Lake Martin Living People, events and culture in the Lake Region
Axing for Fun Not All Snakes Are Bad
June 2020
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Lake Martin Living 3
From the Editor’s Desk
A
bout a year ago, my daughter and son-in-law told me that they liked to get together with their friends and throw some axes. Being the overprotective mother that I am, I asked a lot of questions and told them to stop before they hurt themselves. They thanked me for loving them and said, ‘No, it’s fun, and it would be hard to get hurt.’ Now that I’ve thrown a few axes myself, I have to agree: It is fun, and it’s safer than it sounds. Three different axe-throwing venues have opened in our coverage area this year. That’s certainly enough growth to get some attention, so I set out to learn about it firsthand, so to speak. During one of the photoshoots for the article on page 10, I flung a few hatchets myself, and I understood relatively quickly how throwing axes could be a therapeutic activity. Like golf and swimming, the body does the work, but the game is in the head. It releases tension, builds confidence and also turns out to be a bit of a workout – and not just for the arms. The legs, back and torso all get a good stretch, and it gets the blood moving, as well. It is just one of many activities that have opened up around the area since Gov. Kay Ivey lifted restrictions put in place two months ago to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Music in outdoor venues is another activity that is returning, and events throughout Tallapoosa and Elmore counties are attracting followers that are glad to be out. Most are conscientious and abide by social distancing guidelines, such as setting up chairs in marked circles on the ground. Strand Sessions in Alexander City was a great example, and we were happy to snap a few pictures for our Oh Snap! pages, starting on page 34. It’s a good warmup for one of the country’s most celebrated outdoor holidays coming up in just a couple of weeks. Annual Independence Day activities will include fireworks, concerts, games for the kids, barbecues and more. Catch up on what’s happening where and when in our July 4th preview on page 16. And if you have an event coming up, be sure to send details to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com, so we can help you let folks know about it. There’s still plenty of summer left. Enjoy it!
Betsy Iler, Managing Editor
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Lake Martin Living Chairman Kenneth Boone Publisher Steve Baker Managing Editor Betsy Iler Contributors Kenneth Boone Dave Jennings Drew Metzler Cliff Williams Lizi Arbogast Lacey Howell Amy Passaretti Santana Wood Susan Foy Caitlin Celka Caleb Turrentine Carmen Rodgers Jim Miller Shane Harris Lee Williams Magazine Distribution Manager Erin Burton Creative Services Audra Spears Marketing/Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Rachel McCollough Marilyn Hawkins Julie Harbin Andy Carr Liz Holland Digital Services Crissy Posey Elle Fuller Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 www.lakemartinmagazine.com Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and submissions are welcome. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, letters, pictures and requests, to: Editor, Lake Martin Living, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 256-234-4281. A limited number of free copies are available at local businesses and subscriptions are $25 annually.
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BRHS grad Megan Harris threw axes with some friends this month at Nub Chuckers in downtown Alexander City. Axethrowing venues have opened up across the area this year as a novel approach to fun and fitness. In addition to Alexander City’s facility, arenas have opened in Eclectic and Wetumpka. Photo by Kenneth Boone
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FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE 9. AROUND THE AREA 31. MONEY MATTERS 32. FROM THE TEE 34. OH SNAP! 37. LAKE REGION EVENTS 46. CULTURE SHOCK
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Get the scoop on when and where to see the fireworks in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties this July 4th
10. AXING FOR FUN New targets strike the area as four axe-throwing venues open this year 16. JULY 4TH PREVIEW An Independence Day event roundup for Tallapoosa and Elmore counties 20. GOOD GUYS Alabama Extension's Drew Metzler offers a tutorial on beneficial snakes 26. LOCAL CEMETERY SHARES ITS STORIES Red Ridge UMC Cemetery is a testament to heartbreak and whimsy through more than 200 years
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AROUND THE AREA
Flags Fly in Dadeville Kurt and Leigh Pfitzner and six other volunteers spent the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend placing 2,000 flags in Pennington Park in Dadeville. The Pfitnzers, Hiddings and Al Smith stood for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. The group said this was their way to memorialize fallen veterans and give back to the community. ~ Amy Passaretti In Memorium Flags filled the park lawn to honor veterans.
Made-to-order breakfast opens at WCSP Alexander City’s Alana Garrard launched food truck Stop for Breakfast to offer made-to-order biscuits, grits, egss and more to fill a void in the area. “I’m retiring from teaching, and I had started about two or three years ago thinking about a food truck,” Garrard said. “I thought about what I could make and could be in Alex City that’s not common. I sorted through different options and menus and realized I could do breakfast.” Garrard has taught special education at Reeltown the last four years and noticed on her drive from Alexander City there were really no breakfast places. “So I started thinking about the food trailer and breakfast, and it kinda just all came together,” she said. “We bought the trailer in January, and it just worked out that I was able to go through the whole process.” Stop for Breakfast will be open 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fridays through Sundays until at least Labor Day at Wind Creek State Park. Garrard hopes to secure a location to set up during the week as well but hasn’t nailed down a solid plan yet. Her love for the hospitality and food industry started in college when Garrard worked in restaurants. She began studying the field more, and it’s always been on her mind as something to do. “I started looking at what I would be able to do with the amount of time I’m opened – I’m able to serve breakfast and be finished with my day – and what the area needed. I decided we needed a breakfast place,” Garrard said. “It’s quick to fix, so it’s always been on the back of my mind.” Stop for Breakfast’s menu will include bacon, grits, gravy, biscuits, sausage, bologna and eggs cooked to order. Garrard will also offer donut holes on a skewer for an added sweet treat. The first weekend, Garrard ran the truck on her own, but she’s hired a high school student to help take orders and assist her.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll have Cooking Up Retirement Special education teacher to have somebody to help Alana Garrard launched a — maybe even two people once she goes off the college,” new venture and is cooking breakfast at Wind Creek Garrard said. “It depends State Park in her retirement. on how busy it’s going to be during the week. It’s hard to know right now, but so far it’s going really good.” Garrard plans to run the food truck year-round and loves the idea of being in Wind Creek State Park. “After teaching for 27 years, I decided it was time for a change,” she said. For more information, visit the Stop for Breakfast Facebook page and the website at stopforbreakfast.com. ~ Amy Passaretti Lake Martin Living 9
Axing 10 Lake Martin Living
BUSINESS MATTERS
for Fun STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
Lake Martin Living 11
P
ut the darts aside; it’s time to take weapon throwing to a whole new level. Three independently owned axe-throwing venues have opened in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties in the last four months. Nub Chuckers in Alexander City last month cut the ribbon at renovated space on Tallapoosa Street, in a building that previously housed the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. In Eclectic, Wade Jones opened Viking Axe & Bow downtown, and Charles Sanderson opened his first axe-throwing facility in Wetumpka in February. Sanderson recently opened a second facility in Prattville and soon will open in Columbus, Georgia. While axe throwing has been part of lumberjack competitions for centuries, it emerged as a recreational activity for the general public about 14 years ago in California or Canada; both regions claim it. It’s also a decent total body workout. Throwing with the legs grounded stabilizes the body and works the calves, hamstrings, glutes and quads. It also works the back, shoulders and chest muscles, as well as the obliques. The local industry took a heavy hit from the coronavirus sheltering guidelines, as all of them had only just opened when Gov. Kay Ivey nixed indoor gatherings. Viking Axe & Bow opened the afternoon of March 12. “It was the same day that the president told everyone to stay at home. I trudged through two weeks of business before the governor shut everything down, and I laid in wait until mid-May, when I was able to open up again,” said Jones. Now that they can be open again, it’s easy to follow the guidelines, Jones said. Spraying the wood down with a bleach solution is part of the curing process for the materials used in building the lanes. “We’re spraying it all down anyway. The axes are kept behind the counter and are sanitized before you pick them up. We’re social distancing by keeping a lane closed between
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every group,” he said. Nub Chuckers also opened early and operated for just four days before owners Kevin Spencer and Bobby Walton were forced to close. Walton was introduced to the activity during a family reunion in Georgia last year. “My wife’s cousin suggested we all go do it, and I had a good time,” Walton said. “When we got back to Alexander City, I talked to Kevin, and we went someplace to throw axes and decided we could open one up here.” Walton and Spencer spent two months renovating the former chamber of commerce building just off the downtown traffic circle at 120 Tallapoosa Street. Naming the business was an adventure in itself, Spencer said. After tossing out a variety of monikers that the owners thought were overused in the industry, Walton’s wife, Bree, searched synonyms for axe-related words and learned that ‘nub’ is another word for bulls-eye, and ‘chuck’ is a throwing term. Nub Chuckers features eight lanes that are 15 feet in overall length with 12 feet of throwing distance. The Open for Business
(Previous Pages) Lydia Kate Ballard caught on to the axe-throwing fun quickly; (Below) Wade Jones, who won television's Redneck Island competition in 2012, opened Vicking Axe & Bow in Eclectic this year; (Facing Page) Jones added vintage arcade games to the entertainment mix.
