From the Editor’s Desk Lake Martin Living
Like Lebron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers; like John Lennon leaving the Beatles; like the split of celebrity power-couple Brad Pitt and Angelena Jolie (affectionately known as “Brangelina”) time has come to hang up my hat with Lake Martin Living and Lake magazines. Though I joke, it pains me to report this. I have seen so much of this area’s personality in the last year, ways of treating others which are unique to this place.
After blowing out a tire on U.S. 280, a police officer stopped to help crack my rusted, seized lugnuts, and after he was unable to crack them, called for assistance from a mechanic friend who was on his way home from work.
I’ve befriended my local gas station clerk. Sheila is a godsend. She does not judge my abnormal consumption of mint gum and pepperoni Combos and cotton candy-flavored energy drinks—or, if she does, she is quite polite about it.
I have sat outside in my little white house nestled into a wooded area on Sunny Level Cutoff and just listened, listened to the katydids and frogs and crickets and, if it was summer, the periodical cicadas.
All that is to say, the counties, cities, lake and communities that comprise the pages of Lake Martin Living have given me so much, and I will forever be grateful to each stranger I interacted with, each source I pestered with interviews and each friend I made.
In the same spirit of gratitude, my final issue as editor of this magazine is filled with stories that remind us of the value of the people in this area.
A week of tragedy and confusion was capped off with a storm that damaged buildings, downed trees and cut power to large parts of Alexander City. Read our staff’s report of that day, and the days which followed, on page 30.
The Pinhoti Fest celebrates the beginning of hiking season with camping, exclusive products, informative presentations and more. The Sylacauga-based festival has grown steadily since 2022. More details on page 14.
Members of the Benjamin Russell Class of 1964 gathered late August for their 60th class reunion. This year, the reunion involved a presentation that honored those classmates who served in the military. Read more about these heroes on page 24.
Thank you to all who continue to make this area special.
Ben Smith, Editor
David Walker, a graduate of the Benjamin Russell Class of 1964, was presented a Quilt of Valor by his classmates at their 60th reunion. Walker served in the Army during the Vietnam War, where he received six medals for his service.
Photo by Audra Spears
14. PINHOTI FEST PREVIEW
Kick off hiking season at Sylacauga's annual trail town celebration with live music, vendor booths and more.
24. QUILTS OF VALOR
The Benjamin Russell High School Class of 1964 celebrates class members who served in the military.
30. ALEXANDER CITY ROCKED BY STORM
When an unpredicted microburst downed trees and damaged homes in Alexander City, the community responded.
Free classes offered at CACC
It’s never too late to learn a new skill, and Central Alabama Community College is making it easy.
Dean of Workforce and Economic Development Michael Barnette said the college’s free Skills for Success courses are designed to help veterans, adults or anyone in the community learn or improve skills to benefit them in their careers.
“Most of it is a 30-hour theory they do online; then, they do a one- or two-day lab associated with it,” Barnette said. “The goal of the whole system is to provide the community with a well-skilled workforce. In order to do that, we’ve got to put it out there.”
Some of the skill-based courses CACC offers are equipment operation, hotel operation, healthcare-related programs and other programs that teach or improve needed skills in various industries.
Participants gain a background in skills through the online portion of the program. Once they complete that, the
remainder of the course is mostly hands-on, Barnette said. “For instance, in the online portion of the skid steer course, it takes them through the operation of a skid steer,” Barnette said. “There are videos associated with it, there’s some questions and answers they have to provide, and it just gives them an overview before they ever get to the lab portion of it.”
In the lab, participants are fullyimmersed, operating equipment and getting a feel for the skill.
Barnette said everyone in the community is encouraged to join these courses, which also are available to high school students through dual-enrollment.
Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jose Reyes said about 40 percent of the construction on the new high school is complete. At a cost of nearly $100 million, the project is expected to be finished within the next year and a half, weather permitting, Reyes said.
Skills Training
CACC now offers free skills training to the community.
Photo by Betsy Iler
“We welcome everybody,” Barnette said. “We want people to participate so they can upskill themselves.”
To enroll, visit cacc.edu/ academics/workforce-education. ~ Melody Rathel
BRHS Progress Report Gov. Ivey awards funds for trail grant in New Site
Trusses for the gymnasium have been set in place and the foundation of the back half of the school has been laid.
“If you look at the actual high school campus at this time, the majority of the work you will see is going to be the gymnasium, the two auditoriums and culinary lunchroom area, because those are in the back of the building,” Reyes said. “The front of the building is actually the academic wing of the building.”
Reyes hopes the Class of 2026 will move into the new high school in January 2026. This would not only give those students the opportunity to experience the new school, but also provides time to revamp the current high school building into another academic facility. Reyes said the school board has not yet made a decision for the current high school building’s next use, but the plan is for it to remain an academic facility.
