parents for Academic and Community Excellence will host a historical display regarding the history of Martin Luther King Jr. inside the lobby of Alexander City City Hall. The public is welcome to explore the display during City Hall’s hours of operation.
Jan. 23 Sail On: A Beach Boys Tribute Band
Alexander City Arts will host Sail On: A Beach Boys Tribute Band, at Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. The group will perform Beach Boys’ classics and some treasures from the band’s extended catalogue. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door, at brownpapertickets.com or alexcityarts.org. For more information, email alexcityarts@gmail.com or call Marry Wood Perry at 256749-8073.
Jan. 31 Mardi Gras Auction and Celebration
St. James Episcopal Church in Alexander City will host a Mardi Gras event at 6 p.m. to benefit Feast of Sharing, a program that feeds the hungry in the area. The event will CALENDAR OF EVENTS include silent and live auctions, a raffle, heavy hors d'oeuvres, WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN soft drinks, beer, wine and entertainment. Tickets are $30 in advance − $35 at the door. Call 256-234-4752 to purchase tickets.
Feb. 14-16 Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?
Jan. 16 Little House Show
Liz Brasher will take the indoor stage at Standard Deluxe in Waverly at 7:30 p.m. Supper will be served in the FeedShak at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15, and seating is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit StandardDeluxe.com.
Alexander City Theatre II will present Del Shores’ comedy in two acts about siblings that return to their Texas hometown when their father suffers a debilitating stroke. Performances are at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 16. All performances will be at the BRHS Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and will be available online at brownpapertickets. com or at the door.
Jan. 18 Annual Polar Plunge
The semiThe Lake Martin Young annual Mardi Professionals once again Gras event will host the Polar Plunge at on Jan. 31 helps Kowaliga from 10 am. to 4 to feed the hungry p.m. to fund the placement of lighted buoys in selected hazard locations around Lake Martin. The event includes food, fun, musical entertainment and the optional plunge into Lake Martin’s frigid winter waters. Tickets are $20. For tickets and information, email jacob.meacham@alexandercitychamber.com.
Jan. 20 Martin Luther King Day
Save the date for the annual run through Russell Forest to support the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation. Registration is now open for this annual event that is famous for its picturesque trail run and the after-party with a grits bar and live entertainment at The Stables. Visit russellforestrun.com for details.
Season-Long Events
Nathan A. Stephens Elementary School Principal Dr. Mary Halloway will be the guest speaker at the annual community-wide Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at 11 a.m. at the Stephens School gymnasium. This program will follow the parade, which begins at 9 a.m. and rolls through downtown Alexander City.
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Feb. 29 Russell Forest Run
Children’s Library in Alexander City
Mamie’s Place Children’s Library holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children. In addition, the children’s library hosts board games and puzzles every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information, call Melissa Finley at 256-234-4644.
JANUARY 2020
Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit
The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display all year long at the Alexander City Board of Education building, located at 375 Lee St.
Children's Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store
Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334857-2008 for more information.
Memory Makers Quilt Guild
Fourth Fridays at EPAC
The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts music and other events on the fourth Friday night of each month at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 in Equality. Visit the Equality Performing Arts Center Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming artists.
Trivia Night at Niffer’s on the Lake
Every Thursday, Niffer’s hosts trivia night at 7 p.m. Winners receive Niffer’s gift cards. First place gets $40; second place gets $25; and third place gets $15. Grab a group of friends and come out for a night of games. A bonus question is posted on the Niffer’s Facebook page at 2 p.m. Thursdays.
Coffee & Connections
This group meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus. Participants come and go between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5 p.m., followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.
Every third Tuesday of the month, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking event at 8 a.m. open to any chamber member. Participants should meet at the TPI bullpen at the Lake Martin Innovation Center for coffee, a light breakfast and a chance to network with community members.
Real Island Supper
Open Studio
The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.
Charity Bingo at Jake’s
Play charity bingo at Jake’s Restaurant at 16 Broad St., Alexander City, at 6 p.m. every Thursday night. Cards are $1, and proceeds benefit local charities.
Amateur Radio Club
The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney at 256-825-7766 or Mike Smith at 256750-5710.
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours
The Artists Association of Central Alabama meets from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex Senior Center and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays at the Dadeville Senior Center on Columbus St. Beginners are welcome, and there is no charge for open studios. For more information, call June Dean at 334-301-5317 or Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506.
Charity Bingo at Niffer’s Place Lake Martin Niffer’s, 7500 state Route 49 in Dadeville, host charity bingo every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Cards are $1 each, and funds go to participating charities.
Second Friday Open Mic Night
The Equality Performing Arts Center invites all musicians to its monthly jam sessions on the second Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no cover, but donations are greatly appreciated. There will be an intermission for snacks, and people are encouraged to bring a dish to share. The EPAC is located at 560 state Route 9 in Equality. For more information, visit the EPAC Facebook page.
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation
Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. Visit RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.
Rehabilitation Services • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing Candi Tate, Clinical Liaison
2334 Washington Street, Alexander City | 256-329-9061 | www.crownehealthcare.com
JANUARY 2020
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Lake Martin News
A Fresh Look on the Way at the Lake New signage, graphics and other plans for the branding of Alexander City and the Lake Martin area as a tourism destination will be unveiled this month in a celebratory launch event, said Main Street Alexander City Director Stacey Jeffcoat. Plans for the reveal were still in the making at Lake’s presstime, but Jeffcoat said the City of Alexander City, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Alexander City and the Lake Martin Tourism Board have worked together for more than six months to develop the concept. “We formed a steering committee of all these organizations to work on this branding concept,” Jeffcoat explained. “This is the first time that we’ve teamed up like this to create a plan for moving the area forward. It’s a strong partnership with a united message about the positive aspects of the community and a course of action for how to share this great community with visitors.” The plan, Jeffcoat said, not only pays homage to the city’s past but also builds toward its future as a tourist destination on Lake Martin. “We’re resilient, and we realized that if we formed a strong partnership and worked on this as a team, we could do more good for the whole community,” she said. “We are Alabama’s biggest playground – we have more miles of shoreline than the state’s beach area – and we needed a way, collectively, to put that out there.” The scope of the branding will highlight the sportplex and the State park, the farmers market, Alexander City’s downtown and the U.S. Highway 280 corridor, as well as the area’s history and activities, including Sun Festival and Jazz Fest. The steering committee worked with a branding organization to choose a color palette, fonts, graphics and sign shapes for wayfinding and promotion of local places and events. “We’re sending a united message of local pride. At no time in the past have we ever done that. It’s exciting, and it’s different than any of the approaches that any of these organizations have taken before this,” she said. Plans for the reveal will be announced in Alexander City’s newspaper, The Outlook, and on Lake magazine’s website at lakemagazine.life. ~ Betsy Iler
More Patrols on Lake Martin
The Alexander City Police Department will have a patrol boat on Lake Martin this summer, in addition to exiting coverage by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol. “Three years ago was the last time we had a drowning in the middle part of the lake,” ACPD Chief Jay Turner said. “We were dependent on everyone else. We felt we were not equipped for investigations from the water.” Turner said the department is responsible for all criminal investigations in the police jurisdiction − an area that stretches from the Tallapoosa River, past the mouth of Hillabee Creek, Wind Creek State Park and on to Young’s Island. “It is a lot of water to cover,” Turner said. “The jurisdiction is enormous. The water portion is large, and this will be helpful.” From the marina at Wind Creek State Park, it is more than 16 LAKE
13 miles by water to Jay Bird Creek, which is the traditional beginning of Lake Martin. “We’re going to set up as a patrol vehicle, not compete with ALEA Marine Patrol,” Turner said. “During the season, its main purpose will be interaction with the public; give out information. It will also give us access to areas in the jurisdiction we can’t get to, and if we can get to it by road, it will take us a half an hour or more. This will cut it down to minutes.” In addition, the boat will be used to deter blurgaries during the winter season, Turner said. ~ Cliff Williams & Santana Wood
New interiors option opens in downtown Alexander City Thirty-Two Main offers another interiors shop in downtown Alexander City
Tara and Sonny Wilson recently opened Thirty-Two Main, an interiors and art boutique in Alexander City’s arts and entertainment district. Locally known for their metal furnishings, paintings, jewelry and other crafted items, the couple unveiled their new retail location during the annual Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Holiday Open House in November. Their inventory includes beds, tables, handrails and other furnishings that incorporate metal or wood. The store can also take custom orders. “We’re not limited to just wood,” Tara Wilson said. “We also do hood vents for the kitchen, copper countertops, really anything that they need, we can take care of that.” The store also sells handmade jewelry and candles. “Everything in here is all handmade, so I think that sets us apart,” Wilson said. “We don’t run out and purchase it.” “A lot of our open house customers were from Birmingham, some from Mobile, so it wasn’t just people from Alex City who came in and purchased items,” Sonny Wilson said. “That’s what we hope to have more of, people coming from out of town to view our beautiful Main Street.” Thirty-Two Main is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. To make an appointment for a custom furnishing consultation, call Sonny Wilson at 256-329-9336. ~ Gabrielle Jansen
JANUARY 2020
Russell Lands takes preliminary steps to develop Wicker Point
Russell Lands is planning a new neighborhood development on the Tallapoosa River side of Lake Martin. Last month, the City Council of Alexander City voted to ask the Alabama Legislature to approve a 1,500-acre island annexation that would include 12.5 miles of shoreline in the lake’s Wicker Point area off state Route 63. Though details of the development have not been announced, Russell Lands Vice President and General Counsel Steve Forehand said it could include some 450 lots. The Wicker Point area is largely undeveloped but is dotted with old cabins that Russell Lands has leased for decades. Utilities and roads will need to be built to accommodate the development. “It is in an area without any real infrastructure,” Forehand said. “It requires a lot of planning. It is not a quick and easy process.” Plans for amenities for the project are still in the development stages, he said. “We haven’t zeroed in on what amenities or the scope of those amenities yet,” Forehand said. The annexation would be necessary to secure police and fire protection services, he explained. The council vote came after a 43-minute executive session with Russell Lands executives, including Russell Lands’ CFO David Sturdivant, President and CEO Tom Lamberth, Vice President Real Estate Sales Steve Arnberg and Vice President Roger Holliday, to discuss the economic opportunity. City officials were tight-lipped about what could be coming
to the Russell Lands property, but councilmembers were excited when the meeting resumed following the executive session. “Thank you to everyone at Russell Lands for bringing this to us,” Councilmember Eric Brown said. “It is exciting.” Council President Tim Funderburk said, “It is wonderful news. I can’t wait for it to happen.” The council passed a resolution asking for annexation of 1,500 acres of property that includes Wicker Point. Russell Lands currently leases more than two dozen cabins on the property. These were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the cabins have been rented by the same families for several generations. The proposed annexation must be advertised for four weeks before it can be taken to the Legislature and presented to lawmakers in Montgomery. The Alabama Legislature will meet for its first day of regular session Feb. 4. Russell Lands On Lake Martin has developed several neighborhoods around Lake Martin, including Willow Point, The Ridge, Willow Glynn, Trillium, Windermere, Raintree, Glynmere and River Oaks. Though interior and, in some cases, waterfront lots are still available in The Ridge and other Russell Lands neighborhoods, Forehand said, the company has known for some time that they would be looking for another large scale development. “Wicker Point is it,” he said. ~ Cliff Williams & Betsy Iler