Before you go & How to throw While axe throwing has been part of lumberjack competitions for centuries, it emerged as a recreational activity for the general public about 14 years ago in California or Canada, both regions claim it. It’s also a decent total body workout. Throwing with the legs grounded stabilizes the body and works the calves, hamstrings, glutes and quads. It also works the back, shoulders and chest muscles, as well as the obliques. Axe throwing burns an estimated 116 calories per 30 minutes. n Wear close-toed shoes. No sandals or opentoed shoes are allowed in the lanes. n Wear comfortable clothing. n It wouldn’t hurt to stretch out a bit before you start to throw, just to loosen up the muscles.
subsurface on the lanes is 2-foot by 10-foot pine boards, topped with high-gauge cattle fencing that closes the wall space. The targets are drawn on 2-foot by 8-foot cottonwood from Kentucky. “The cottonwood is a softer wood, so when the axe hits it, it doesn’t damage the wood as much as it would other kinds of wood, and the axe sticks better,” Walton explained. “Once a board gets a lot of use, we replace it.” A lane rents for $20 per person per hour, and each lane can accommodate up to six people. Throwers might come in for a workout, stress relief or fun with friends, as the sport has adapted popular games from other sports. Cornhole scores increasing numbers of points the closer the axe lands to the center of the target. Opponents play to 21 and must hit the winning score exactly; going over drops the player back to 15 points. Around the World progresses a player sequentially from the left side of the target, through the center, across the right side of the target and hitting a blue eye on the target to win; the objective being the first person to complete the cycle. In Humans and Zombies, competing teams throw for positive or negative points, respectively, as zombie points are deducted from human points. As their customer bases develop, many axe-throwing venues form teams and leagues and host tournaments.
There are basically two grips: single hand or double hand. In both cases, hold the axe with the cutting edge of the blade pointed straight at the target. This will help to keep the blade straight. “If it doesn’t leave your hand straight, the odds of hitting the target are lower,” said Bobby Walton of Nub Chuckers. For the single-hand throw, bring the axe up beside the head with the upper arm and hand at a 90-degree angle and the axe blade pointing up. For the double-handed throw, stack the hands around the handle with the dominant hand on the bottom and the axe blade pointing away from you. Draw both hands back over the center of your head. The double-handed throw helps to put more weight behind the axe and might carry it farther. It might take several throws to get the axe to stick, so don’t get discouraged. “I threw for 45 minutes the first time before I got it to stick,” said Viking Axe & Bow owner Wade Jones. “Form is what makes it stick, not strength in the arm. Compare it to golf and let the club do all the work.” The axe should flip just one time, and once you have your distance down, you may need to step forward or back a little to position the axe at the right angle when it approaches the target. “There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you stick the axe in the wood for the first time. It draws you in,” Jones said. Lake Martin Living 13
Many facilities across the country allow customers to bring their own beverages. Walton has applied for a license to serve beer and wine and said he hopes people will see throwing axes as a date night or family-bonding activity. “We’d like to see people come eat dinner downtown and throw for an hour or two. Have a glass of wine while others are throwing. We’ll have some televisions set up, too,” he said. “Actually, we are seeing more ladies interested in throwing.” The facility also can be rented for private events. Walton said Nub Chuckers hosted four birthday parties in its first two weeks of operation. Viking Axe & Bow owner Jones said he’s booked a bachelorette party as well as birthday parties in Eclectic. Half of Jones’ 3,000-square-foot building is set up for axe throwing, and he added an old fashioned arcade and a twolane indoor archery range in the other half. The arcade games are old school – Space Invaders, electronic golf, boxing and more – and archery patrons are allowed to bring their own bows or use bows provided by the facility. “I wanted to put something else in the spin, since we have the space. The indoor archery is nice because you can practice and shoot no matter what the weather is. And for the arcade, I wanted the stuff you would have seen in the arcade back in the ’80s,” Jones said. “It’s not video games; you can play those at home. This is different. These are the old coinoperated machines.” Jones, who owned the Ourtown gasoline station and convenience store for many years prior to this venture, said he opened the recreational facility to give vacationers and locals something fun to do in Eclectic. “When I had the Ourtown station, I saw it all the time: 14 Lake Martin Living
Center Cut
Caroline Yearkey pulls the axe from her bulls-eye throw at Nub Chuckers in Alexander City.
People would come to the lake, and after a few days, they would start looking for something fun to do off the water,” he explained. “They would go out of town to do that because there wasn’t anything here. I wanted to give them something else to do.” Viking Axe & Bow is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays; 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays; and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Bow lane rentals are $15 for 30 minutes or $25 per hour. Axe lanes are $20 for an hour. During Happy Hour – the first hour that the facility is open each day – the axe throwing lane rental fee is $15 instead of the usual $20. Patrons must be 14 years of age or older to throw axes. Jones offers snacks, chips, candy bars and Cokes and allows patrons to bring in food from downtown Eclectic restaurants. Patrons also are welcome to bring their own beverages. Book at vikingaxeandbow.com. Nub Chuckers also serves snacks and is open Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. All players must sign waivers once each year, and players aged 12 years to 18 years must be attended by an adult. “People can book online, sign a waiver and pay online at nubchuckers.com or walk in,” Walton said. Wetumpka Axe at 191 Spring St. is open Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Book a lane online and find rate information and more at wetumpkaaxe.com.
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Lake Martin Living 15
July 4t h Preview STORY BY BETSY ILER & CAITLIN CELKA PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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Independence Day
(Clockwise from Left) Fireworks rise behind the stage at Celebrate Freedom; the crowd gathers early on the high school band practice field for the concert and fireworks show; the Russell Marine 4th of July Boat Parade is a patriotic show.