~ Melody Rathel
Alabama Gov.Kay Ivey awarded $129,731 to the Town of New Site to pave a 1,150-foot long walking trail, install two benches, add two paved handicapped parking spaces and provide additional drainage at a wellness and recreational trail facility. Funding for the trail comes from the Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program.
~ Lizi Gwin
Scan the QR code to visit our website.
Millers on Broadnax
The way Dennis Kirkland describes the menu at Miller’s on Broadnax could make a full stomach grumble.
With every dish, there is a twist, catch or kick. The steak is drizzled with a Knob Creek balsamic reduction. The southern-fried catfish is served with sweet corn hushpuppies and topped with a lemon-basil remoulade. The half-pound burgers, a favorite among customers, are topped with everything from bacon jam and crispy jalapeños to hash browns, fried eggs and smoked ham. On the menu are a variety of homemade sauces, from blackberry jalapeño sauce, to blueberry bourbon and a classic Alabama white sauce.
Whatever the idea or concept on menu at Miller’s on Broadnax, it has been tested and tweaked to perfection by head chef and co-owner Kirkland.
“I love generating new ideas and new flavor profiles,” said Kirkland. “I love creating different sauces and then
creating a food concept to go along with the sauce.”
Kirkland was not always involved in the restaurant business, however. For more than 25 years, he worked as an HR executive at a Fortune 500 company. He spent many days traveling the country and abroad for business, tasting foods from a variety of cultures and traditions. Each time he found a new food – something that had the same sort of twist now reflected by the Miller’s menu – it sparked an idea. He wondered how he could make the dish himself. How he could reproduce it, or even improve upon it, at home.
With no experience in the restaurant business – no experience in managing or staffing a restaurant, handling payroll, planning budgets or managing inventories – Kirkland opened Fusion Grill in Dadeville. It gave him time to experiment with flavors and specials while acclimating to the responsibilities of a restaurant owner. To him, there was still a crucial element missing.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH
“There’s three things you got to have to survive in the restaurant industry,” said Kirkland. “You got to have location. You have to have great service, and your food needs to be great. Well, we had good food over there, but our location was horrible.”
On his way to Fusion Girl, Kirkland would drive by the Miller hotel and imagine operating a restaurant out of it. After receiving a tip that the hotel was being renovated by Dwayne Britton, Kirkland jumped on the chance to follow his heart. He and Britton met and agreed on a partnership, which involved Fusion Grill moving into the lower floor of the Miller Hotel under a new name, Miller’s on Broadnax.
Three years and four months later, through supply chain shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the hundreds of difficulties in renovating a building that was built over 100 years ago, Miller’s on Broadnax opened to the public March of 2024.
Food with a Kick Clockwise from Top Right: Stop by the restaurant for quality burgers, steaks and more; As renovations continue at the hotel. Kirkland envisions balcony seating for restaurant customers; Miller's includes a cozy seating area in the front.
The restaurant is housed in the same building as the Grand Bakery, and on the floor above, renovations to the historic hotel are underway. Kirkland envisions the three businesses working in tandem, where guests at the hotel can grab have a donut and a coffee in the morning at the bakery, and at night, a drink and a meal at the Miller’s on Broadnax bar.
For Kirkland, a primary draw of the building was its unique history. The Miller Hotel was originally built by Dadeville philanthropist Nora Miller in the 1920s. It operated until the 1950s, when it shuttered it doors and reemerged briefly under a few different iterations, such as a furniture store and a Mexican restaurant. It was bought in 2019 by Dwayne Britton, who intended to restore the building to its original purpose, with a few alterations.
Both Kirkland and Britton are motivated to preserve the original history of the building, which serves as one
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of the few remaining connections to the architecture of early 20thcentury Dadeville.
That mission is evident after only a few seconds of looking around the restaurant. Photos of old buildings on the Dadeville square hang on the walls, as well as a few of the Miller bridge, a now-defunct covered bridge built by Nora Miller that used to be the longest in the country. The wall between the kitchen and seating areas is exposed brick – the exact same brick used in the original construction, its reds and whites faded and weathered by age. The rest of the area’s décor is primarily iron and wood, giving a sturdy, authentic feel that Kirkland hopes will permeate throughout the restaurant, bakery, hotel and beyond.
What inspires Kirkland the most, apart from unique foods and deep-seated histories, is the intersection of his business and the community around him. He is grateful for the support of Dadvillians during COVID, when he was sure he would be forced to shut his doors, and he is thankful to host the Dadeville Tiger Nation Tiger Den show every Tuesday night during football season. Kirkland hopes that he and the other businesses on the Dadeville square will help this city evolve into one that is its own destination, with its own history and personality outside of the lake.