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 17
Hikers take the Island Hop Trail while the water level is lowered to winter pool
Part II LAKE MARTIN
The 'Other' Season at Lake Martin STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & BETSY ILER
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Hiking History
The first dedicated hiking trail systems didn’t appear around Lake Martin until some 35 years after the construction of Martin Dam. Pleasure hiking actually is a fairly recent development around the world. Prior to the end of the 19th century, walking was a part of daily life, and the rare trek through the woods could be a dangerous endeavor fraught with robbers, wild animals and woodspirits (see page __), but the industrial revolution changed all that and eventually led to one of Lake Martin’s most popular winter activities. Even as late as the mid-1800s, walking in nature was mainly a mode of transportation, a functional necessity among rural farmers; however, with industrialization, the country’s population shifted from an agrarian society to an urban society. A walk in nature became a luxury that workers in the mills and factories across the South could ill afford, as a recreational walk required time and access that laborers didn’t have. They worked 14-hour days six days a week. Exclusive walking clubs began to spring up among the upper classes, and many of these built the first recreational trails that wind through the North American woods even today. But as social and health problems developed in the cities, it became apparent that fresh air, sunshine and open natural greenspace was needed for everyone. Parks began to appear in cities then, but it wasn’t until 1933 that the U.S. Forest Service chief’s annual report included a reference to hiking as a recreational activity. And it was decades later before trails began to appear around the Martin Dam reservoir. Though hiking rapidly developed as a new American pastime elsewhere, Lake Martin was scorned as a mosquito-infested backwater. Malaria was a great concern in the
lake area, and the lake was sprayed routinely to control spread of the disease. Lake Martin, at first, did not enjoy the hiking boom that was happening across the rest of the country. After World War II ended, the popularity of hiking as a national activity grew, as most of the population now had affordable transportation, as well as leisure time. Taking the family for a hike was cheap – it required no special equipment or clothing. The 1946 Forest Service Report of the Chief described the need for trail maintenance and improvement of thousands of miles of sign-posted hiking trails. The number of visits to national forests increased from 634,000 in 1950 to more than 3 million by 1964. And in 1969, the State of Alabama purchased a private recreation facility on Lake Martin for the development of a State park. Originally developed for use by Russell Corporation for employees and their families, the property was renovated and in 1982 was re-opened for public use. Visit alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park to learn more. In 2004, the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association was created for the purpose of designing, building and maintaining quality, well-marked, footpath-only trails around Lake Martin for free and public recreational use. CRATA has built trails in three lakeside areas. For trail details, visit crata.orgfor trail details. And in 2007, Russell Lands built its first hiking trails through Russell Forest. “We have added pretty much continuously since then,” said Steve Forehand, Vice President and Legal Counsel for Russell Lands. Russell Forest now includes more than 125 miles of free trails with public access. See the article on page 22 for more information.
JANUARY 2020
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Walking Sticks
Most seasoned hikers like to have trekking poles or walking sticks along when they venture onto the local trails. The extra support helps when negotiating rough terrain. They also are handy tools for breaking up spider webs across the path or testing the stability of stepping stones. “It’s useful as a weapon, too, if you ever need one,” said Jimmy Lanier, a co-founder of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association footpaths in three locations around Lake Martin. While trekking poles are made from lightweight materials and are easy to store and transport, walking sticks often are much more affordable and offer a certain aesthetic to walks in the woods. Trekking poles can be purchased at sporting goods stores and range from $20 to $240 or more, depending on durability, features and accessories. Many models include interchangeable tips, handles and straps for various kinds of terrains. Some telescope for easy backpack storage. Walking sticks can be found for sale in art shops, specialty gift Dadeville's stores and craft shows, Tony Ray or a hiker might make Lankford one. creates Oftentimes, potential walking walking sticks can be sticks from vined found along the trails. branches Look for sturdy, fairly straight limbs that have fallen from overhead trees, and snap away the smaller branches and twigs on its sides. This alone often results in a suitable aid with no further modifications, but hikers often choose to embellish their walking sticks with carvings, leather wraps and stains that bring out the beauty of the wood grain. When making a walking stick, hickory is the preferred 20 LAKE
wood, as it is strong but lightweight, said Dadeville’s Tony Ray Lankford, who has been making walking sticks for more than 10 years. Lankford likes to work with vine-wrapped limbs for the sticks he makes. After cleaning away the vines, he allows the wood to season before he peels away the bark to reveal the smooth grain beneath it. He usually clear coats the wood when he’s finished any embellishments, but he might stain it to better showcase the grain or highlight a carving. He also likes to work with oak when making walking sticks. Lanier has made walking sticks from beaver-toothed trees. Usually made from pine, these sticks have been cut by beavers and have tooth marks all over them. Lanier likes to lightly sand the wood and seal it with a clear varnish to bring out the beauty of the tooth patterns. “I usually put a rubber tip on the end or wrap the bottom with a green electrical tape – just the bottom 4 inches or so. It protects the bottom and makes them look neat,” Lanier said. A handle could be fashioned by wrapping the opposite end with leather or drilling a small hole through the stock and tying a strong rope or strip of leather through it. Lankford occasionally adds carvings to his sticks – leaves, birds or deer heads. Geometric designs and woodspirits (see page 21) also are popular carvings for walking sticks. Hiking sticks also can be embellished with medals – these tags can be purchased from shops near trails and are attached to the stick with small brads. Some hikers collect these tags, as they bear the logos for places where they have traveled with their trusty sticks.
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Woodspirits
Facial carvings on walking sticks sometims are known as woodspirits – also sometimes spelled as two words. Their origins lie in ancient lore, folktales and pagan legends. The concept of the woodspirit is thought to have originated in Europe, though Americans seem to have popularized their carving; woodspirits can be found here on trees, walking sticks, fireplaces, bowls and myriad other locations. The most common version of the legend explains the fear of the forest from early times to the mid-19th century. For many years, people believed that the forests were occupied by spirits, and anyone who entered the forest did so at their own peril. The wind that blew through the canopy intermittently howled and sighed, sounding much like the moaning and crying of the woodspirits that warned travelers against entering. A traveler who angered the woodspirits might never emerge from the woods again, it was told. Wise travelers were assured of safety only if they knocked on wood to inquire passage from the spirits within and to call upon their protection. In some cultures, it was believed that spirits inhabited the trees, and wood carvers were rewarded with good luck if, upon recognizing a character imbedded in the grain of the wood, they worked to release it. Sheltering a woodspirit by keeping such a carving near the fireplace in a home – or walking through the woods with a stick that bears the likeness of a released woodspirit – also is thought to be good luck.
Treespirits have a long and storied history
Some information for this article was found at walkingstickforum.com and brucehebert.com/treespiritsportraits. JANUARY 2020
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Lake Martin Trails
Lake Martin boasts more than 175 miles of free public trails through picturesque landscapes with interesting rock formations, wildlife sighting opportunities and terrain to fit every skill level. The lake’s west, east, south and central shorelines all offer opportunities for unique outdoor experiences on well-maintained routes. The following trails are open all year long, but cool weather hiking is preferred, as it is more comfortable than hiking in the summer heat. The largest section of trails winds through Russell Forest from Willow Point to Russell Crossroads off state Route 63. Here, more than 125 miles of pathways take hikers over rolling hills, into protected valleys and across meandering streams. Pack a lunch (see Julie Hudson’s article on page 24) or pick up a picnic lunch at Catherine’s Market at Russell Crossroads and enjoy your meal on the picnic table at Butterfly Crossing or spread a blanket and enjoy Heaven Hill. Download the Russell Lands free app to access maps and GPS location on the trails or visit the guardhouse at Willow Point Golf and Country Club to pick up a map. As a safety precaution, hikers are asked to call Russell Lands Security at 256-329-1511 prior to going in and upon leaving the woods. On the east and south shorelines, Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association has built and maintains more than 26 miles of footpath-only trails in three locations, including an outdoor education center at the restored Smith Mountain Fire Tower. CRATA’s Smith Mountain trail system consists of four trails of varying lengths and terrain, from easy to rugged. The entire Island Hop Trail can be accessed only at low water, so plan to hike this trail before or very soon after Feb. 29, when the lake begins to fill to summer pool levels. The Little Smith Mountain Loop Trail, at 2.6 miles, treats hikers to spectacular views and unique rock formations, but this trail also hugs sheer cliffs and difficult terrain. It is not a trail for small children. The view from the 90-foot fire tower at Smith Mountain rivals any other view of the lake, as the tower tops the highest point along Lake Martin’s 880 miles of shoreline. Restored in 2010 with additional safety features, the tower attracts an estimated 50,000 visitors annually. At the foot of the tower, CRATA recently installed a series of educational panels that provide information about the area’s geology, animal and plant life, history, culture and unique biodiversity. Overhead panels in the cab at the top of the tower identify landmarks on the horizon, including Talladega National Forest located an hour’s drive north of the lake. At Overlook Park on the east shoreline just north of Martin Dam, three CRATA trails intertwine, so hikers could choose a variety of routes from 1 to 7 miles. Provided and maintained by Alabama Power, the park at the trailhead includes picnic tables and an observation platform that shows off another spectacular view of Lake Martin. Situated just north of the Overlook trail system, the 22 LAKE
James M. Scott Deadening Alpine Trail is a challenging 4.2-mile loop along a ridge that parallels Lake Martin’s famed Chimney Rock formation on Acapulco Rock Island. The Needle’s Eye and Jasmine Bluff are popular formations along the trail, which offers numerous vistas at which hikers could rest, enjoy a snack or catch their breath. The trail often treats hikers to up-close views of wildlife, as eagles are known to roost along the bluff. The Deadening Trail is a rewarding trek for experienced hikers but is not recommended for the novice or anyone under the age of 12. Pets must be on leashes at all times, and hikers are urged to use care on the rough terrain. CRATA’s most recent trail system continues to expand on the west shoreline south of Martin Dam. Two historic trails here wind through old growth forest on a 6,000acre wildlife management area owned by Alabama Forever Wild. The John B. Scott Trail, named for a local conservationist who was instrumental in the formation of the Forever Wild Land Trust, is 4.7 miles long and weaves along the Tallapoosa River through old growth hardwoods. This easy-to-moderate trail treats hikers to the beauty of nature at its best with woods, water and wildlife at every turn. The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail follows the old railroad bed that was used in the construction of Martin Dam some 100 years ago. Follow the highline or lowline paths and visit Saddle Rock Mountain, the highest point in Elmore County. The lowline trail ends at Channahatchee Creek for now. CRATA volunteers are in the planning and design phase for a bridge that will span the creek and continue the trail to Kent, where a point-topoint trail shuttle service will be available. For details and maps of the CRATA trails and information about funding, donations and volunteer opportunities, visit crata.org. Wind Creek State Park features 5.6 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of horse trails. The Alabama Reunion Trail takes hikers past an old home site, over picturesque hardwood bottoms and through stands of pine. There is an abundance of bird and animal life along the trail, which offers moderate to difficult terrain. The Campfire Trail features a series of rock outcroppings and a stream that bisects the path. A nominal day-use fee applies for admittance to the park. Visit the website at alapark.com/ parks/wind-creek-state-park to learn more about WCSP’s trails and other amenities. In addition, WCSP hosts the Vulcan Orienteering Club twice each year. This competitive sport times orienteers who navigate a map to locate set control areas in the park. Though some orienteers speed through the course to push for the shortest time, others are content to stroll through the course, enjoying the outdoors and pausing to watch the deer. The course is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Learn more about Vulcan Orienteering Club at vulcanorienteering.org. So pull on a pair of sturdy shoes, pick up a walking stick and go take a hike!