J
uly 4 will bring an extra-special Independence Day celebration across the lake region this year as coronavirus restrictions continue to be lifted. From art shows to boat parades and fireworks, there are many ways to let freedom ring in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties. The 9th Annual Arti Gras juried art show will open at 9 a.m. July 3 on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Original works in jewelry, reclaimed wood décor, paintings, pottery, metal work, photography, candles, soaps and more will be on display and available for sale until 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Health and safety accommodations will be made to promote social distancing, with vendors spaced apart, and gloves will be available for patrons. Also on July 3, Marshall Street Church in Alexander City will host a concert and fireworks event from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the band practice field at Benjamin Russell High School on Cherokee Road. A patriotic program will precede the fireworks show. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food vendors will be on site. No alcohol is allowed at this family-friendly annual celebration. The Russell Marine 4th of July Boat Parade on Lake Martin, hosted by Russell Marine, is one of the area’s most celebrated July 4 events with prizes for the tall-
est flag, largest flag, most patriotic crew, most creative theme and best overall boat and crew. The parade leaves Kowaliga Marina at 10 a.m., and boat entries travel along the shoreline to the Children’s Harbor lighthouse while spectators line the banks and gather on the waterside to cheer for their favorite participants. There is no fee to enter, but participants must register at Kowaliga Marina. For more information, call 256397-1210. On Lake Jordan, the Home Owners and Boat Owners sponsor a boat parade at 10 a.m. on July 4, as well as fireworks that evening. The boat parade will begin at State Docks and traverse up the Titus side of the lake to the entrance of Blackwell’s Slough. The parade route returns down the Slapout side of the lake and back to the entrance of the canal. View the parade from a boat on the water or along the shoreline. After a day of fun in the sun on the water, the fireworks will be shot from the east side of Jordan Dam, the Titus side, and will be best viewed from the water. The show is completely funded by donations from individuals and businesses. The fireworks will light up the sky beginning at 8:30 p.m., but arrive early to claim a good spot. Remember to bring earplugs for the little ones and snacks for the whole group. To maintain safety, the marine police on Lake Jordan will implement a mandatory ‘No Wake’ zone beginning July 4 at 6 p.m. until July 5 at 6 a.m. This zone extends from Jordan Dam to Rusty Hook Slough and Ski Club Inlet. All vessels should travel at idle speed in these areas. For more information, visit the Lake Jordan HOBO Facebook page. Residents of the Blue Creek area of Lake Martin will stage a parade off the water. This annual neighborhood event will start at 11 a.m. on Olana Drive at the north end of Ponder Camp Road, Dadeville. Participants in golf carts decorated for the occasion will throw candy and trinkets to spectators that line the route to Niffers. To join the parade, arrive at the Olana Drive start site at 10 a.m. For more information, call Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905. Close out the holiday at Lake Martin Amphitheater as Russell Lands hosts the annual July 4 concert and one of the South’s best fireworks displays. The gate opens at 5 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. and the fireworks show at 9 p.m. The music continues after the fireworks. This year’s festivities include performances by The Vegabonds, The Bank Walkers and Jessie Lynn. In adherence of social distancing and COVID-19 precautions, a limited number of tickets are available at $10 each for this event. Purchase early at theamponlakemartin.com/tickets. Lake Martin Living 17
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Good Guys
Don't confuse these friends of the garden
T
he past couple of months have brought about several changes and additional stress in our daily lives. In the absence of crowd-gathering sports events, we have likely spent more time outdoors, pursuing recreational activities in the woods or lake or at home in the yard and garden. If you fit into this category, chances are good that you already have encountered one of Alabama’s many snake species (or may soon). Snakes are one of Alabama’s most polarizing groups of wildlife and probably the most likely to garner a reaction when seen. Fortunately, out of these many species, only six are venomous. Five of these six venomous species fall into the class of snakes known as pit vipers. Pit vipers have broad, triangular-shaped heads, heavy bodies relative to their length, vertical pupils and a single row of scales on their bellies below the anal scales. Four of these six venomous species commonly occur in the Lake Martin area and around much of the state, including timber rattlesnakes, pigmy rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths.
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Due to their venomous nature, these six snakes often get labeled as the “bad guys” and attract a lot of negative attention and press. Unfortunately, this bad reputation often results in the needless killing of the other 34 species of non-venomous snakes on a regular basis. It is important to learn to properly identify them, as these non-venomous snakes are quite beneficial. Let’s highlight six of these non-venomous species that you may see in your everyday activities in the woods, garden, lake or around the home. All native snakes provide important ecosystem functions, but the first snake in this discussion may directly benefit humans more than others. Kingsnakes are strong constrictors and are resistant to the venom of pit vipers, as they readily eat copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, in addition to a variety of other prey. In Alabama, kingsnakes are active almost exclusively by day but are most active in the morning during the summer.
Eastern kingsnakes are large, often 3 feet to 4 feet in length, with some growing to more than 6 feet. They are shiny-black, smooth-scaled snakes with white or yellow chain-link bands that cross the back and connect along the sides. Generally, individuals from the coastal plain have wide bands while those from the piedmont or valley and ridge areas may be narrow or broken. They can live in a variety of terrestrial habitats, but in some areas, their populations have declined. The causes of these declines are unknown, but habitat loss and degradation, imported fire ants, and diseases are potential causes. The gray rat snake, often known as a “chicken snake,” is likely the most commonly encountered snake, due to its ability to thrive in both rural and urban environments. Identified by its gray coloration with darker blotches, this snake is seen in both urban and forested environments in Alabama. Gray rat snakes in the southernmost part of the state may have lighter coloration. These snakes are constrictors and predominantly consume rodents and eggs, while juveniles
eat lizards and frogs. Gray rat snakes are great climbers and can be found trying to climb into bird or squirrel nests or sneak into a chicken coop. Water snakes may be the most commonly misidentified group of snakes out there, as nearly everyone gets labeled as a cottonmouth or “water moccasin.” The brown water snake is a trademark example of this common error and probably the culprit behind many good water moccasin stories told after a day on the lake. Brown water snakes are common snakes that can be extremely abundant in many permanent aquatic habitats. They are excellent swimmers and feed primarily on fish, particularly small catfish, which they capture either by ambush or by actively foraging along the edges or bottoms of rivers and lakes. Brown water snakes are excellent climbers and often seek elevated positions, basking on vegetation up to 20 feet above the water surface. If startled, they often drop from their perches into the water and may accidentally end up in a passing boat, making a day on the lake a bit more adrenaline-pumping. While other snakes may be more commonly seen, our most abundant snake could be the ringneck snake. Ringneck snakes are small, slender snakes, often between 10 and 15 inches long and generally grayish with a yellow or orange band around the back of the neck and a yellow or orange underside. In central
Lake Martin Living 21
Alabama, ringnecks are particularly common in moist areas, including river floodplains, moist hardwood forests and wetland edges where they spend most of their time underground or hidden under logs, rocks, leaf litter or debris; therefore, they often go unseen until turning over mulch or leaf litter around the home and garden. A unique trait of ringneck snakes is a mild venom in their saliva, which they use to help subdue small prey items, including a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, lizards and other small snakes; however, they do not possess fangs, and the saliva is harmless to humans. Another routine visitor that you may see around homes and gardens is the Eastern garter snake. A common snake throughout the Southeast and most of North America, garter snakes often are found in Friends of the Garden a wide variety of (Previous Pages) Gray habitats, including rat snakes eat rodents but also eggs; (Left) meadows, The brown water snake marshes, often is mistaken for a woodlands and cottonmouth; (Below) hillsides. Garter Eastern kingsnakes snakes may be actually eat other active by day or poisonous snakes.