“I love how downtown has basically reimagined itself and made that imagination come true, with The Funky Goat, with Zazu’s Verandah, The Grand Bakery, Camilla Café and Flutterflies,” said Kirkland. “It is just coming to life. And what I see is, five years ago, you would have seen a very, very dead downtown on a Saturday morning. Now, it puts a smile on my face because I see people walking around Saturday mornings, getting breakfast and walking around with shopping bags. You didn’t see that five years ago.”
Pinhoti Fest Preview
STORY BY BETSY ILER
Sylacauga kicks off this year’s Pinhoti Fest September 27 through 29 at Noble Park with live performances, workshops, trail tips and great deals from national outdoors brands. The keynote speaker at this year’s event will be Heather “Anish” Anderson, a three-time Triple Crown hiker with more than 25,000 miles of hiking under her belt. The Triple Crown designates completion of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails. An author as well as a hiker, Anderson holds the record for the fastest known completion of the Appalachian Trail.
This year, the three-day tent campout event in Central Alabama will feature a fresh focus on search and rescue. Following the opening activities, hikers can watch Safe and Found, hiking lessons from a search-and-rescue documentary.
“It’s a must-see for every hiker,” said Pinhoti Experience Foundation Executive Director Kimm Wright. “The next day, we’ll have a panel discussion with the director and producer of the movie and a search-and-rescue team in South Carolina, and we’ll have a local lady who was rescued on the trail. She had to be airlifted out because she broke her leg on the trail. Also, we’ll have local search-and-rescue workers here to talk.”
Organized and hosted by the nonprofit Pinhoti Experience Foundation, Pinhoti Fest annually welcomes hikers from across the country on the last full weekend of September to kick off hiking season at the south end of Alabama’s Pinhoti Trail. Owners of Pinhoti Outdoor Center, Kimm and Nathan Wright established the foundation to teach outdoor education centered on hiker safety and preparedness, trail maintenance and sustainability, as well as the principle of “Leave No Trace.” The foundation also serves as an advocate for tourism in the five communities surrounding the Pinhoti Trail.
At 351 miles long, the Pinhoti traverses parts of Alabama and Georgia, rising some 50,000 feet and ending near Ellijay in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through the Benton MacKaye Trail, the Pinhoti connects with the Appalachian Trail, a 2,190-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine.
The first city on the southern end of the Pinhoti, Sylacauga is a designated trail town where hikers can shop to restock supplies for their excursions, eat at local restaurants, spend the night in a hotel instead of in a tent and visit sites that are popular among the hikers, like the Blue Bell ice cream plant.
“We started Pinhoti Fest as a celebration for hikers but also to help the community be more aware of the Pinhoti Trail and what it means economically to Sylacauga,” Wright said. “Anyone who starts a thru-trip at Flagg Mountain, the southern terminus, has to come through Sylacauga. Last year, we asked hikers who stayed at the POC to leave their receipts for anything they purchased in Sylacauga. At the end of just one week, the receipts totaled more than $3,000. And that’s just those who stayed with us. There are a lot of hikers who come through the trail that don’t stay with us, but they spend money in town, too.
“Our local towns along the trail are growing organically as people see the hikers come through and realize there are ways they could open businesses to meet the needs of hikers.”
Wright said the first Pinhoti Fest in 2022 attracted more than 700 hikers who set up tents in Noble Park for the weekend or made a day trip to attend, browse the vendor booths for equipment and learn more about the trail. Last year, some 3,000 hikers registered for the family-friendly celebration, and Wright said even more are expected this year.
“That validates the need for what we are doing,” she said. “This year, we had three big-name national vendors contact us wanting to be included. I didn’t even reach out to them initially. That shows that we are growing, and we are gaining attention, and that’s good for Sylacauga and all the trail towns.”
This year’s events include tent workshops, cross-cut saw demonstrations, outdoor painting workshops and numerous giveaways. Attendees can have their photos taken with the Chick-fil-A cow, meet Smokey the Bear and Sasquatch and win giveaways from local merchants and vendors in attendance. Live music throughout the weekend will be provided by Jason Geise with the Band B3, Sonz of Thunder, David “Musicman” Chandler, The Yellow Dandies and Mikayla Camp.
The event’s impact has been felt across the state. Last year, Pinhoti Outdoor Center was named the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama’s Small Business of the Year in the 0-10 employees category, based on leadership and community support, business success and chamber involvement.