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Smith Mountain trails include Little Smith Mountain, which follows this slough line along the lake
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Include proteins and carbohydrates among the snacks for your next hike
Fuel for the Hike A
labama winter is the perfect season to take advantage of hiking. We are incredibly fortunate to have numerous trails at our disposal in and amongst beautiful Lake Martin. Preparing for a hike includes more than the right clothing and gear. According to the National Park Service, planning snacks and a source of hydration could be a game changer when you are iking, so whether a seasoned veteran of hiking or more of a relaxed hiker who stops to enjoy the scenery, preparing ahead of time pays off. To ensure a successful and enjoyable adventure, make sure to fuel up and stay hydrated. The primary fuel for physical exercise is carbohydrates. The human body burns carbohydrates and fats and, at times, a little protein; however, the main concern is not running out of carbohydrates. Starting and staying hydrated will keep a hiker focused and energized and will prevent muscles from cramping. Dehydration is usually associated with hot weather; however, it is possible to become dehydrated in cold weather, too. One reason people may become more dehydrated in the winter is because they do not “feel” as thirsty as they do in the warmer months. Drinking fluids during exercise is essential to remain hydrated and maintain your physical performance. When dehydrated, fluid loss can negatively impact thecardiovascular system, body temperature and muscle function. Always begin a hike well hydrated. Drink 14 to 22 fluid ounces anywhere from two to four hours before beginning. To keep hydrated, it is recommended to consume fluids during the hike in amounts of 3 to 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes. To put this in perspective on the trail, one gulp is generally 1 to 2 fluid ounces. Water is the choice fluid if a hike is moderate and of short duration. If exercising at a much more intense level or for longer than one hour, it is important to consume a sports drink that contains carbohydrates and electrolytes. Carbohydrates from the sports drink will help to maintain blood sugar levels throughout a hike. This will aide in delaying fatigue. Snacks for a day hike should consist of carbohydrates and protein, offering calories to keep the body fueled throughout the hike. Hiking can take a lot of energy. It is crucial to give the body carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats, with plenty of calories, especially after sweating. Protein and carbohydrates will rebuild muscles, and healthy fats and calories will keep a hiker feeling full. The following is a list of the most recommended snacks to take hiking. 24 LAKE
n Nut butters: Peanut butter and almond butter are full of carbs, protein, healthy fats and calories. n Bananas: These are great alone because they provide potassium to ward off muscle cramps. Try nut butters on bananas. n Dried jerky: Try poultry, salmon or beef varieties. Beef jerky is said to be the ideal hiking snack. It i packed with protein but is usually salty, so it’s important to stay hydrated. n Tuna: Packed in a pop-top can or pouch, this snack is easy to carry. You can eat it on crackers or bread. You can bring along single serve packs of mayonnaise and mustard or just add lemon juice to make tuna salad. n Energy Bars: Choose one that provides carbohydrates, protein and fat, depending on the intensity and duration of
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HEALTHY LIVING BY JULIE HUDSON
the hike. n Dried Fruit: Easy to transport, dried fruit is energy dense and full of calories and fiber. n Granola: One of the best hiking snacks, granola provides a taste of sweet and salty with an added crunch. It is high in healthy fats and calories and will stay fresh all day. n Vegetables: Carrots, celery and broccoli travel well. Pair veggies with single serve hummus packs, depending on the duration of the hike. n Seeds: Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are full of protein. n Trail Mix: Make a mixture of favorite nuts and seeds, pretzels or crackers, raisins or dried cranberries or blueberries, M&Ms or dark chocolate pieces. n Performance boosters: These are simple carbohydrates
that offer quick energy. Make sure to pair these boosters with other snacks that contain proteinto avoid experiencing a sudden drop in blood sugar following the sugar rush. The following have 25 grams of simple carbohydrates: 18 gummy bears; 25 jelly beans; 1 pouch fruit snack; 1 sports gel; 1/4 cup raisins; and 16 ounces of sports drink. Food and fluids are the fuel that will push a hiker up the mountain, around the lake or through the valley. In preparing for a hike, the length of time for the journey will determine how many supplies a hiker will need to stay hydrated and full of energy. Julie Hudson is a registered dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.
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Haley Fuller 256.750.2411
John Shelton 404.858.9198
Jerry Purcell 205.382.3417
Allison Ladson 256.750.0711
Haley McKelvey 256.749.8353
Damon Story 205.789.9526
Mike Davis 256.226.1238
Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792
Amy Duncan 256.212.2222
India Davis 256.749.7592
Judy Voss 256.794.0779
Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681
John McInnish 334.415.2149
Jaylen McGriff 256.300.0372
Jan Hall 256.329.6313
Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071
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Jim Cleveland 256.596.2220
Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372
Adam Yager 205.914.0830
Michelle Brooks 256.749.1031
Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099
Sawyer Davis 205.965.7940
Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017
David Mitchell 256.212.3511
Howard Haynie 334.312.0693
Leroy Sellers 256.496.2141
Randall Rogers 334.707.5804
Chad McKelvey 256.749.4018
Mimi Rush 334.399.7874
Bottom line
We sell more property in the Lake Martin area than anyone else. It’s all we do — and we can’t wait to do it for you.
We’re the Market Leader Lake Martin Waterfront Market Share ALL OTHER COMPETITORS
50.1%
OUR CLOSEST COMPETITOR
LAKE MARTIN REALTY/ RUSSELL LANDS ON LAKE MARTIN
*LMAAR/MLS Member Firms Sales Volume Data December 2018 – November 2019
Dadeville
256.825.9092
Willow Point 256.212.1498
a k e M a r t i n R e a l t y. c o m JANUARYL2020
Ourtown
256.212.1498 LAKE 27
b Summer boating
Scout Treadwell
14th Annual
Swimsuit & Lifestyle Edition
Katie Pemberton, Huell Lumpkin and Chloe Spivey
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Lorin Holcombe
Kristen Powell
Fun for the whole family
Mary Beth Coker
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Dione Vick, Olivia Hayes and Katie Pemberton are ready for a day at the rock on a SUPREME – ZS232 in Black and Burnt Orange Metal Flake from Russell Marine
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A Mrs. Alabama America runner-up, Mary Katherine Carlisle lives in Tallassee
Mary Katherine Carlisle
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The reigning Elite Ms. Lake Martin has a pageant success story that just keeps getting better. Mary Katherine Carlisle found herself in an unfulfilling job, holding a negative self-image and lacking in self-confidence before she became involved with pageants. “I always struggled with self-confidence and my self-image, but I was driven to work on that,” said the former Mrs. Alabama America runner-up. “Having a pageant to compete in gave me something to work on. I had trouble just walking into a room and making eye contact with people or talking to them, not even public speaking, just conversation. Through pageants, I got into interview coaching, and that gave me confidence to speak to other people.” Carlisle, who has a degree in public relations from
Her most important role, Carlisle said, is raising her 2-year-old daughter to be a confident woman
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Troy University, went from a job with little opportunity for advancement to a position as State Employees’ Insurance Board benefit advisor. She writes communications and makes presentations that train payroll officers on insurance benefits and the sign-up process for accessing those benefits. And she gained the confidence to land that job through pageants. “I competed as a child, but I never received the proper coaching. As an adult, I decided I wanted to get back into pageants four years ago. Pageants helped me strengthen my interview skills and gave me the confidence and courage to interview for other jobs. I feel like my life took off,” Carlisle said. In addition to traveling across the state for her job, Carlisle judges pageants and coaches entrants. She won second alternate in the 2016 Mrs. Alabama America competition; landed a spot on the Food Network’s second season of Worst Bakers in America; and posed for the cover of Elmore County Living’s September 2019 issue. “Being on the Food Network show made me even more optimistic. It reinforced the idea that I can do anything; really boosted my confidence. I am always looking for ways to do that,” she said. When she’s not working at her job or on pageants, Carlisle likes to fish on Lake Martin with her husband, David. “I didn’t grow up coming to the lake a lot, not until I met my husband. He loves to fish. He’s in a tournament club, and actually, our first date was on his boat. We went fishing on Lake Martin for the afternoon. We fish a lot, and I love going with him,” Carlisle said. But her favorite occupation, Carlisle added, is being mom to 2-year-old Ava Claire, and building her daughter’s self-confidence is at the top of her list. “I think about this every single day. I make a conscious effort to lift her up. I don’t ever want her to feel like her spirit is broken. I don’t make a big deal about my appearance in front of her or talk about myself in a negative way in front of her. I want to be a positive role model,” she said. “We want her to participate in activities she enjoys. She likes sports, and that can help her to learn to be part of a team and gain confidence.” Carlisle recognizes the positive influence that pageant participation has been in her life, and she tries to support others who are reaching for more confidence through pageants as well. “It changes your life and opens up a lot of opportunities for you,” she said.