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Garden Talk
night and are often found under Easy Identification (Top) The ringneck boards or other debris. snake is named Unlike most snakes, garter for the yellow necklace snakes are viviparous, meaning it wears; (Above) they give birth to live young Pit vipers and other and sometimes have more than snakes have distinct 50 babies. If left alone, they do differences in head an excellent job of cleaning shape and eyes. up insects, small rodents and amphibians. While most snakes are found on the ground, you probably would have to look up to find the rough green snake. The rough green snake is one of the easiest snake species to identify, but it’s certainly very difficult to find because it spends a large amount of time hunting for insects, spiders and other invertebrates in vegetation well above the ground. I have only seen two in my lifetime, and one of those was in my boat as I shook a tree to retrieve a fishing lure. This snake’s green color provides the perfect camouflage,
as it searches overhanging vegetation for insects, often along the edges of wetlands and rivers. Snakes provide many benefits across the landscape, but in some cases, their presence is unwelcome around the homeplace. In most cases, snakes are present around homes because there is an abundance of prey items, such as rodents and insects. Reduce the available habitat for snakes’ prey by removing piles of firewood, lumber, rocks or unused equipment, which are great places for snakes on the hunt. Long grass, weeds and Drew Metzler overgrown shrubs also make great snake habitat. A variety of snake repellents are on the market, but their effectiveness may vary greatly or not work at all. Snakes are simply a fact of life across Alabama, but ultimately, most snakes help us live happier, healthier lives by reducing pest populations. Proactive measures, such as increasing your snake identification skills, being aware of your surroundings when you’re outdoors and watching where you step and put your hands, will help to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer in Alabama’s outdoors. For more information about snakes, visit us online at www.aces.edu or contact the local county Extension office. ~ Drew Metzler is a regional Extension agent for Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources and serves East Central Alabama.
Lake Martin Living 23
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Lake Martin Living 25
Red Ridge
A local cemetery shares its stories STORY & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER
E.
J. Moore’s children bid him a heartfelt farewell when he died in 1880, engraving upon his marker in the Red Ridge United Methodist Church Cemetery a verse that put him to rest with love and reassurance: “Kind Father of Love, thou art gone to thy rest forever to bask mid the joys of the blest. We’ll join thee in that heavenly bond, no fear, to take the parting hand, no fear. No [more] [man] shall dim that hour that manifests the Savior’s power.” The stone that bears Moore’s loving epitaph has weathered, but most of what is written there is still legible. Many other names there have worn away. They were members, families and friends of the historic church near the intersection of state Route 49 and Tallapoosa County Road 34, but that is not where the journey started. The cemetery’s story of more than 200 years in the life of the church is reported to have begun a mile away in what is now StillWaters Resort. Just a few hundred yards from the back gate at StillWaters, 30 or more graves are marked on a ridge near the site where a small country church once stood. The church was called Salem, but in county records, the cemetery is identified as the Canada Cemetery. The church, a simple log structure, reportedly burned, and in the 1850s, the Lockett family donated the property for a new church and
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cemetery some ways Hallowed Grounds (Facing) The Rev. down the road at Red Vicki Cater surveys the Ridge, said Rev. Vicki Cater, who has pastored cemetery that has played important role in the the congregation at Red an church's Colvin Collari, Ridge for three years. 200-year history. “The cemetery is the foundation of who we are in the lifeblood of this church,” Cater said. It’s a measure of the times through which the congregation at Red Ridge UMC has learned to love better and worship more fully. The cemetery is professionally maintained, and church members aid in keeping it looking its best. A church volunteer places flags on the graves of servicemen every year. Church member Ruth Lockett, who, at 87 years old, still lives near the church, researched her own family in the cemetery and learned about many of the people buried there in the process. Her notes, and those of others who have done research, have been posted on the church website at redridgeumc.org and in the free global gravesite collection at findagrave.com. The Red Ridge cemetery is packed tightly with graves, many of which carry such sweet sentiments as that left by E.J. Moore’s children. Large, imposing headstones are mingled among graves that are marked only by single rocks that might look like
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random natural landscape if they weren’t arranged in tidy rows. Some graves are not marked at all but are designated by short posts of PVC piping that might have been placed during a survey in 1995 or subsequent research in 2011. In that year, the Alabama Historical Commission named Red Ridge UMC Cemetery to the Alabama Historic Cemetery list after research verified it as the site of four rare cast iron grave-mound markers; the marked grave of an ex-slave; and the burial site of numerous veterans. Born in 1824, Lucy Gray, an ex-slave, was buried in a shaded corner by the family with whom she chose to remain after the war. She lived to the age of 78 and died in 1903. Gray cared for all of the children in the church during services, and she was loved and respected, Lockett said. Undoubtedly, other slaves contributed to the history of Red Ridge, but Gray’s story is the only one held in this cemetery. Four cast iron grave-mounds mark the sad passing of Susan Ann Porch’s four children: two that died in infancy and two – a son, 6, and a daughter, 8 – died on the same day, A Heartfelt Farewell reportedly after eating (Left) E.J. Moore's poisoned berries they children bid a sweet found in the woods. goodbye to their A testament to the father; (Right) A survey hardship of life in the discovered and early rural South, too marked graves that have no headstones. many graves were dug
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for children. E. and Ida Mullican lost five infant children, all of whom were buried at Red Ridge. Among the markers are 18 for children that did not live long enough to be named; their stones are engraved as ‘Infant.’ Yet, in the midst of its stories of loss, the cemetery reveals its bit of whimsy too. When Samuel Gray Jr.’s first wife, Mahala McBurnett, died in 1840, he kept things simple by marrying a woman with the same first name, Mahala Porch. The cemetery holds a special place in Lockett’s heart. Most of the markers bear the names of people she knew or heard about when, as a child, she hid under the piano bench while her mother played for services. Lockett visited the cemetery often through the years that followed, sitting on the markers at the graves of her grandparents and later her parents and other family members. Her father, Pvt. Homer Jack Lockett, passed away in 1967 at the age of 69. He served in France in World War I. A farmer, he married Myrtie Barnes – a city girl from Dadeville – in 1922. Jack Lockett served as a deacon at Red Ridge UMC, and his daughter remembers that he was known to allow non-church members to bury their loved ones in the cemetery. “My father was such a kind, loving person. People would come to him – they couldn’t afford anything – and my father would tell them, ‘Just go down there and find a place.’ Sometimes, the men of the church
History Revealed
(Above) The Rev. John Robert Patilla was the founding preacher; (Top Right) Some graves are marked only with a rock; (Bottom Right) Lucy Gray, an ex-slave, is buried under the trees.
would even dig the graves. Those were the days when graves were dug with handheld shovels,” Lockett said. Many of these charity graves are located at the back of the cemetery and are marked only by small, seemingly incidental stones. Lockett remembers other stories she heard in her youth as well. “I was told there was a person buried in the little building in the middle of the cemetery,” she said. “His family disowned him, and when he died, they buried him in the little building without a marker.” A table of hewn stone marks the grave of the church’s founding preacher, Lockett said. The Rev. John Robert Patilla was a veteran of the War of 1812. The church does not hold homecoming events that bring faraway family members back to place flowers on the graves, but the congregation is proud to be caretakers of Red Ridge UMC’s history. “This cemetery tells the story of how we became this church; how far we’ve come,” Cater said. Jim Miller was very helpful in the writing of this article, providing guidance and sharing research.