The Sylacauga community has embraced the effort as well. Hikers register for the trail at the local chamber of commerce. Chick-fil-A and L’Acosta Mexican Restaurant offer free breakfast to registered festival attendees on Saturday and Sunday mornings of Pinhoti Fest, and the City of Sylacauga provides space for registered tent campers in Noble Park.
“Our campers appreciate the community’s support. They go downtown and shop and eat in the restaurants, and they make sure they clean up the park when it’s all over,” Wright said. “Last year, when the city workers came out to clean up the day after it ended, they said they’d never seen the park so clean after an event.”
And when Pinhoti Fest concludes Sunday morning, POC will shuttle hikers to the trailhead to begin the trek. Registration for Pinhoti Fest is free at pinhotiexperience.org.
Rain Catchers
How many of us perk up and get excited upon hearing thunder rumble in the distance?
Many folks could care less. Others consider it a signal of danger or a damper on one’s outdoor fun. But what if the scenery is a major drought – the grass is brown, the garden is drying up, the creeks are low and the fields are dusty. A drop in pressure and the sound of thunder could be a real blessing then. Many might put their hands on their hips and look up at those dark clouds, saying, “We sure could use a little rain.”
East Central Alabama to date is still abnormally dry despite a few popcorn thunderstorms here and there. Many areas of Tallapoosa County have missed the rain, despite weather forecasts and radars showing storms headed our way. You will recall that in the Lake Martin area last year, the months of September and October were very dry, and there were many weeks without significant rain. It is possible we could enter into a severe drought again, as October is usually our driest month on record.
Dr. John Christy, our state climatologist, told me a while back that our Alabama soils just do not have much ability to retain water. We can go into a drought
within a week without significant rainfall.
Dry weather conditions first become apparent in the landscape’s plant life, said Dr. Alex Niemiera, a professor at Virginia Tech University.
“Recently transplanted plants will be more vulnerable to drought stress compared to plants that have been planted for about a year or more. It is important to water recently planted plants regularly. Soil type will affect drought response. Plants growing in moisture-retentive soils will fare much better than those growing in less retentive soils,” he said.
Just a few days without much rainfall, soils and lawns can become parched. Plants growing in containers dry out very quickly and begin to wilt. Watering potted plants and irrigating lawns and vegetable gardens throughout the summer heat can be laborious and can cause an expensive water bill, but it is a requirement to keep the plants alive.
If there were only some way to distribute the excess water from rainy days to the months when rain is scarce.
Well, here is a proven option: install a rain barrel.
Rain barrels capture water runoff
from the roofs of buildings and provide convenient storage for use later. Rain barrels have been quite popular for many years, are readily available for purchase and are relatively inexpensive. They are used for small-scale rainwater harvesting and typically hold less than 100 gallons.
Large, plastic rain barrels can be found for sale at home and garden stores, or you can build your own. Most barrels come in a wide range of sizes and capacities to accommodate expected rainwater collection volumes and the watering needs and décor of outdoor space.
Rain barrels are typically tied into the home’s gutter system to maximize water collection potential.
They can be placed under or near a downspout, so rain pours directly into the barrel. Some people prefer to use a diversion piece that redirects water into the barrel while keeping the downspout in place. With either method, the water flow can be open or closed, all depending on the rain barrel design of choice. A debris filter of some sort, like landscape fabric, a large piece of mesh or a window screen, is always included to help keep out unwanted debris.
If there is no gutter system, place the rain barrel along the roof line to maximize rainfall runoff.
Efficient Gardening
Rain barrels are easy, low cost solutions for watering gardens during dry seasons.
GARDEN TALK
It would like be at the corner of eaves where water concentrates and funnels downward into a single stream. Still not convinced? Most homeowners think installing a rain barrel is too much trouble, or it is too expensive. That is, until they hear the numbers. A 1-inch rain shower will dump about 0.62 gallons of water per square foot. For example, a small area of the house that is 10 feet by 10 feet, or 100 square feet, would disperse 62 gallons down the gutter during a 1-inch rain event.
Shane Harris
An average house roof measures 1,500 to 2,500 square feet. That means one could capture around 930 to 1,550 gallons of water in a 1-inch rainfall.
Wow! That is a lot of free water that could be captured and stored in a rain barrel and put to good use watering plants and gardens.
Here are some common and practical uses for harvested rainwater:
• Water newly planted ornamental shrubs and trees
• Water flower beds or vegetable gardens
• Water plants in hanging baskets and containers
• Water for bird baths
• Water for washing cars
• Water to flush toilets
How and where to use collected rainwater can be expanded with garden hoses, soaker hoses and sump pumps when used with rain barrels. A submersible pump can be handy if the area you wish to water is level to or higher than the barrel or at a great distance from it. Irrigating a portion of the lawn and other prized plants then becomes a real possibility.