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b Carlisle also was featured on a Food Network reality show
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www.russellmarine.net
Justin, Cassie, Kane and Kruce Ward flip over a day at the lake on a NAUTIQUE – G25 in Red and Anthracite Metal Flake from Russell Marine
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c A scientist in a medical technology field, Lorin Holcombe unwinds with pageant competitions
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Scientist, Alexander City native and pageant queen Lorin Holcombe returns to Lake magazine’s swimsuit and lifestyle issue after six years of study in both biology and biotechnology. Holcombe, who graduated Benjamin Russell High School in 2013, appeared in the 2013 swimsuit and lifestyle issue of Lake when she won the Miss Alabama Teen USA competition. While serving her state and traveling during the year she held the title, she began biology studies at Auburn University; then, she earned her master’s degree in biotechnology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She spent a year gaining experience in orthopedic surgical sales before moving to Greenville, South Carolina, for further studies at the Arrhythmia Technology Institute. This month, Holcombe moves back to Birmingham to work as a 3D mapper for a cardiac electrophysiology company. “I will work with a mapping system to create a threedimensional voltage map of a person’s heart during an ablation procedure to help the doctor find the best place to burn intracardiac tissue causing a termination of the arrhythmia we are trying to treat,” Holcombe explained. “I am looking for where the abnormal electrical pulse is coming from.” Holcombe’s work will help to cure atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, among others. “I’m a scientist, but I’m also a people person. I didn’t want to be stuck in a lab, so I thought the medical device area would be a great fit because of the interpersonal relationships in it, and how it allows me to be part of the clinical care of the patient,” Holcombe said. “I just love physiology, and I wanted to work in an area that had more to do with anatomy and physiology, but I also wanted to do something technical.” While her work is very technical, it’s also very stressful, Holcombe said, so she unwinds with pageants in the Miss USA system. “Growing up in Alexander City, I competed in the Miss Outlook pageant. When I was a senior in high school, some friends encouraged me to compete in Miss Alabama Teen USA. It became almost like a bucket list thing. I focused on doing the very best I could at something I was unfamiliar with. It was one of the first times in my life that I wanted to see something through, no matter how tough it was or how scared I was,” she said. That meant getting in shape because the Miss USA system includes swimsuit and interview components. “You have to work really hard to be in shape, even if you’re super busy and it’s hard to go to the gym. You have to make healthy choices. And exercise is great for mental health. I’ve been taking exams and doing hospital work for 12-plus hours a day, but if I get some fitness in there, I find I am more productive and have a clearer mind and sharper memory.” Pageants helped Holcombe to develop self-confidence and presentation skills. “When I entered the Miss Alabama Teen USA competition, I had to learn how to walk the pageant runway
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and do my hair and makeup for the stage myself. At that point in time, I was just focused on that one competition. I didn’t plan on doing another, but by the grace of our Heavenly Father, I was able to win that pageant.” Serving her state for a year as Miss Alabama Teen USA was an amazing experience, Holcombe said, but winning opened her mind to more opportunities and possibilities. Since winning the Miss Alabama Teen USA title in 2013, Holcombe also was named third runner-up in the 2018 Miss Alabama USA competition, was first runner-up in Miss Georgia USA 2019 and was named in the Top Ten at the Miss Alabama USA 2020 competition. “When you work that hard and your dream comes true, you realize that you can do other things. You find yourself reaching for other goals because you now believe that it is possible,” she said. “Prior to that first pageant, I would sit on the sidelines. I was afraid to fail, to not be the best at something. I think it held me back from experiences. You have to say yes to some big and scary opportunities for any of those possibilities to happen.” For Holcombe, those opportunities included joining a very diverse master’s program and taking a job that will include traveling the world and making a difference in people’s lives.
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Pageants inspired Holcombe to reach for other goals
Serving her state as Miss Alabama Teen USA was an honor and an amazing experience
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Justin Howard cruises around Lake Martin in a SEA RAY – SDX270 in Sea Ray Blue and Silver Metal Flake from Russell Marine
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Huell Lumpkin will pursue a career in kinesiology and looks forward to working with athletes
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Alexander City’s Huell Lumpkin discovered baseball when he was 3 years old, and he never looked back. “I love the game of baseball, and I thank God for the opportunity to be able to pitch. And I love that I get the opportunity to continue my pitching career at CACC,” said the 2019 Benjamin Russell High School graduate. Lumpkin was rewarded a Gateway Foundation Scholarship to Central Alabama Community College that will pay for two years of his college education. He hopes to transfer to Troy University or Jacksonville State University to study kinesiology and pursue a career of caring for athletes. “Anything to still be involved in baseball,” he said. The sport has helped him develop character, Lumpkin said. “It has helped me to learn how to overcome adversity and to strive for greatness no matter what obstacles I may face in life. When I play baseball, I see myself striving to solve tough situations, which encourages me to become a better and more efficient leader. This allows me to have confidence and pursue my college experience with excellence,” he explained. “You just need to strive for the highest level you can.” BRHS and the local community have supported and encouraged Lumpkin along the way, he said. “I was born and raised in Alexander City, and there are many people that are like family to me. Attending CACC also represents family and establishes close relationships with teachers, and I get to meet new friends.” Going to CACC also gives Lumpkin the opportunity to spend more time with his mother, Tammy Lumpkin, his father, Hugh Lumpkin, two brothers, Chance and Charlie, and his two dogs, Biscuit and Rosie. He likes deer hunting and fishing and looks forward to spring baseball. Lumpkin pitches for the CACC baseball team
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www.russellmarine.net
The Hill family enjoys an outing on the MONACO by Godfrey Pontoon Boats – MC255RL in Charcoal and Slate Grey with Arch from Russell Marine
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Katie Pemberton
Katie Pemberton is grateful she can study close to the lake she loves
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Katie Pemberton has attended Central Alabama Community College for the last two and a half years, where she finished all of her basics. “I love the campus and the administration,” Pemberton said. She recently moved to Auburn, hoping that would help her decide exactly what she wanted to do and where she wants to be, as she loves Auburn and has many friends there. “It’s a great place to be at a young age because it is filled with collegeage students,” she explained. Always interested in the medical field, Pemberton started off wanting to be a veterinarian but switched over to physical therapy. Now in nursing, she will start nursing school this spring. “I chose nursing because I love the satisfaction of being able to help others. While I don’t know exactly what field of nursing I want to go into, I plan for the first few years to do travel nursing. I’ve always wanted to be able to see more of the world and being able to work and do that is a win-win,” she said. Pemberton likes to spend her free time hunting with her dad and her uncle and enjoys fishing at Lake Martin. She also enjoys deep-sea fishing. “As much as I love fall and winter, summer-
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time will always have my heart,” she said. “I love going on Lake Martin with my friends and family. My favorite things at the lake are hanging out at Chimney Rock, and I love the atmosphere at The Landing.” Pemberton also likes to spend time Pemberton is a with her two nephnursing student ews. Watching them at CACC grow up is very special to her. “Family means the world to me. Most of my family lives in Alex City, so I don’t see myself moving permanently too far away,” she said. As a continuing student at CACC, Pemberton said she still does love being there because it is close to home and close to the lake. “I’ve always loved it, even from the beginning. Now that I’ve been accepted for nursing school, I’m excited because I am comfortable with the area. I think I won’t get stressed so much because I am comfortable with it already,” she said. “If I could tell anyone who doesn’t know what they want to do anything, it would be ‘go to CACC and do some basic core classes. With the Gateway program, you’re already going for free. It’s great to do that and not just go off to a college just because you want to live somewhere else,” she said.