Photo by Jim Miller
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Preserving Alabama’s natural resources starts in our backyard. Did you know longleaf pines are home to roughly 120 endangered or threatened plant and animal species? That’s why Alabama Power is working hard to help them grow. We’ve teamed up with partners across our state to preserve the natural resources that make Alabama a great place to put down roots – especially if you’re a longleaf pine. AlabamaPower.com/Environment
© 2020 Alabama Power Company
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I
Tax Today, Tax Tomorrow Tax Free
recently read an article in The Wall Street it isn’t. Journal titled U.S. National Debt Will Rise Higher-income earners might say they to 98% of GDP by 2030, CBO Projects. make too much money to contribute to a Obviously, this grabbed my attention. Roth and therefore can only accumulate I have known for a good while now that assets in the first two buckets. To some the country’s debt problems are significant, extent this could be true; however, a lot of but just how significant are they? 401(k) plans now have a Roth component The author of the article, Richard Rubin, built in, allowing employees to contribute to wrote that the national debt, along with the Roth 401(k) regardless of income level. sustained federal budget deficits, would hit There also are strategies for high-income the highest levels since World War II over the earners to contribute to a Roth IRA outside next decade, according to the Congressional of 401(k)s, which would require the help of Budget Office. Deficits will reach or exceed an adviser. For those who have capped out $1 trillion each year for the foreseeable in funding 401(k) Roths and Roth IRAs and future. want to do more, properly structured life Lee Williams The debt held by the public is projected insurance has few limits in terms of what can to be 81 percent of gross domestic product be contributed. The biggest limits are income this year and reach 98 percent by 2030. A lot of this and insurability. comes from the recent tax cuts, along with the aging I find very few people get excited about having to population utilizing Social Security and Medicare. pay taxes and take required minimum distributions Taking this a step further, the federal debt is projected from the tax-today and tax-tomorrow buckets. I see to hit 174 percent of GDP by 2049, which is 30 percent a lot of people excited to get tax-free withdrawals for higher than the CBO projected last year. retirement. Ultimately, who knows what taxes will do? This data is something my associates and I talk The data detailed above points to it being about on a weekly basis, so we can brainstorm how to progressively likely each year that taxes will have to better help our clients manage future what-ifs. We have increase. Look back on the history of income tax monitored this situation for the last several years to help brackets in this country. I believe that today we have a plan for what we believe to be a heightened risk of a low tax rate, historically speaking. Knowing this, I am a future increase in taxes. If this thinking is sound, what firm believer that some tax insurance (tax-free bucket) can one do? in a financial plan makes all the sense in the world and There are three buckets where people could save and something I find very under-utilized in traditional invest money: tax-today, tax-tomorrow and tax-free. planning. Let’s start with tax-today. This bucket includes savings accounts, certificates of deposit, individual brokerage ~ Lee Williams offers products and services through accounts and most all other non-qualified money. This Nowlin and Associates. He also offers securities and money is taxed each year on the realized gains/interest. investment advisory services through Ameritas Investment The second bucket is the tax-tomorrow bucket. These Corp. (member FINRA/SIPC), which is not affiliated include the traditional IRA, pre-tax 401(k) and pre-tax with Nowlin and 403(b). The final bucket is the tax-free one. This bucket Associates. Contact includes Roths and properly structured life insurance. him at 334-703I’m a believer in checking all the boxes and not just 3454 or lee@ one. Unfortunately, most people I advise have most of nowlinwm.com. their money tied up in tax today and tax tomorrow. Yes, they got a tax break for most of the tax-tomorrow bucket with the thinking that in retirement they would be in a lower-income tax bracket. Sometimes this is the case, but a lot of times
MONEY MATTERS
Lake Martin Living 31
Gearing up for a great season CACC golfers tee off in new equipment
W
asn’t it nice to see some live golf on television this past month? It was really odd seeing Tour Players carrying their own bags or riding in carts, but at least we got a chance to see some live sports in action. It’s been too long. This month of June, the Tour will restart, although it will be without fans on the grounds of the tournaments. That certainly will be different, but it is a good decision and one that I have no issues with right now. It is sure to be a unique year coming up. I am hoping that we will have our Trojan golfers back in town this fall practicing and improving, as we have for the past 53 years. Although this year’s team did not have the opportunity to defend the National Championship title in Odessa, Texas, we hope to be doing so this next spring in Lubbock, Texas. This group had a tremendous opportunity to indeed bring another ring home to Alexander City, as they were playing some tremendous golf when they were sent home in March; however, no sour grapes here. We’ll make lemonade out of lemons somehow. With so many uncertainties circulating, there are a few positive things that are going to be happening for this upcoming year’s Central Alabama Community College golfers. We will have three amazing golf manufacturing big hitters that will be helping us. Bridgestone Golf will be our ball and glove provider again. Our Trojan golfers have been playing Bridgestone since my first CACC Golf Team. I was sponsored by and played the Bridgestone ball – then it was called Precept – since the mid-1990s as a golf professional in the Atlanta area. That relationship has continued. Back in those days, they had a couple pretty good players using their balls, including Nick Faldo, Nick Price and Raymond Floyd. Not a bad line-up. Today, Bridgestone continues with strong players using their balls on Tour: Lexi Thompson, Matt Kucher, Freddie Couples, Bryson DeChambeau, Rocco Mediate and a fairly well-known golfer named Tiger Woods. The Bridgestone ball may be the best wind ball I ever played. It is durable, and possibly even more impressive is how consistent the ball is. We are blessed to have this relationship with Bridgestone Golf. 32 Lake Martin Living
We will be wearing a new product in golf that you may be aware of and possibly have a few pairs of their athletic shoes in your closet: Asics. Asics has begun making golf shoes, and our Trojan golfers will have the privilege of wearing them this coming year. Asics does not have a vast line in golf yet, but I like what they are offering. They are producing a spiked and a spikeless golf shoe, both in a few different colors. The spikeless shoe will work great for me (with my swing speed) or any golfer that doesn’t need to be nailed to the ground. Their spiked shoes all come with the new BOA lace system. This new “twist a knob” rather than “tie your shoes” concept is coming on strong and is quite popular, especially with the younger guys. Personally, I like tying my own shoes, because I use that as a monitor to tell me that I haven’t lost all of my marbles yet. Once I forget how to tie those puppies, I will hang them up. Ah, but I digress … Both styles, spiked and spikeless, are waterproof and lightweight. They also are very affordable. Cleveland Golf will be the distributor for Asics shoes. This next announcement brings golf full circle for me. When I was a very young junior golfer, my golf shirts had one of two animals embroidered on the chest. Yes, of course, one was the alligator and the other a penguin. I am very excited that CACC golfers will be outfitted with Penguin of Munsingwear. I met with the national sales manager of Perry Ellis at the PGA Show. This company has a broad umbrella that, along with Perry Ellis, also represents Nicklaus, Munsingwear and a few other apparel companies. The sales manager suggested that the team wear Penguin apparel this year. I couldn’t agree more. The styles and patterns of the shirts, shorts and jackets that the company offers hit every age group, and my boys are going to love this line of clothes. The complete line is super comfortable, and seeing how this company has been in the golf industry for more than 70 years, thefolks there know what they are doing when it comes to performance wear. Of course, let’s not forget the main attraction to CACC Golf (no, it’s not me): Willow Point Golf and Country Club.