Most of us don’t seriously consider the practicality of a rain barrel until we have a long-term drought and our plants are suffering. It would be nice to catch the rainfall, just in case, to keep plants happy and healthy when dry weather conditions occur and return.
Water is a precious commodity. It is essential for life, and it is something we take for granted until it becomes scarce.
To learn more about the basics of small-scale rainwater harvesting, including how to design and build your own rain barrel, visit us at aces.edu and navigate to “A Homeowner’s Guide to Rainwater Harvesting in Alabama.”
Let it Rain!
Top to Bottom: A filter helps to keep collected water clean; Divert a downspout to collect roof runoff; A hose connected to an elevated rain barrel could water flowers with just a turn of the faucet.
~ Shane Harris is a local horticulturist and the County Extension Coordinator for Tallapoosa County.
Easy-Baked Mac & Cheese
Easy-baked mac and cheese is the perfect recipe if you’re looking for something simple yet delicious. With just 10 minutes of prep and a few basic ingredients, you can create a thick, creamy, cheesy dish to satisfy everyone’s craving.
My family loves mac and cheese (as do many families). The simple combination of pasta and cheese rarely goes wrong. The uncooked macaroni absorbs the flavors of the milk, heavy cream and seasonings as it bakes, resulting in a more flavorful dish. By skipping the boiling step, you get a delicious mac and cheese with less effort. Best of all, it requires only a single baking dish.
This recipe uses Colby Jack and Velveeta cheeses. You can swap out the types of cheese with no problem, depending on your taste preferences. I have used half a block of Colby Jack and half a block of smoked Gouda. If you want a little kick, use some Pepper Jack cheese.
GOOD EATS
Gina Abernathy
~ Gina Abernathy is the author and recipe creator behind the blog, Home at Cedar Springs Farm.
Ingredients
1 pound elbow macaroni noodles, uncooked
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups whole milk
Salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, to taste
1 8-ounce block Colby Jack cheese, cubed
1 16-ounce block Velveeta cheese, cubed
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a 13- by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread the uncooked macaroni noodles evenly around the bottom of the dish. Pour the heavy cream and whole milk over the noodles. Season to taste and stir. Cube the cheeses into 1-inch cubes and add to the dish. Distribute the cheese evenly. Bake at 375 degrees, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes; then, remove from oven and stir gently to ensure the cheese is fully incorporated and mixed well. If desired, top with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Return to the oven and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Cheese will continue to thicken as it sets.
Recipe Tips
• Use Whole Milk and Heavy Cream: These ingredients contribute to the creamy and thick texture of the sauce.
• Stir Well: Stirring the mac and cheese gently after the initial bake helps to distribute the cheese evenly and ensures a smooth, creamy sauce.
• Watch While Broiling: Keep a close eye on the dish while broiling to prevent the cheese from burning.
• Cube the Cheeses: Before baking, cube the cheeses to ensure they are evenly distributed.
• Save the cheddar cheese for the top: Baked cheddar tends to get grainy in this recipe. Add it to the top before broiling, but choose another variety for the main dish.
• This is a very thick and cheesy dish: It makes enough for a crowd or plenty for weeknight leftovers.
QUILTS OF VALOR
STORY & PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH
On a Saturday morning in late August, in the cozy, dimly lit seating area of Jake’s Restaurant in Alexander City, the Benjamin Russell High School Class of 1964 gathered for their 60th reunion. Some 50 class members were in attendance, from a graduating class of 150. Denise Bates, dressed in an American-flag buttondown shirt, played the saxophone softly. Men and women smiled and hugged one another as they arrived through the oak door.
These men and women were born in the wake of World War II. They are the same generation that fell in love with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and The Who during the British invasion. Four years before graduating high school, they watched the first televised presidential debate. Two years later, their fears of nuclear war came to a head during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A year before graduating high school, they watched Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march on Washington, D.C., and they saw President John F. Kennedy assassinated in a presidential motorcade in Dallas. In their early 20s, they watched Neil Armstrong take man’s first steps on the moon, and in their 40s, they watched the Berlin Wall fall.
But on this Saturday, in the age of watches that make phone calls and phones that tell time, the Class of 1964 gathered at a restaurant in their hometown, 60 years after graduation. Many were simply reconnecting with friends they saw regularly; the ones living in Dadeville and Alexander City and Auburn who meet on the last Wednesday of every month for lunch. Others lived outside the state and returned to Alexander City every five years for the reunions. Some returned to see classmates they had not spoken to since 1964.
Touched by War
Around 50 members of the Benjamin Russell Class of 1964 watch reverently as Payne outlines the Quilts of Valor mission.