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Working as a traveling nurse will allow Pemberton to experience life in other locations but still maintain her connection with the Lake Martin area
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Olivia Hayes competes as a saddle seat horseback rider
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Olivia Hayes A sophomore at Samford, Hayes plans to complete her master's degree and work as a nurse anesthetist
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When Rudjard and Lorraine Hayes sat next to Lake magazine chairman Kenneth Boone and his wife, Mary Lyman, at an Atlanta Braves game last year, the conversation turned to Lake Martin, where the Hayes family is building a house. By the time the game was over, their daughter, Olivia, was signed up as a model for this year’s swimsuit and lifestyle edition of the magazine. “It was really funny the way it happened,” said Olivia Hayes, who grew up coming to Lake Martin in the summer. “I have modeled in the past with a photographer in Peachtree City, Georgia. My favorite thing we’ve done was a ’70s-inspired shoot that was fantastic.” Though she enjoys modeling, Hayes’ go-to hobby is horseback riding. She started riding at a young age – about 5 years old – but didn’t compete until she started riding saddle seat in college at Samford University in Birmingham, where she is a sophomore. “I rode off and on growing up. In high school, my sport was soccer, but I had to stop playing soccer when I had surgery to correct a spinal condition that I had since birth. I had to have metal rods put in my spine, and after that, I wanted to pick up riding again,” she explained. “Riding is therapeutic for me. It is my escape from everything. It provides me with calmness.” It also was traumatic for her when the horse she was riding tripped and fell on her last summer, but Hayes used the experience to strengthen her resolve, lean on her faith and better define her career choice. “I was teaching a camp, and at the end of it, there were just a few kids still there. They were all experienced riders, so we decided we would ride bareback until it was time for them to go. I got on an older horse, and when he tripped, both of his front legs buckled. I fell off; and then, he fell on top of me. My pelvis was broken in four places with the left side of my pelvis completely collapsing inwards and – well, multiple bones, including my sacrum, which was crushed in three places,” Hayes explained. “The previous surgery really saved me, though, because when my sacrum shattered, instead of the fragments hitting my spinal column, they hit the metal rods. Otherwise, it might have killed me or paralyzed me.” Hayes was in the hospital for three weeks following the accident and used a wheelchair for even longer. She drew on her family and her upbringing of faith for support during the recovery period. “Seeing us as a family, we face things boldly. We have very strong faith. That’s what keeps us going. We are grateful for the miracles and the love that is poured into us when these things happen, and we come back
stronger,” she said. “I think the most important thing a person can do is to lean on the people you are close with – the people who love you – because you can’t face everything by yourself. And trust in God. He’s got your well-being in control, so trust in Him instead of thinking you need to face a situation alone.” Hayes recently was accepted into the nursing school at Samford, and, having chosen to be a nurse anesthetist, plans to continue her education there at the master’s level. “Seeing personally what a difference good medical care makes, I would like to be someone who can help to make people comfortable; help to make a painful situation better,” she said. She’s glad to be back in the saddle – and to be part of the annual swimsuit and lifestyle issue of Lake. The most important thing a person can do, Hayes said, is accept help from the people who love you
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Scout Treadwell values the closeness of her Tallapoosa County community
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Scout Treadwell A
As Scout Treadwell starts her last semester at Ole Miss before embarking on a career in medicine, she’s grateful for the start she got at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City. “When it’s time for finals, I like to come home to study. It’s always comforting to come back,” Treadwell said. A biochemistry major with two health-related minors, Treadwell said she’s grateful to have been born and raised in a place where people look out for each other. “We are a big family in Tallapoosa County,” Treadwell said. “If you’re sick, you’re on somebody’s prayer list at church. You always have someone looking out for you.” Her high school experience prepared her well for a college career that opened her eyes to world health and helped her develop confidence and leadership skills for the future, she said. “The teachers gave me a great academic background. I felt confident going into my first college classes,” she said. Treadwell, who hopes to continue her education in medicine or biomedical science, represented the community as Tallapoosa County’s Distinguished Young Woman in 2016 and learned that diligence and hard work could help her reap great rewards. “Distinguished Young Woman is a program that cultivates young female leaders. It helped me work on interview skills. Putting myself out there and getting on stage with 60-plus other girls helped me build confidence,” she said. At Ole Miss, Treadwell further developed her communication skills by giving tours of the campus as an Ole Miss Ambassador. “I meet people from across the world and learned that I had to figure out a way to make a connection with them to promote the University of Mississippi,” she said. She joined a medical team at a clinic in Peru and visited remote villages to serve patients who did not have adequate access to medical care. “We did general check-ups, filled cavities, opened a pharmacy that provided people the medications they needed. I’m so grateful for that experience,” Treadwell said. “I am currently conducting my thesis research on breast cancer. My advisor, who does half of her research
in China, and I are studying how different products that we use every day can affect the metastasis of breast cancer. I’ve had the opportunity to visit St. Jude’s, too,” she said. “One of my minors is society and health, which looks at social issues that can cause health disparities – epidemiology studies, poverty levels and education and how that affects people’s health.” She’s also learned that it’s important to take care of her own health, so Treadwell takes time for hot yoga and is training for a half marathon that will benefit St. Jude’s. And she makes a point of coming home to Tallapoosa County to prepare for tests. “Everyone knows who you are here. I love that,” she said.
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Treadwell is conducting thesis research on the effect of everyday items on the metastasis of breast cancer
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k Hot yoga and training for a half marathon help Treadwell to take care of her own health
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Kristen Powell K
Kristen Powell loves living an uncomplicated life in the small Southern town where she was born and raised. Powell grew up in the house behind the office where her grandfather, Dr. Kenneth Suggs, practiced medicine. After graduating Benjamin Russell High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business and came home to work and to be part of the fabric of life in Alexander City. Powell worked in wealth management for a few years; and then, moved to the businesslicensing department for the City of Alexander City before joining the team at Mortgage Pro in Alexander City three years ago. She is married to Christopher Powell, and they have a 6-year-old son, Judson, who keeps them busy. Judson has played soccer and T-ball with the city’s parks and recreation programs, and Powell loves to support him in his excitement at the discoveries he makes every day. “We just try to make it as fun as we can,” she said. “We go with the flow, so we’re always running.” Powell has a beautiful singing voice and shares her talent through the First United Methodist Church praise team at The Arbor campus. In 2018, she sang for the role of Mary, Jesus’ mother, in the Alexander City Theatre II Christmas production, All is Well. She loves contemporary Christian music but also likes country music and the works of older female rock singers. “I just like to sing anything, but the Hillsong
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Worship songs are my favorite. They bring so much power,” Powell said. When she isn’t singing, playing with Judson or closing real estate transactions, Powell likes to hunt with her husband. Last deer season, with 5-year-old Judson sleeping soundly in a deer stand while his parents waited patiently for a deer to cross their path, Powell took the trophy eight-point buck that now hangs in her living room. “I saw it first, but Chris got his gun up before I did. I know it hard for him, but he did the right thing and let me get my shot,” she said. “It was the thrill of a lifetime for all of us, and yes, we did give Judson a booming wakeup call.” Her simple life also includes supporting her hometown. Powell serves on the Alexander City Board of Adjustments and the city’s Community Development Board. “I love that the city is getting more downtown events going on. It is bringing the community together,” Powell said. “I’ve seen different stages of this town my whole life, and when I was growing up, it didn’t seem that we had this kind of buildup of community. There were events here and there, but not like what’s going on now. I love showing up and seeing other citizens just come to an event. I love seeing everybody come together.” The simple life in Alexander City is the best life, Powell said.
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Lake time is a welcome respite for Kristen Powell, who keeps up with a fulltime job and a 6-year-old son
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Powell loves the many downtown activities in her Alexander City hometown
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She treasures the simple things in life with her husband and family
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Mary Beth Coker
Mary Beth Coker loved being on the fishing team in high school at Benjamin Russell
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A
k
An aspiring nurse at Central Alabama Community College, 18-year-old on the Gateway scholarship recipient Mary Beth Coker gained confidence and a love for outdoor sports fishing and hunting with her father and her brother. “I grew up hunting and fishing with my dad and my brother, and it’s a joy for me. It’s relaxation. I like the deer hunt, but I like bird hunting, too. Every year, we have a big dove shoot, and that’s my favorite,” she said. “My dad always had a bass boat, and my grandparents have this huge pond, so every family get-together, we’d always be fishing,” Coker said. When a high school friend suggested Coker pair up with her as partners on the Benjamin Russell High School fishing team, she went for it. “I absolutely loved it. I learned a lot of things that I never knew before. I learned different fishing techniques and things about how to rig up. I learned a lot on the simple part of if the weather changes overnight from Friday to into tournament day on Saturday, that you always need to have a backup plan,” she said. For Coker, eight-hour days of fishing were never laborious or tiresome. “It just really clicked with me. I will always be that person that’s going to say, ‘Hey, let’s go fishing today.’ It will always be in my heart,” Coker said. The male dominance of the sport never slowed her down, Coker said. “My mom told me she was proud of me for taking on a sport that was male dominated. I think, through fishing and hunting, even though you’re a woman, you can still do a man’s sport.” Still, when she graduated Benjamin Russell High School last spring and moved into academics at CACC, Coker did not sign up for the college fishing team. “I have other dreams I want to fulfill,” she said. Among those dreams is the launch of her nursing career. Coker will start nursing classes at CACC this semester and looks forward to a career focused on helping people in local hospitals. She started working as a nurse tech last fall and confirmed what she recognized in herself as a passion for the work. In just a few weeks, she realized her heart for nursing was even stronger than she had thought. “I have a big heart for helping people one-on-one, maybe in cardiology, ICU or labor and delivery. As a nurse tech, I am getting some insight in cardiology right now,” Coker said. “I had thought I would like to be a nurse, but until you get in there as a nurse tech and see how things really are, you just don’t know. I’ve grown a real passion for it.”
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As a student at CACC working at Russell Medical, she loves having the opportunity to work with patients who are familiar to her. “That’s a nice thing about being from this community and going to CACC,” she said. “I know some students who went straight from high school to a four-year college, and they’ve struggled. Being at CACC has definitely been great for me. It’s a better adjustment. “I am fortunate to be a part of the Gateway to Education program, which allows me to go to CACC and do nursing school there. I want to stay in the local area,” she said. Staying local allows Coker to continue to do the things she loves – like hunting, fishing and caring for people in her local community.
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Coker will start nursing classes at CACC this semester
k Coker said she'll always be the person who will go fishing at the drop of a hat
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Chloe Spivey N
Not content to let her future just happen, 19-year-old Chloe Spivey of Wetumpka holds down a nearly-fulltime job while she carries a full load of classes at Central Alabama Community College, where she drives herself toward a career in nursing. She started taking dual enrollment classes at age 14 at Wetumpka High School after a college fair conversation with CACC’s Brett Pritchard. That’s about the same time she picked up a summer job with a heating and air conditioning service company, so now, she manages 36 hours of work during the week, as well as four classes at CACC’s Alexander City campus. “Taking dual enrollment at 14 inspired me to do more with my life. I wanted to get ahead, and that helped me to Chloe Spivey set her sights on nursing at an early age
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take care of the core classes early,” Spivey said. “Now, I’m hoping to start nursing school in August.” She likes CACC for its small classes, personable faculty and affordability. “The teachers are very insightful, and my advisor can be flexible and work with my schedule. She was my English teacher, so I already had a relationship established with her before she became my advisor,” Spivey said. “I also like that there aren’t 300 people in my classes, so I get to know more people.” Nursing, Spivey said, has always been her career goal. She likes helping people and grew up helping her mother take care of a bed-ridden family member. She also has an aunt who is the director of the emergency room at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery. “I shadowed her in her job, and I just loved it. It’s one of those situations where you’re not going to see the same exact thing every day. And with every new situation, there’s more opportunity to learn and grow,” she explained. She’s done a lot of that in the job she has now. When she started, it was a summer job, and her primary duties included data entry and record keeping. The following summer, she started answering the phone working more with customers. Eventually, she worked through the co-op program at WHS. “With my job now, I have to know a little about everything, and I need to work to be patient – people aren’t happy when their air conditioning needs to be fixed or when they don’t have any heat. So I’ve had to learn to help people through some tense times,” she added. Spivey said cheerleading helped her learn how to discipline herself, work with a team and remain committed. “It also gave me more confidence,” she said. Her job has helped her to grow more confident still. “It made me grow up and become more mature for my age. For example, talking to people is easier for me now. I used to be timid, too scared to call in a pizza order, but the job really brought me out of my shell. I don’t think I would be as mature as I am if I didn’t have my job,” she said. “And they’ve been so flexible with my school schedule.” Between school and work, Spivey’s schedule doesn’t include a lot of free time. She relishes the pockets of relaxation and leisure whenever she finds them, even if it’s only taking a walk during her work lunch break. She also enjoys playing with her dog – a mixed breed named Theodore that she adopted from the Elmore County Humane Society. “He’s about a year-and-a-half old, and he loves to chew shoes,” Spivey said. That’s a problem because Spivey loves shoes – her favorite being a pair of cheetah-print Adidas tennis shoes that help her to comfortably stay on the go.