From the Tee
Proudly keeping Lake Martin in Good Hands
The Marcus Agency Nathan Marcus 256-384-1172
nathanmarcus@allstate.com
11972343
Along with me, my young golfers are so blessed to call Willow Point their home course for at least two of their four years of college golf experience. Willow Point’s practice facility and golf course has everything and more of what I need as a golf coach to prepare my players to become champions. I have to give all of the companies, Willow Point and all the people who represent them a great deal of thanks. Although our golf program is one of the most successful college athletic programs in the nation, we are still extremely limited in funding. We Dave Jennings are so blessed in having a great many friends who annually donate to our program so that the young student athletes who represent CACC will have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. With the help of these considerate donors and our equipment sponsors, I look for another great year ahead for CACC Golf. Let me share with you a few more things that I am very proud of. This year’s CACC Golf Team, like all students across the country, went completely online for their schoolwork in the middle of the spring semester. Now to be very honest, I am scared to think of the grades I would have had at the age of 19 had I been pulled from the classroom and required to use a computer as my source of education. Not every person can become successful with an education online; however, my players did extremely well. Once again, the boys earned the Outstanding Team Academic Award with their cumulative grade point average for the year. In this final spring semester, freshmen Keith Watkins and Ken Goforth were on the Dean’s List, and Jack Goldasich, Tanner Guthrie and Alexander City’s own Dylan Moncus were on the President’s List with perfect 4.0 GPAs. DylanMoncus also earned an Academic Scholar Award for the year. Goldasich will be heading to Tuscaloosa in the fall to play golf with Coach Jay Seawell of the University of Alabama, and Moncus will be in Birmingham playing for Coach Al Del Greco of Samford University. I thank all of the companies listed above, Willow Point Country Club and all of our donors for the support they have given us. Join me in keeping my fingers crossed that CACC Golf will be competing this coming fall. I know that my returning players and the new freshmen coming in are all anxious to get the ball rolling into the hole as Trojan golfers. I hope to see you all soon. God bless you and keep you well.
© 2018 Allstate Insurance Co.
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~ Dave Jennings is the men's golf coach at Central Alabama Community College.
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OH SNAP! 1
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Friday on the Green Friday, May 29, 2020 The Town Green at Russell Crossroads 1. Phil Spraggins and Denise Graves 2. Stella Kate, Anna and Woody Speaks 3. Ken and Annette Funderburk with Dixie 4. Thomasa Huffstutler 5. Bailee Violette and Thomas, Kim and Phil Fraher 6. Dennis and Lynn Madison
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Strand Sessions Thursday, June 4, 2020 Strand Park, Alexander City 1. Elle Fuller and Liz Holland 2. Jeremy and Stacey Jeffcoat 3. Jacob and Julianne Meacham 4. Lindsay Meacham, Lacey and John Howell 5. Bree Walton and Kim Dunn 6. Copper McCantz, Jack Meacham, Lucas Bean, Colvin Collari, Hvala Collari and Edie Bean
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Southern Girls Outlet Ribbon Cutting Saturday, June 6, 2020 Tallassee 1. Teresa Spivey 2. Crystal Willis and Dana Barry 3. Tim Hall, Ricky Loftin, Harley Willis and Brooklynn Barry 4. Dee, Baylee and Easton Wolf 5. Sandra Patterson 6. Amanda and Michael Baker 7. Tina Harris, Brad Davis and Jerry Cunningham 8. Margaret Webster and Jennifer Glass
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Calendar
THE LAKE REGION
FEATURED EVENT
Online exhibit to parallel pandemic Confronting COVID-19, an online exhibit hosted by Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery opens this month on the museum's website with featured posts on Facebook, said exhibit coordinator Carol Hickman.The Kelly’s online Treasure Hunt Exhibit 2020 addresses the phases of coping with the coronavirus pandemic. Part I is titled ‘Isolation’ and will be followed by ‘Activities,’ ‘Healing’ and, finally, ‘Reunion.’ “The Treasure Hunt Exhibit series started last year after the tornado struck the area in January,”Hickman explained. “The Kelly had been located upstairs at City Hall, but when the police station was destroyed by the tornado, they needed to use the gallery space, and we had no exhibit space.” The Kelly already had been making plans for an online showcase, but while the museum board searched for a new home, online exhibits were the only option. A contemporary art space, Treasure Hunt features member artists of The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. The treasures change regularly, sometimes by month with various art disciplines, media or subject matter featured. The first Treasure Hunt showcased landscapes and seascapes. The digital series also included portraits, architecture, still life and more with more than a dozen artists participating. Visit the exhibit at thekelly.org and on the museum’s Facebook page.e
The Case of the Coronavirus
The first phase of the COVID-19 exhibit features works on the theme of isolation, such as Libby Christensen's painting Locked Down and Safe (Left) and her Adrift photograph (Bottom) and Nada Bonner's sculpture below, which evokes the feeling of being trapped in a glass house.
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LAKE REGION EVENTS Now-Aug. 21
Southeastern Contemporary & International Connections
Add some art to your summer and be sure to check out this exhibit from the permanent collection at Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. Located at 110 E. Bridge St., Wetumpka, The Kelly is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
June 20
Meeting of the Musclecars
Come on out to downtown Alexander City from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the grand reopening of Wellborn Musclecar Museum. All makes and models are welcome at this cruise-in celebration at 124 Broad St. in Alexander City. Learn more about the museum and become a member at wellbornmusclecarmuseum.com.
July 3
Celebrate Freedom
Marshall Street Church once again will host free music, a patriotic program and fireworks from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the band practice field at Benjamin Russell High School. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food vendors will be on site. No alcoholic beverages, as this is a family-friendly event.
July 3 & 4
9th Annual Arti Gras
This annual juried show of original works in jewelry, reclaimed
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wood décor, paintings, pottery, metal work, photography, candles, soaps and more will return to the Town Green at Russell Crossroads with health and safety accommodations. Vendors will be spaced to allow social distancing among patrons, and gloves will be provided. The show opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. each day.
July 4
Fourth of July Boat Parade
Register now for the annual boat parade in the Kowaliga area of Lake Martin. One of the lake’s most celebrated events, this patriotic parade offers prizes for the tallest flag, largest flag, most patriotic crew, most creative theme and best overall boat and crew. Spectators line the shoreline and congregate in the water along the parade route, which starts at Kowaliga Marina. There is no charge to participate, but entries must register prior to the start of the parade. For more information, call Kowaliga Marina at 256-397-1210.
July 4
Blue Creek Fourth of July Parade
This annual neighborhood parade starts at 11 a.m. on Olana Drive at the north end of Ponder Camp Road, Dadeville, and ends at Niffer’s. Park anywhere along Ponder Camp Road to collect candy and trinkets thrown by parade entries. To join the parade, arrive at Olana Drive at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.
July 4
Concert and Fireworks
Gates at the AMP open at 6 p.m. for one of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the Southeast. The music will begin at 7 p.m. with the fireworks show at 9 p.m. The music continues at 9:30 p.m. With social distancing, a limited number of tickets are available. Visit theamponlakemartin.com/tickets.