The class graduated 150 strong; 150 bright-eyed, youthful souls who graduated in maroon caps and gowns. Those students had gone on to own companies, write books, speak Arabic, perform surgery and live in Italy, Korea, Germany, Japan and other faraway places. Sixty-three names were memorialized on a red plaque flanked by a ceramic angel and a candle on a small, whiteclothed table in the middle of the restaurant. Over the years, 63
classmates had passed from natural causes – two during military service in Vietnam. Every time there was a death, Mary Lee Radney, one of the reunion organizers, notified her classmates via texts and emails. She and others also collected donations for the families of the deceased.
This was a generation that, from the time they were 9 years old to the time they were 29, grew up under the shadow of the Vietnam War. Many enlisted soon after graduation, leaving behind Rock N’ Roll and Astro Lamps and Steve McQueen for hell waged in unfamiliar lands. Those who fought did so in a war that, by its end, was largely disapproved of by the American people. Many returned home thankless.
Terry Payne, a member of the Class of 1964 who now lives in Pennsylvania, sought to change that. To the right of the entry at Jake’s were 13 quilts, each of unique design, set upon two long tables. There was one for each class member who had served in the military.
“My husband was in the military for 20 years,” said Payne. “So, the military is very dear to me, and I thought recognizing people who had been touched by war was just an incredible thing to do. Especially Vietnam, because they really got a bad deal.”
Since her husband passed in 2021, Payne has volunteered her time sewing for Quilts of Valor, a nonprofit organization that recognizes veterans for their service by gifting them with large, handmade quilts.
The quilts produced by this nonprofit are large, beautiful blankets with multiple colors and patterns of lines and squares and diamond shapes. Each quilt is typically 60- to 80-inches large, about the size of a queen-sized mattress. With a group of around 20 women sewing, each quilt takes anywhere from 25 to 50 hours to complete. As per the Quilts of Valor mission, the products are high quality. An average quilt of this size and pattern might otherwise sell for $800 to $2,000.
Since 2003, the organization has awarded more than 350,000 quilts to those touched by war.
“These quilts are made with love,” said Payne. “They’re made to comfort a person, and that’s why every
quilt is special.”
Recognition, 60 years Later Left to Right: Payne shared the heroisms of her classmates; A vital component of the presentation is the quilt embrace.
Payne thought her own classmates deserving of the recognition. So, she sat down and searched for emails and phone numbers of old classmates who might have served in the war. She called every one of them; those who she regularly kept up with and those she hadn’t seen since 1964, collecting information about each classmate’s service: rank and title, where and how long they served.
And at the reunion, after the food was eaten and class photo was taken, Payne stood in front of her peers of 60 years and spoke of their lives. There were 13 who were recognized, along with two others who were not, who denied the recognition on the grounds they did not feel worthy of receiving the quilt.
Payne recognized Lynn Peters, who served in the Navy for 20 years in the Gulf War, Persian War and Vietnam. In his lifetime, he has visited 26 countries, favoring Israel and Australia. Peters served on 16 ships and six submarines as a cryptologic linguist and is fluent in Arabic. Part of his service required notifying the next of kin at the passing of a service member.
Payne recognized Karen Reynolds, who served for seven years in the nurse corps in the general medical ward at Oakland Naval Regional Medical Center. She also worked in neurosurgery and the cardiac care unit, and for her service, she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Her husband, Eugene Reynolds, served in the same hospital for the U.S. Navy Medical Corps and cared for active-duty Navy and Marine Corps veterans. His favorites were veterans from WWII and the Korean War. He treated POWs from time to time, including one who had survived the infamous Bataan Death March.
Payne recognized Billy Wayne Fuller, who served in the Army and was awarded the Bronze Star for Heroism for braving enemy fire to take ammunition to a gunner
defending a hill. He was wounded and refused medical treatment until the area was contained.
Payne recognized Bill Pitts, who served 25 years in the Air Force and was awarded nine service medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Legion of Merit medals. Due to recent health struggles, Pitts attended the gathering via Facetime video call. A friend held a phone up in the air to show to the Class of 1964 Pitts’ electronic face as he spoke:
“It’s been a difficult year,” he said to a room that went silent and strained to hear his voice. “This quilt will be treasured in my home.”
Payne recognized 10 other classmates, whose dedications and sacrifice, like those of the aforementioned veterans, could be summed up by neither words nor the gifting of a quilt. But in that restaurant lobby, the gratitude was palpable.
“That was the most gratifying thing I have done in a long time,” said Payne. “I mean, the look on their faces …”
Classmates heard of the sacrifices and heroisms of old friends and lab partners. A former classmate, who may have at one time been a crush, or a football teammate, or the teacher’s pet, suddenly became more than their high school personas. They were soldiers and pilots and captains and nurses who put their lives at
risk for the sake of others. They were men and women who had seen hell, and who had returned from it. They were no longer merely students or teammates or old friends: They were heroes.