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Spivey stays on the go with a fulltime job and a full class load at CACC
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Sasquatch Camo Brothers turn a childhood Bigfoot interest into a business STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM DENNEY
U
Using high-definition images, Lake Martin artists Jim Denney and John Denney have launched a camouflage pattern designed to put more fun in hunting, especially for kids who are getting into the sport. Brothers who have hunted since childhood, the Denneys specialize in wildlife art and have carried their childhood interest with Bigfoot into their new Sasquatch Brand Camo pattern line. “We had been kicking the idea around for seven or eight years,” Jim Denney said. “We both were interested in Sasquatch when we were young. We had these little Sasquatch books, and I would get my grandmother to read them to me.” As interest in Bigfoot is growing among kids today, the artists decided the time was right to get serious about their camouflage design project. “John had worked in the camo industry with Mossy Oak, so he kind of knew how it works. Now more than ever, kids are more involved in hunting, and Bigfoot is more popular than ever. There are lots of TV shows about it. We thought this was something fun that would appeal to kids,” he said. The concept was to develop a camo pattern that the pair would sell to manufacturers of hunting apparel and accessories – rather than manufacturing their own products. The pattern could be licensed to any number of products, from jackets and pants to seat cushions and flashlights, Denney said. The pair’s original pattern was designed for deer and turkey hunting and features trees and foliage with a Sasquatch emerging from behind a tree. They also designed a swamp version on which the foreground foliage was traded out for cattails, which would be more appropriate for duck hunting. The high-definition images the Denneys used produce a three-dimensional effect, which will help hunters blend with their wooded surroundings. The spring foliage pattern includes more leaves and brighter
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The Denney brothers created a marketable camoflauge pattern
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greens; whereas, the leaves are fewer and more brown on the fall pattern. “The pattern comes before the color. We established the pattern first and then worried about the colors,” Denney explained. Of the hundreds of camo patterns currently on the market, Denney said, none of them includes any graphics that are fun like this one. “It’s something unique. Nobody else has anything that’s geared toward kids like this, something fun like that in their pattern. We wanted to make hunting a little more fun. Kids can get bored with hunting. It’s not always exciting, so this adds more excitement to the experience,” said Denney. In collaborating on a project like this, the twins take turns working on it. Each of the artists has developed a following and established a reputation at Lake Martin and beyond for precise, accurate wildlife renderings. Denney won the state’s annual duck stamp art competition four times while his brother won it three times. Denney also won the Alabama Wildlife Federation art competition four times, and John won it twice. In addition, John took three places in last year’s Lake Martin Living Art Walk competition, including first and third places in photography. “We both have been drawing since we were little kids. We started when we were 5 or 6, and we’re both good at it. We sort of kicked the idea back and forth with each of us messing with the art until we got something we were happy with,” Denney said. And since John had some experience in building websites, developing the Sasquatch Brand Camo site fell mostly to him. But designing the pattern was the easiest part of the project, Denney said. The biggest holdup on getting the pattern into the public eye was developing the branding and getting it trademarked. Sasquatch is a native American word for a tall, hairy human-like creature that, as legend has it, exists in wild areas of the U.S. Other common names for the creature include Bigfoot and Swamp Ape, depending on the region of the country. Learn more about Sasquatch Brand Camo at sasquatchcamo.com or visit the Sasquatch Camo Facebook page.
The fall pattern features dried leaves
The artists altered the pattern for duck hunters
The spring pattern includes more green leaves but still features the Sasquatch among the trees
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Good Year or Bad Year? J
anuary is a month that looks ahead. A new close by the time this article is published, I think year means new plans, new resolutions, a new it is safe to say that 2019 will end up being the trip around the sun. Mentally, we are more top year of sales. If not the top, it will be close likely to think we are starting over and that the enough so as not to matter. tabula is rasa. The next chart shows the sales activity in the Gone are the days of December, the days of Lake Martin MLS for waterfront lots. The story looking back and wondering, ‘Have I been good is a bit different here. Through the end of enough?’ Will Santa think that I have been a November, 2019 did not vie to be the top year good boy or girl or a bad boy or girl? And what for waterfront lot sales. The top sales honor for is ‘good’ anyway? Will Santa understand if I had lots goes to 2015. LAKE PROPERTY a few slip-ups as long as I sincerely apologized? In fact, 2019 will probably not even be in the BY JOHN COLEY Similarly, at the end of a real estate year, it is top five of best waterfront lot sales years. That normal to wonder if it has been a ‘good’ year or not. Well, is a pretty curious thing to me, actually. The conclusion that I has it been a good year for Lake Martin waterfront sales? make is that waterfront home sales activity and waterfront lot Let’s take a look. As of this writing, the sales have been sales activity are not necessarily tethered. The fact that 2017 accumulated officially through the end of November, so and 2019 could be so excellent for home sales, yet so average we should have a pretty good estimation. I pulled all these for lots, drives that point home to me. numbers from the Lake Martin Multiple Listings Service. Do we have enough information for a verdict yet? Was The MLS includes sales from every single agent, every real 2019 a good year at Lake Martin? Let’s keep looking. estate brokerage on the lake. It doesn’t include private sales Another way to judge the strength of any market is to look from developers or for-sale-by-owners data, but I think it at the relationship between sales and inventory. I have said it represents a very, very high percentage of waterfront transac- in these pages before, and I will say it again: To look at sales tions. without considering inventory is only a partial analysis. Vice Here’s a chart that shows waterfront home sales through versa is also true. the end of November 2019. The MLS shows that 342 homes That is why I think it is important to view both sales and were sold through Nov. 30. If we compare that total to the inventory at the same time. One common way that the real previous four years, we see that 342 is a record high. It bests estate industry, in any market, likes to analyze the relation2017 by two sales. This is significant because the calendar ship is a statistic called Months of Inventory. MOI is calyear of 2017 holds the record for waterfront sales. For 2019 culated by taking the current month’s inventory of homes to be two sales ahead after the end of November is a pretty or lots for sale divided by the current month’s sales. In big deal. plain English, MOI answers the question, “If our market What will happen in December? Does 2019 have a chance keeps selling homes at the rate it did this month, how many to maintain its lead and become the top waterfront home months would it take to totally sell all the homes currently in sales year ever? There were 16 sales in December of 2017. inventory?” As I write this article in the middle of December 2019, the The next logical question is, “What is a good number MLS recorded about half that number. Given that many more for Months of Inventory?” or said another way, “Does this that are listed as pending actually do close, and will probably month’s MOI mean that Lake Martin is in a good market or
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a bad market?” I think those are the wrong questions to ask. Not wrong morally; just wrong in that they are indistinct. Better questions to ask are, “Is Lake Martin’s MOI trending toward a buyer’s market or seller’s market?” Good and bad have nothing to do with it. Low months of inventory is good for sellers but bad for buyers. Buyers, therefore, might root for a high MOI and perceive it as good. If we look at 2019 and average the sales by dividing by 11 months of the year and dividing that into the inventory, we find that there are about 18 months of inventory for lot sales. Last year, 2018 saw about 22 months of inventory for waterfront lots. My conclusion is that, while the raw numbers of waterfront lot sales were not that strong for Lake Martin in 2019, they do seem to be trending toward more of a seller’s market. Similarly, it looks like home sales are trending lower, indicating that they are leaning even more toward a seller’s market. November 2019 posted almost seven months of inventory in home sales, compared to the nine months of inventory in November 2018. Good or bad market? That judgement depends if you’re a buyer or seller. Sellers seem to still have the upper hand in waterfront home sales while buyers still have an opportunity to enjoy equal footing in lot sales.