July 17
A Little Love
Main Street Alexander City will host a free community concert at 7 p.m. on Main Street with The Wilson Brothers, Bo Jones, Jason Tapley, Tre Cinco and ATK. Look for details in upcoming issues of The Outlook, The Record in Dadeville and The Wetumpka Herald newspapers and at lakemagazine.life.
Season-long Events Tunes on the Green
Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to the Village Green in Millbrook for free music from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 18, July 2 and 16. Food vendors will be on site or bring your own picnic. No pets; no alcoholic beverages; and no glass, please. For artist information, visit the City of Millbrook Facebook page.
Friday on the Green
Start the weekend with music, games and more at the Town Green at Russell Crossroads Friday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring friends, family and the dog on a leash. Please remember to maintain social distancing.
Farmers Markets
Visit local farmers markets for fresh produce and other products. The Farmers Market Alexander City is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday through September. You’ll find fresh produce, jams, jellies, herbs, soaps and lotions, homemade goods and more at Broad Street Plaza. In Millbrook, the farmers market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays at Village Green Park at the corner of Grandview Road and Main Street.
Music at Copper’s Grill
Copper’s Grill hosts music outdoors on the lawn at 7:30 p.m. every Friday. Bring your own lawn chairs and please keep a proper social distance.
Clean Community Partnership Cleanups
Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month. In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of the month. Meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. For more information, contact Jacob Meacham at jacob.meacham @alexandercitychamber.com. In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the first Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Call Dianna Porter at 256-750-0075.
Strand Sessions
Lake Martin Young Professionals will host ther annual concert series from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the top of the hill at Strand through September Park in Alexander City. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and a picnic supper or purchase from downtown restaurants. Email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com with details for your upcoming event to include it in next month’s calendar.
IT’S TIME FOR SUMMER FUN IS YOUR HEART READY? We all want to get back out there again. Make sure your heart is healthy and ready for the season with an appointment at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama, conveniently located at Russell Medical. Dr. Kevin Sublett and his staff provide complete cardiovascular care in your own community. Patients receive the latest in testing, treatment, and preventive care for the full range of heart and vascular conditions. The clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including: • The most advanced ultrasound testing technology • Nuclear medicine imaging in fully accredited labs • Management of cardiac rhythm disorders • Care from a physician board-certified in interventional cardiology MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY BY CALLING (256) 234-2644.
UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama 3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 Alexander City, AL 35010 uabmedicine.org/heartcentralAL
HEART & VASCULAR CLINIC CENTRAL ALABAMA
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9
Goldville 280
Goodwater To Sylacauga
Legend
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
63
New Site
Public Boat Ramps 22
280
Churches
Camps & Parks
Timbergut Landing
9
Power lines
280
18
U.S. Highways
Alexander City
County Roads
14
Horsesh Nation
Jaybird Landing
Flint Hill Church
22
Camp ASCCA
Alex City Boat Ramp
Rockford
3
49
128
22
Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek 63 State Park
COOSA COUNTY
27
11
9
Mt. Zion Church Russell Farms Baptist Church Friendship Church New Hope Church
259
Bethel Church
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Smith Landing Willow Point
6
Seman
4 Camp Kiwanis
9
10 1
Church in The Pines
Children’s Harbor
Trillium
The Amp
Ko w
ali
ga
Stillwaters
19 5
7 2
Union Landing
Ba
24 Red Ridge United 49 Methodist Church
Church of the Living Waters
The Ridge
23
Walnut Hill
y
20 26
80
Lake Martin Baptist Church
Camp Alamisco
Kowaliga Boat Landing 55
Pleasant Ridge Church
34
8 63 17 9
Equality
231
16
22
57
12 24
Dadev
280
28
Liberty Church
20
Jacksons Gap
Pleasant Grove Church
25
Union
90
50
Central
Red Hill
15
63
Union Church
Refuge Church 229
49
Eclectic Santuck
11 Kent Reeltown
231
14
ELMORE COUNTY
120
14
14
Lake Martin Region Wetumpka
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Tallassee 229
MACO COUNT
Marinas
Daviston
1 Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 2 The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
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33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 4 Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026 5 Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853 6 Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026
hoe Bend nal Park
7 Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853
19 Aronov Realty Lake Martin 256-825-4133 6928 AL-49 S Stillwaters Hwy, Dadeville, AL 36853 20 Nail's Convenient Store 334-857-3454 8394 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 21 Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 U.S. Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 22 The Tiny Rabbit 256-307-1998 220 N. Broadnax St., Dadeville, AL 36853
Hotels & Lodges 23 Creekside Lodge 256-307-1440 6993 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
Restaurants & Venues
CHAMBERS COUNTY
ville
ON TY
18 Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 www.darkinsuranceagency.com 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010
9 Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 10 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
50
Camp Hill
88 SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
11 Acapulco Mexican Grill 334-283-2725 2867 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee, AL 36078
21
12 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt & Flatbread Pizza 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com 280
Business & Shopping Waverly
50
13 Hodges Vineyards and Winery 256-896-4036 230 Lee Rd. 71, Camp Hill, AL 36850 14 Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 15 Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
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Churches 24 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853 25 Lake Pointe Baptist Church 8352 AL-50, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-373-3293
Dock Builders 26 Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 27 Docks Unlimited LLC 256-203-8400 6400 Highway 63 S., Alex City, AL 35010
Recreation & Entertainment 28 Dixie Sailing Club 767 New Hope Church Road Alexander City, Al 35010
16 Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853
LEE COUNTY
17 The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Road, Alex City, AL 35010
Loachapoka 14
Notasulga 85 81
If you would like to advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map, for as little as $25 call 256-414-3174. Space is limited.
Lake Martin Living 41
DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE! Subscribe today or visit one of our local establishments each month for a free copy. ATTENTION READERS: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic some of our distribution locations have changed. This month, you may pick up the most recent issue of Lake magazine at the following locations. If you are ordering take out from any of the restaurants listed below or delivery from any of these groceries, request your free copy of Lake magazine with your order. ALEXANDER CITY Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Valley Bank Carlos Body Shop Jake's Moore Wealth Carlisle Drugs Wine Emporium CACC Cloud Nine Shay Aesthetics Piggly Wiggly JR's Downtown Girl City Hall Chamber of Commerce Hillabee Towers Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty First Insurance Dark Insurance Warren Appliance Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's Amy Clark - Sell Lake Martin Jackson Drugs Alfa BBT Alex City Marine Valley Bank - Main AllState Daylight Donuts Hometown Pharmacy Exxon Karen Channell RE/MAX Around the Lake North Lake Condos River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply
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Petro Sho'Nuff Hair Design Mark King's Furniture Jim Bobs Longleaf Antique Mall Jameson Inn Winn Dixie Regions Bank American Inn Citgo Hampton Inn Koons II Tallapoosa Ford Days Inn Holley's Home Furnishing Jackson Refrigeration Amy Clark Sure Shot Shell Big B Russell Home Decor Jet Pep Comfort Inn Holman Flooring Satterfield's A & E Metal Wind Creek (Gate) Wind Creek (Store) Smith Mariana Willow Point (Office) Willow Point Country Club Catherine's Market Russell Lands Real Estate Springhouse Restaurant The Ridge Club Ridge Marina Kowaliga Marina Sunrise Docks Kowaliga Restaurant Children's Harbor OPELIKA Colab Opelika EQUALITY Five Star Equality Food Mart Charles Borden Real Island Southern Star Parker Marina ECLECTIC Nails Lake Martin Marine South Lake Breeze
Mitchell Lake Martin Mini Mall Lake Martin Dock Cotton's BBQ Russell Do It Center 1st Community Bank Johnson Furniture Offshore Marina Eclectic Public Library WOW Catering DADEVILLE Sigger's Barber Shop The Tiny Rabbit American M. Raining Dogs Bay Pines Marina Siggers Alabama Power Crossroad CafĂŠ Dadeville Public Library Pearson's City Hall Courthouse Payne Furniture PNC Homeplate Aliant Bank McKelvey Renfroe's Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Bldg Supply Lakay's Amy Banks Realty TMP Dadeville Chamber Farmers Merchant Store 34 Jim's Pharmacy Shell Root 49 Salon Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Assoc. Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffer's Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Nursery Lakeside Merchantile Fusion Grill At the Beauty Shop
Chuck's Marina TITUS Kim's Corner MILLBROOK/PRATTVILE Gene Jones Insurance Stone Britt Attorney City Hall Millbrook Chamber 1st Community Bank YMCA - Prattville SLAPOUT Lake Pharmacy Boy's Store Austin Flowers WETUMPKA Wetumpka Chamber Hampton Inn Russell Do It Center Wetumpka Admin. Hog Rock BBQ Holley Mart Casino Convient Store Casino 1st Community Bank Valley Bank Brandt Wright Realty Jackson Thronton BB&T Bank Must Stop Cafe Emerald Mountain Store Bumpers Store Bush's Grocery Wetumpka YMCA Friendship Grocery TALLASSEE Marathon Tallassee Chamber Hilltop Grocery Road Runner Cozumel Tallassee Public Library True Value Hardware Walmart Red Hill Gallary Tallassee Eagle State Farm Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $25 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.