Together Again
Of a graduating class of 150, around 50 classmates attended the reunion.
The crowd gasped and clapped and patted each recipient on the back following their moments of recognition. When the presentations concluded, they mingled with one another and later dispersed.
“It brought us closer,” said Radney.
The next reunion may take place sooner rather than later.
“They want to have another one before our 65th,” said Radney. “Because we’ve lost 19 [classmates] in the last five years.”
Radney will send out emails and texts for the dates and times and location of the next reunion. And for those for who don’t respond, she will send invitations through the mail. Although it may seem a large commitment of effort and time to organize these events, Radney is undisturbed. She has already put together more than 10 such gatherings. At this point, gathering classmates who are dispersed across the United States is reflex.
“Well, now we got it down to a science,” she said.
Alexander City rocked by storm
STORY BY TPI STAFF
PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN
At around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, an unexpected storm hit Alexander City. Straight-line winds downed trees, damaged buildings and left many residences and businesses without power for extended periods of time.
Downed powerlines were the source of major power outages throughout downtown Alexander City, along U.S. Route 280 and state Route 22, along Dadeville Road and in more rural areas. Downtown Alexander City reported the majority of outages, including the municipal complex, which disrupted city operations on Thursday night, including 9-11 services.
Power was restored to the municipal complex late Thursday night, and by Friday evening, most of the power had been restored in downtown Alexander City and surrounding areas; however, many smaller communities were without electricity well into Saturday. Local contractors and linemen scrambled to clear roads and restore powerlines across the city.
The damaging winds from the Thursday night thunderstorm were produced by a microburst – a concentrated, intense downdraft of air that produces straight-line winds often exceeding 100 miles per hour.
These winds toppled trees across the city. Several pine trees lining the roads around Central Alabama Community College were downed in the storm, resulting in major blockages on Cherokee Road. Trees fell on houses and churches in the area, resulting in various levels of damage.
Some of the worst damage from the Thursday night storms was felt by the Tucker family, whose home on Old Kellyton Road was completely crushed by a tree.
“By the grace of God, I heard this weird noise, and I just looked at the kids and said, ‘Run,’” said Heather Tucker, mother of two. “I told them to go to the back corner of my room, and that’s the only room it didn’t touch.”
Tucker had always said that tree would one day cause her trouble. Just minutes before the storm, Heather had posted a photo of the tree to social media, captioning it: “The tree that I’m scared of.”
Damage was also suffered at the parsonage and cemetery of the Flint Hill Church. The roof of the parsonage was crushed by a large pine tree, particularly over the garage.
“When we moved the tree off the (chimney), essentially a large part of it crumbled,” Rev. John Hill said. “The weight of that tree was immense. Right now, we
Storm Damage
Previous Pages: Some of the most significant damage was suffered by a downtown business; Current Pages: (clockwise from top) Cherokee Road near Central Alabama Community College was heavily blocked by pine trees; The parsonage and cemetery at Flint Hill Church was damaged by a large tree; Sure Shot Outdoors encountered winds strong enough to blow in the front doors and windows; Rev. Hill remained thankful that nobody was hurt despite the storm damage.
have large holes punched into the roof, and inside sustained some water damage from that. We’re not sure of the extent (of the water damage) yet.”
Thankfully, said Hill, he and his family were not home during the event.
“I don’t go for luck,” Hill said. “I think it’s a blessing. It could have been much worse.”
Downtown, The Picket Fence Antique Mall and Estate Sales sustained significant damage as the top layer of the roof completely detached from the building and came to rest on the train tracks between Broad and Calhoun streets. Picket Fence owner Ellen Gregg said the underlayer roof was still intact, but the interior of her store suffered water damage.
Gregg was only a week from moving her store down the street to The Square. She said the store’s relocation will be delayed until further notice.
“It’s definitely going to slow me down,” said Gregg. “Access to the building is kind of limited right now, and I will have to see what’s still usable.”
Off U.S. Route 280, the glass windows and doors at the front of the Sure Shot Outdoors building fell into the store, leaving the interior exposed. Some of the brickwork on the side of the building was damaged, with a chunk of bricks crumbling into the parking lot.
Owner Scott Watson remained optimistic, however.
“We’re fine,” he said. “No one here was hurt, and we’re just more concerned about other people in the community.”
Despite the rapid, out-of-nowhere destruction wrought by the storm, the people of Alexander City were able to overcome these struggles in favor of compassion for their neighbors. Citizens frequently asked how they could help. Neighbor helped neighbor clear trees and debris from roads and yards. Canned foods were collected at city hall for first responders and linemen.