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LAKE 77
Chickens in the Watershed
A
changing watershed – what does it mean for two to more than a dozen large chicken houses that our Treasured lake? contain as many as 44,000 birds per house. The largest A lake’s watershed is the total land area of these – called mega-houses – are 66 feet wide by above the lake that, during a rainfall/runoff event, 600 feet long. drains into the lake. For Lake Martin, that area Recently, Lake Watch of Lake Martin members begins below Lake Wedowee Dam (also known reported newly-constructed chicken houses along state as Lake Harris Dam) and extends downstream on Route 49 north of Horseshoe Bend National Military the Tallapoosa River to the Lake Martin Dam and Park, which is in the heart of our lake’s watershed. includes all of the tributary streams that flow into the This news prompted us to do a survey of poultry proTallapoosa River and the lake along the duction in the Middle Tallapoosa Basin. A way. This area, known as the Middle scan of this area in Google Maps yielded Tallapoosa Basin, covers 1,530 square a total of around 120 chicken houses on miles and includes part, or all, of the approximately 26 farms, all of which communities of Lineville, Ashland, looked very new, as they had shiny metal Roanoke, Daviston, New Site, Lafayette, roofs versus old rusty roofs. Actually, this Alexander City, Dadeville and Camp Hill. estimate is probably low, due to ongoing It is true that the waters of the Lake construction of new houses. Wedowee Watershed also flow into Based on an estimate of approximately our lake through the dam. Fortunately, 400 tons of litter produced per chicken Lake Wedowee processes the majority farm per year, a rough estimate of chicken of pollutants it receives from the Upper litter production in our lake’s watershed LAKE WATCH Tallapoosa Basin through settling of parequals about 10,000 tons per year. A BY ERIC REUTEBUCH ticulates and biological processes, so for rough conversion of this amount to a this article, I am focusing on the Middle Tallapoosa ‘human equivalent’ would represent the waste generBasin. The significance of this land area to our lake is ated by a city of more than 200,000 people. That’s a that all pollutants generated/released within this area lot of waste. So, let’s examine the impacts of this new have the potential to flow into our lake; thus, to be enterprise on our watershed and our lake. a good steward of Lake Martin, one must be a good On the positive side, poultry litter contains high steward of its watershed, as well. nitrogen and phosphorus, making it a very good organIn the past several decades, poultry production has ic fertilizer for crops, hay, gardens and landscapes; become an increasingly important agricultural comhowever, nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, modity in Alabama and has spread across the state in build up in the soil if application rates are higher than response to the rising demand in the American diet. the crop can absorb. Following a nutrient management Poultry production has been positive for farmers and plan and proven best management practices would has become Alabama’s No. 1 agricultural industry. improve manure nutrient use efficiency and reduce Poultry has a $15.1 billion impact on the state’s econthe impact of the land application of manure on water omy and employs more than 86,000 people, according quality of nearby streams, rivers and lakes. to the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association. Most Chicken manure is especially degrading to waterAlabama farm families grow broiler chickens (for meat ways because it contains two to four times more versus egg production), pushing the state to its No. 2 nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous, than ranking among all states in U.S. broiler production. the manure of other types of livestock. While this Shifts in poultry production have been toward fewer, makes chicken manure a useful fertilizer, it can also larger, more concentrated production facilities, and have detrimental effects on water quality and soil that has brought about the need for more efficient and quality. When manure washes into streams, rivers environmentally sound waste management. In fact, and lakes, the added nutrient load could lead to rapid virtually all poultry farms in Alabama have shifted to algal growth, turning lakes into green soups of algae. ‘factory farms,’ displacing the family farms of the past. An influx of chicken manure also contributes diseaseToday’s chicken farmers raise day-old chicks to about causing bacteria, parasites and viruses, as well as oxy5 to 6 pounds in just six weeks. gen-demanding organic matter that, upon decomposiThe farmers are required to contract with one of tion, can create oxygen-depleted aquatic dead zones only a few corporate entities – Koch Foods, Inc., where little-to-no life can exist. Tyson Farms, Inc., or Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation – to You may be thinking ‘is this all hypothetical, or for receive chicks and feed. Profit margins tend to be tight. real?’ It’s been very real in the Chesapeake Bay and its Factory farms, called concentrated animal feeding watershed where agriculture, primarily poultry producoperations or CAFOs, typically have anywhere from tion, has been the largest polluter. In the 1990s, vast 78 LAKE
JANUARY 2020
stretches of the bay became dead zones, contaminated with manure, pathogens and other pollutants. In 1997, an outbreak of the toxic marine algae Pfiesteria killed thousands of fish and sickened several people. Since then, through government, agency and farmer efforts, waste management and water quality conditions in the Chesapeake Bay have improved. This toxic algal bloom phenomenon also happens in freshwater lakes when they receive too many nutrients, as described in my Lake magazine article in October 2019. Closer to home, earlier this year, the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River suffered a major wastewater spill from a chicken processing plant, River Valley Ingredients, owned by Tyson Farms, Inc. The spill killed an estimated 175,000 fish. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management reported the incident was so large that direct counts of dead fish were not possible. This incident highlights the industry’s environmental perils beyond the chicken farm. So what can we do to protect our lake from becoming another Chesapeake Bay or Mulberry Fork? Fortunately, there are regulations and guidelines in place for environmentally sound management of poultry farms. ADEM requires annual permitting for farms of 125,000 chickens or more raised in an enclosed environment. The permit requires a detailed waste management plan to minimize runoff of manure/litter to local waterways. The farmers have to file inspection reports every year, showing soil test results and how the farms are meeting standards. The question remains, is our Treasured lake adequately protected from an influx of nutrients, pathogens and dissolved oxygen-depleting organic matter from the 10,000 tons of poultry waste generated each year above our lake? Follow-up questions include: Where is all that chicken litter being spread? Are the current management practices adequate to prevent runoff from chick-
en waste into local waterways? Is our lake currently being impacted by these recent changes in our watershed? Should there be a limit to the number of poultry farms, other animal CAFOs and other major sources of nonpoint source pollution in our Treasured Alabama Lake’s watershed? As stewards of the lake and its watershed, Lake Watch has initiated several steps to answer these questions. The first step was to get an estimate of the magnitude of the changes (amount of chicken production) in our watershed, which was described above. We are planning a more advanced approach to locate and quantify these changes, involving a more accurate GIS analysis of the watershed. The second step we are taking is to identify streams that now have significant poultry production farms near them and to monitor their water quality. We have established three stream sample sites and conducted a ‘dry weather’ sample. This sample indicated low levels of E. coli, none of which were above state standards. ‘Wet weather’ sampling throughout the year is needed at the three sites, and additional sites, to see if runoff events are transporting contaminants to streams, the river and the lake. We are also investigating other water testing techniques to test for additional pathogens, such as Salmonella, and for nutrients. In closing, I want to say that I love chicken (especially fried), and I love farmers, since they produce our food. We are hoping that test results confirm clean streams and a clean lake. We’ll keep you posted. If you are concerned about this evolving change in the watershed of our Treasured lake, join us in our stewardship efforts – we need your help! For more information on Lake Watch, go to www.lakewatch.org. Eric Reutebuch is president of Lake Watch Lake Martin. Contact him through the Lake Watch website at www.lakewatch.org.
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 79
Tara's Steamed Mussels, Grilled Bread and Buttery Broth Ingredients
1 pound fresh mussels, cleaned and beards removed 4 cloves minced garlic 2 sprigs fresh thyme Healthy pinch red chili flakes 3/4 cup white wine 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Directions
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat for 30 seconds before adding garlic, thyme and chili flakes. Cook for about one and a half minutes or until contents become fragrant but not browned. Remove from heat before adding mussels and white wine. Return to high heat and bring to simmer; work with caution, as wine may flame up. Cover for a couple minutes; once all the mussels have opened, swirl in butter and parsley. Serve in a warm bowl or directly from sauté pan with lots of grilled bread for sopping. Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute.
CHEF’S TABLE BY ROB MCDANIEL
80 LAKE
JANUARY 2020
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LAKE 81
Cast off cabin fever Photo by Audra Spears
82 LAKE
JANUARY 2020
C
old, flu and cabin fever are three ailments that nobody Down Size and Slow Down wants to deal with in the dead of winter. It may be With less of an appetite, smaller forage could be enough to hard to believe, but for those with the outdoors runtide the fish over, so winter is a great time to catch big fish on ning through their blood, cabin fever can feel like the worst of small baits. Whatever your favorite bait for winter fishing, conthe three. When cabin fever sets in, there is only one remedy sider throwing a much smaller version in a cold front. that will alleviate that feeling of being a prisoner of walls and Most anglers are wired to slow down their presentations controlled climate; that is, getting back outside. This may be during the winter, as fish just aren’t as aggressive. More imporone of the best times of the year for hunters, but for those who tantly, slowing down allows the bait to remain in the strike choose fishing as a remedy, it can be a challenge. zone (usually around the target suspected of holding fish) There’s something about going out and taking on Nature longer. The metabolism of the forage is low in cold water, too. and the elements to put a few fish in the boat. Mid-winter can Crawfish move more slowly, and shad can be almost motionbe feast-or-famine, and a day on the lake could less as they cling to life in the frigid water. To produce some of the biggest fish of the year, or it match the hatch this time of year, the presentation could send anglers home with tails tucked, wonneeds to be slow like the food the fish are eating. dering if they even have a clue. Having been on And finally, make multiple casts to the same tarboth sides of that fence, I thought I’d share a few gets if they seem right. It can take a few casts to tips that have helped turn a few would-be blanks get a lazy fish to decide it’s tired of watching that into phenomenal fishing days. morsel creep by its face. First, understand that the fish, in general, are Speed up probably in their most inactive states now, due to Yep, speed up. This goes against everything an low water temperatures; however, don’t mistake angler’s mind and even body may tell him when that thinking as an indication that the fish cannot the mercury drops. Fish bite artificial offerings be caught. A fish’s metabolism is at its lowest for a number of reasons. Although feeding is the point this time of year. Since they don’t need as most obvious type of bite, it can be the most diffimuch food, their feeding periods will be shorter. cult if the fish are not very hungry. The alternative BIG CATCHES Fortunately, those feeding windows still exist. is to get the fish to react on impulse. BY GREG VINSON Like other times of the year, there are general Liken it to being laid up in the recliner, eyes feeding periods during the low-light times of the half shut and about to start snoring; then, someday – morning and late evening. Sometimes, the one slams a door just a few feet away. At least a few of us low-light feeding periods are stronger than others; but then, would jump up out of the chair on impulse, out of fear, anger there is typically another window at some point in the day or both. At a minimum, it gets attention. when the fish will look to feed. Knowing this should give Sometimes, the largest fish occupy the best cover, and they anglers confidence to push through tough bites and continue also are territorial. In other words, when surprised, they will with plans and patterns that will put them around the fish. react defensively to something threatening the lair. This presGeneral wisdom says that the fishing is better just before ents an opportunity to get a bite from an otherwise inactive or during a passing front. The water warms somewhat leadfish. A reaction bite could be triggered with a number of baits ing into the next front, and falling barometric pressure can fished with a fast retrieve, like a standard or lipless crankbait, help activate the fish as well. While anglers don’t always get or in the case of jigs and plastics, something that crashes into to choose the weather on the one day they plan to go fishing, the zone very quickly. The fish makes a split-second decision there are some things they could do when the cold air sets in – fight or flight. Plenty of presentations to high percentage tarand the barometric pressure rises. gets could fool enough fish to end the day with success.
Find Targets
When the water warms, clouds form and rain is coming, the fish often move around more. They may not be in hyper mode, but they will look for food. It may sound good, but this could be a tricky ordeal. Fish on the move can be the hardest to predict, especially on highland-type lakes, such as Lake Martin. The fish could roam the shallows or decide to suspend under balls of bait in open water. The textbook cold-front day includes a few common characteristics: hard cold nights, bluebird skies, rising barometric pressure and little to no wind. When this happens, fish tend to lock down to cover. For some, this is a mental hurdle to overcome, knowing the fish aren’t as active; however, to the optimist, it’s encouraging because the locations of the fish can be more predictable. Any cover that could have retained heat from the previous day makes a great target. Rocks, stumps, trees and docks are good examples. Cold-front days offer a great chance to develop patterns. Since the fish cling to cover, the next question is how to get them to bite, considering they may not be in the best feeding mood.