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BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
Eddie Yarbrough Owner
SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
334-857-2443 lakemartindock.com
BOATHOUSES | STATIONARY DOCKS FLOATING DOCKS | SEAWALLS EZ PORTS PWC LIFTS | BOAT LIFTS RE-DECKS | BOAT LIFT REPAIRS
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AD INDEX A&M Plumbing.................................................................................... 6
Morris Haynes...................................................................................... 5
A&O Tree Service............................................................................... 3 3
Nathan Marcus, Allstate..................................................................... 3 3
Acupressure Massage Therapist......................................................... 4 4
National Village................................................................................. 4 7
Alabama Power................................................................................. 3 0
New Stone Realty.............................................................................. 2 4
Beyond Home Care............................................................................ 2 4
OBGYN Associates of Montgomery..................................................... 5
Alexander Landscaping ....................................................................... 8
Oskar's.............................................................................................. 3 3
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation........................................................... 6
Prime Home Health.............................................................................. 8
C&C Wood Products.......................................................................... 4 2
Red Flag Pest Control.......................................................................... 6
DAVCO Development........................................................................ 4 4
River Region Dermatology.................................................................. 4 4
Eddie & B's Carwash & Produce......................................................... 4 4
Romar Construction........................................................................... 4 4
First Methodist Church Dadeville........................................................ 4 4
Russell Marine..................................................................................... 3
Four Seasons..................................................................................... 4 4
Russell Medical.................................................................................. 4 8
George Hardy, D.M.D.......................................................................... 6
Satterfield, Inc.................................................................................... 5
Harbor Pointe Marina........................................................................ 1 5
Southern Sash................................................................................... 2 4
Harold Cochran, State Farm Insurance............................................... 4 4
Sunrise Docks.................................................................................... 1 5
Heritage South Credit Union................................................................ 2
Swearingen Fence.............................................................................. 3 3
Jim DeBardelaben.............................................................................. 2 4
Sweet Pickins..................................................................................... 4 4
Karen Channell, State Farm Insurance................................................ 4 4
Tallapoosa County Board of Education............................................... 4 3
Kowaliga Whole Health..................................................................... 4 4
Tallassee Health & Rehab................................................................... 1 8
Lake Martin Dock........................................................................ 18, 44
Three Sixty Real Estate....................................................................... 2 5
Lake Martin Signature Construction................................................... 4 5
TowBoatUS........................................................................................ 3 8
Live Oak Agency................................................................................ 1 8
UAB Heart & Vascular........................................................................ 3 9
Millstone Nursery............................................................................... 4 2
Viking Axe and Bow............................................................................ 8
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Appetite for the Pandemic
D
Culture Shock
id you gain or lose weight in warrior in our family ( I think every family had quarantine? It went one way or the one). I was willing to fall on the sword for us other. Southern culture is deeply for whole chickens. rooted in food. We all know this. I dropped about 10 pounds. There are bibles dedicated to barbecue, the My nervous energy was only exhausted in hamburger and the art of the crawfish boil. walks and on my bike. I was taking in the spring In good times and bad, I have never lost my flowers that were blooming and smelling that appetite. wonderful lake air commingled with grill smoke. At a wedding – heck, yes, pass the cake. At a My social butterfly wings may have been clipped, funeral – by all means, let me at that potato salad. but in their place came a few more healthy habits In mid-March, when the first signs of (like not eating out lunch all the time). COVID-19 were gaining traction in the States, I My neighbors were grilling, too. was calm. No toilet paper – no problem. I bought While social distancing, we Gappers cooked baby wipes. our weight in hamburgers and grilled chicken. But the day Anytime Fitness closed, I got I think I hit up at least four crawfish boils (for jittery. As a realtor, I am used to flying by the seat a fun twist, add in a whole pineapple). I had Lacey Howell of my pants, but I have a gym routine. flaming cheese for the first time from a dock When Gov. Kay Ivey put out the word for (thanks, Ian Baas). shelter-at-home, I finally had my grocery store Businesses have slowly opened back up now. meltdown. I binge-bought meat and wine instead of hand Renfroe’s is back with pre-made jalapeño poppers stuffed sanitizer. I had scary visions of my street closing off, and with sausage and steak, which I love for a lazy no-cook night. there I would be: hungry and sober. I had lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant and went to I bought chicken, ground beef, sausage (oh the Conecuh!), dinner at SpringHouse. steaks, bacon and turkey. And boxed wine – a whole case, Folks retreated to Lake Martin to their cabins and have just in case my neighbor needed one, too. stayed on. I know they cooked their weight in chicken, too. Then I cooked it all. I have never meal prepped, but I was Maybe some decided to stay full-time forever. Time will tell, cooking like a mad woman. I washed more dishes in those just like a well-cooked Boston butt. six weeks than I had all year. It was self-induced meal prep for the too-busy-to-ever-meal-prep me. John was alarmed ~ Lacey Howell is a recovering English major from Auburn at the protein situation and tried to move some packs to who now lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, rides horses the freezer, but I was unstoppable. I was the grocery store and loves good wine. Follow her at Instagram@LaceyHowell and on her Facebook page. Pandemic Panic Howell spent her pandemic cooking like a mad woman, washing dishes and losing weight.
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We invite you to live the golf course lifestyle at Grand National Golf Course in Auburn-Opelika We have three quick move-in homes available now! Tour these incredible new construction homes in National Village, a beautiful community along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail In Auburn-Opelika, Alabama. Schedule a tour by calling 334.749.8165 or visit NationalVillage.com.
3557 Eagle Trail
2204 Quail Ridge
3617 Eagle Trail
TO LEARN MORE VISIT NATIONALVILLAGE.COM OR CALL 334.749.8165
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