Go Deep
Deep water takes longer to warm, but it also takes longer to cool off. When the weather is unstable, the deeper water can be the most stable environment for the fish. In this case, there would typically be an ideal depth range that fish prefer. Using electronics, or simply noting the depth where bites are coming from, could be duplicated in bigger regions of the lake. Deep fish tend to school up more, as well, meaning multiple fish could be caught on a single spot. With cold-front conditions, fish are less likely to disappear after catching a few, too. This winter, don’t fall victim to cabin fever. A great remedy is more time on the lake. The water is cold, so remember to take a few extra precautions, like wearing an inflatable PFD and packing a change of clothes in case something happens. Winter is one of the most peaceful times to be on the lake, and it could be a great time to catch a big ‘un. Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 83
E
very New Year starts with reflections of the recent lations in France are numerous and diverse. The most past and hope for the future. My hope for the future important and familiar regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy, is to learn more about wine and share that with you. Champagne and the Rhone Valley. If you included any of It sounds simple, but we all know how mindboggling the those on the pop quiz, give yourself five points for each. world of wine is. Without a plan, it can be overwhelming, If we truly want to learn about wine, this is where we so here it is. Let’s start at the beginning. start. After tasting and enjoying many different wines from Evidence of wine production goes way all over the world, we have some idea of what back. Before Noah built his ark, he was a we like and what wine in general is about. vinyardist, and archaeological evidence of Now we will go to the benchmark, and we grapes being cultivated for wine dates back to will savor the pleasure of wine in a different 8000 B.C. We’ve come a long way, but where context. On the right is where we are, and on this occurred is more important than when. the left is where our modern wine culture, our Think the cradle of civilization – ancient infatuation, started. Yep, Bordeaux. Egypt, Greece, Armenia and southeastern Considered by most oenophiles as the Europe. With the expansion of civilization, greatest wine-producing region in the wine production and consumption flourished, world, Bordeaux is an area in southwestfollowing trade routes and the spread of reliern France with about 280,000 acres of gion. It gained a foothold with the Roman vineyards. Bordeaux wines are celebrated Empire. Wine was integral to the Roman diet, as high quality wines and were praised by and winemaking became a promising business the Romans even 2,000 years ago. Much of in that era. FROM THE CELLAR the fame for Bordeaux wines centers on the Though it might seem that we have moved highly age-worthy red wines, using the traBY HENRY FOY past these roots, and to some degree maybe ditional grape varieties of Merlot, Cabernet so, wine production is alive and well in the epicenter of this Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; thus, phenomenon. Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia are still active most red wines bottled as Bordeaux, which the British in winemaking, and we have from time to time had wine call Claret, are blends of these grapes. The primary grapes on our shelves from Greece, Romania and Slovenia. It has for white Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion and taken thousands of years, but grapes are cultivated pretty Muscadelle. much all around the globe, though some areas are obviIf we created an organizational chart, we could start ously more suitable than others. with France at the top. Under that would be the four Oooh, pop quiz: How many major viticultural areas can regions listed above, Bordeaux being one of them. you name? Under Bordeaux are the five major districts of Pomerol, I would start in Europe. Wines from that part of the Saint-Emilion, Graves, Sauterns and Medoc. Each of these world are called Old World wines and include those from may have subcategories called communes, and many chaFrance, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Some people might teaus are nothing more than farmhouses with vineyards. add Germany to the list. All of the wine-growing regions Compare that to the USA outside of Europe are referred to as the New World. The – California, Napa Valley, Rutherford viticultural area – major New World areas are basically North America, South and finally, focusing on a specific winery or producer, and America, Australia/New Zealand and South Africa. For you get the picture. extra points, the list should specifically note California, The wines in our photo are Chateau Pas De L’Ane 2014, Oregon and Washington, and you might include Chile and a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru and La Petit Lion Saint-Julian Argentina under South America. 2011. Your list should have at least four Old World regions Merlot is the dominant grape variety in Saint-Emilion and at least four New World regions. And you should, in and is blended with Cabernet Franc for the Pas De your lifetime, have been exposed to wines from at least L’Ane. Grand Cru might indicate a higher quality but eight different wine-growing areas that may or may not has no regulatory significance. Saint-Emilion is the secbe on this list. All too often, we get too comfortable ond most important growing district in Bordeaux, right with California or Oregon wines and forget about trying behind Medoc where Saint-Julien is the smallest of the anything else. It’s time for us to up our game and pay more four Medoc communes. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary attention to wines that might be a little outside our comfort grape for the Petit Lion Saint-Julien. Both wines sell for zones. about $65. Hopefully, those who have read this column for 15 years Bordeaux wines range from $20 into the thousands. It is have developed the palate to take on such an adventure. My a good start learning why we like what we like and how to advice to younger oenophiles is to come with us. enjoy it more and for expanding our comfort zones. Perhaps you noticed that I did not break France – where Happy New Year! we’re going to start this journey – into the many growing areas for which that country is known. Being one of the Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine and Spirits oldest and most renowned wine regions in the universe, at 128 Calhoun Street in downtown Alexander City. Email it is fitting – if not imperative – that we start, or go back him at emporiumwine128@gmail.com or call him at to, France as the beginning. The smaller districts or appel256-212-WINE. 84 LAKE
JANUARY 2020
Wine Worlds
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 85
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New Year New Handicap A
s some of you may have heard, handicap index when an exceptional the current golf handicap sysscore is posted. tem - GHIN, as we currently GHIN: A player needed five scores know it, will change Jan. 5, 2020. The to establish a handicap, and the maxinew World Handicap system will go mum handicap was 36 for men and 42 into effect next month as well. There for ladies. are some changes that could affect World: A player needs three scores handicaps. Here’s a summary of the to establish a handicap, and the maxichanges ahead for U.S. golfers. mum handicap is 54 for both men and GHIN: Uses best 10 scores of your ladies. last 20 scores to compute handicap. GHIN: A player’s handicap was not PAR for the COURSE limited to upward or downward changWorld: Uses best eight scores of your last 20 scores to compute handicap. es throughout the year, and exceptional BY MATT SHEPPARD GHIN: Maximum score per hole tournament scores had small effect on varied by player’s handicap, i.e. ESC a player’s handicap. scores. World: Soft and hard caps will limit extreme World: Maximum score per hole is net double upward or downward movements of a player’s bogey for all handicaps. handicap. Exceptional tournament scores (seven GHIN: Course rating was not used to compute better than a player’s handicap) will cause an players’ handicaps when playing against players immediate adjustment to the player’s handicap for from different tees, so a manual adjustment was the next round. needed to reflect this. The last handicap update for 2019 was posted World: Slope rating, par and now course rating Dec. 15; on Jan. 1, 2020, the GHIN system shut will be used to determine course handicap, allowing down and all the software throughout the country players to play from different sets of tees without updated. The new World handicaps will go into any adjustments. effect Jan. 5, 2020. With the new handicap paramGHIN: Current handicaps are updated on the 1st eters, a player’s handicap could change from Dec. and 15th of each month. 15 to Jan. 5, whether a golfer played or not. World: The handicap index will update the day The AGA will travel around the state hosting after a score is posted. On days when a score is not a few handicap seminars for anyone that wants to submitted, no update will take place. For tournaattend. I will gladly send everyone the dates and ments, officials will pick a day and use all handilocations when they send them out. If anyone has caps from that day for the entire tournament. any questions, please feel free to contact me at GHIN: Weather conditions were not taken into msheppard@russelllands.com. consideration for scores posted. World: The system will account for abnormal Matt Sheppard is the PGA Director of Golf at playing conditions; limit extreme upward moveWillow Point Golf and Country Club. ment of a handicap index; and also will reduce a JANUARY 2020
LAKE 87
Legend
63
22
280
To Sylacauga
22
Alexander City
Public Boat Ramps 18
9
Churches
Camp ASCCA
Flint Hill Church
Camps & Parks
16
Power lines U.S. Highways
280
3
22
County Roads Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
Pleasant Grove Church
11
COOSA COUNTY
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
9
128
Russell Farms Baptist Church 63
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church
15 20
New Hope Church
Liberty Church
14 Willow Point
24
6
10
Equality
Paces Point Boat Ramp
63
Camp Alamisco
11
Kowaliga Boat Landing
21 The Ridge
55
4
Seman
Camp Kiwanis
1 12
Church in The Pines
23
2
The Amp Ko w
ali
17
ga
Ba
y
80
9
Central
90
Union
ELMORE COUNTY Union Church
Red Hill 63
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
19 Kent
88 LAKE
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor
Trillium
34
JANUARY 2020
Timbergut Landing
Lake Martin Alabama
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Marinas
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
11. Kowaliga Marina 256-397-1210 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
49
Jacksons Gap
42. Real Island Marina 256-397-1200 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
280
53. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
Bethel Church
20
62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026
Dadeville
3. Harbor Pointe Marina 7 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net
25 57
280
24
Camp Hill
Smith Landing
2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines 9 256-825-0999 3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861
Pleasant Ridge Church
Restaurants & Venues
13
6. SpringHouse 10 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters
5
8
4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 19 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 20 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 21 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 22 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com . Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 23 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 24 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 U.S. Hwy 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 . The Tiny Rabbit 25 256-307-1998 220 N. Broadnax, Dadeville, AL 36853
Churches 26 Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853
12 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Walnut Hill
50
4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 18 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010
6. Catherine’s Market 11 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Stillwaters
7
82. Lakeside Marina 256-825-9286 7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
17 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024
26
50
13 Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337 5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853 14 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt & Flatbread Pizza 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com
Business & Shopping
49
Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@ alexcityoutlook.com for more information.
15 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010 16 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010
Reeltown
JANUARY 2020
LAKE 89
Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club Larry’s General Store Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina
90 LAKE
River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant T.C. Russell Airport Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc Touchless Boat Covers The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot Valley Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
CHELSEA Winn-Dixie The Ditsy Daisy Boutique CHILDERSBURG Piggly Wiggly DADEVILLE Bay Pine Marina Blue Creek Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foshee's Boat Doc Homeplate Restaurant
Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place PNC Bank Renfroes Root 49 at Lake Martin Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 The Tiny Rabbit USAmeribank
ECLECTIC Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank
EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star
JANUARY 2020
INVERNESS Winn-Dixie Airwalk Ultimate Trampoline Arena Tree Top Family Adventure
KELLYTON Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market
RED HILL Citgo SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly
TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce Tallassee Automotive Tallassee Community Library The Tallassee Tribune
WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery
WETUMPKA The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are placed at these locations. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory
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Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing.............................................................91
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Heritage South Credit Union..................................92
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BUMP UP Blue Creek Iron Works.............................................91
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Central Alabama Community College......44-45, 48-51, 64-69
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over 80 years. When you think a When you think a financial over 80about years. it, it makes sense to choose myhscu.com institution myhscu.com institution based right here in our community. 256.245.4776 HSCU has been investi HSCU has been investing in you256.245.4776 and your dreams for
over 80 years.
JANUARY 2020
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Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone
"Girls just want to have fun." ~ Cyndi Lauper
94 LAKE
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