In an interview with The Alex City Outlook, Mayor Woody Baird addressed the resiliency of his constituency.
“We’ve been through this several times in the last few years, and we’ll get over this again,” said Baird in an interview Friday morning. “Just pull together, be patient and thank y’all for what you do, for being the citizens who make Alex City a great place to live.”
Twenty-one-year-old Evan Nathan Smith presented to his local emergency room in severe pain. He asked for oxygen directly, but the nurse refused. The little machine she put on the end of his finger to measure the oxygen in his blood said he didn’t need it. Smith told the nurse that he had sickle cell disease and was going into crisis. He knew from prior painful experiences what he needed – an exchange transfusion to replace his oxygen-poor sickle cells with normal red blood cells.
Smith understood his disease, but sadly, the emergency room staff did not. Because the staff delayed in consulting a hematologist, the transfusion was ordered too late, and his life was lost. Smith died due to multi-organ failure and cardiac arrest.
The coroner found that Smith’s death could have been prevented if the emergency room staff had been trained to identify and manage a sickle cell crisis. The young man’s death triggered an investigation by a consortium of legislators and sickle-cell advocacy groups. The investigation found that professional ignorance about sickle cell disease, bias against people who use pain medicine and underlying prejudice all contributed to Smith’s death.
This damning indictment of the healthcare system unfolded in Great Britain, but it all too well could have happened here.
Sickle cell patients encounter a host of barriers to accessing adequate medical care. Some of these barriers are erected by structural inequalities, and others are propagated by popular myths about sickle cell disease.
SCD is a genetic mutation that, because of geography and history, overwhelmingly affects people of African heritage. SCD is prevalent in North and Central Africa and around the Mediterranean Sea. It occurs in people of Greek, Sicilian, Arab and Egyptian descent, as well as most prevalently in persons of African heritage.
SCD in the United States disproportionately affects African Americans, not because it’s a Black disease, but because of the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Had the colonial powers kidnapped Arabs and Egyptians instead of Africans, SCD would have a completely different complexion in our country.
To complicate things, the structural bias implicit in medical research led physicians to misinterpret the causes of SCD. Having identified the sickle cell trait in African Americans and Caribbean Black people, when researchers found sickle cells in the blood of Caucasian people, they attributed it to race mixing. Rather than clarifying that SCD is not ostensibly an issue caused
by race – merely one correlated with it – this vaulted scientific “fact” bolstered discrimination against African Americans.
Sickle cell crisis is a profoundly painful experience, usually manageable only with powerful pain medicines like morphine and oxycodone. Sickle cells stick to blood vessel walls and cut off the supply of oxygen to sufferers’ arms, legs, lungs and bones. Patients with the most severe form of the disease, sickle cell anemia, are constantly starved for oxygen. Over time, the lack of oxygen damages their brains, livers and hearts.
The average SCD patient takes the equivalent of 6 milligrams of morphine per day, which is much less than typically consumed by other chronic pain sufferers, such as persons with chronic migraine headaches and fibromyalgia. Despite the belief among healthcare workers that SCD patients are at higher risk of drug overdose and death, there are five times more opioid-related deaths among patients with these other chronic pain syndromes than among patients with SCD, according to cause of death data compiled by the Center for Disease Control.
A sickle cell crisis is a bona fide medical emergency. A slow response can allow the crisis to reach a tipping point, as it did with Evan Smith. That’s why the American Society for Hematology recommends initiating pain medicine and supportive care within one hour of presenting to the emergency room (the British National Health Service stopwatch is set at 30 minutes).
Because SCD patients don’t look sick – they’re not bleeding or suffering from a gunshot wound – and they don’t act sick – years of chronic pain tend to make these patients less dramatic than someone in acute pain –healthcare professionals often do not take SCD patients seriously. The consequences can be severe, resulting in strokes, heart attacks and acute chest syndrome.
In addition to the misconceptions, there are serious structural barriers preventing SCD patients from accessing good care. Probably the most significant barrier is the legislative and cultural overreaction to the opioidabuse crisis.
Opioid abuse and opioid related deaths are reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, and we have made great strides toward combatting the many structural factors that led to more than 108,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2022. The opioid crisis is a legitimate issue; however, some legislation has the unintended consequence of making it more difficult for physicians to manage patients whose daily battles with pain subside only when given the same medications that have been abused by others.
Physicians are bogged down by an ever-growing burden of increased regulation and paperwork. Data collected by the federal government on physician prescribing practices causes legitimate concern among physicians. Many doctors now refuse to prescribe pain medications to patients in chronic pain for fear of legal recourse. SCD patients, who are genuinely need these medications, are caught in the crossfire.
MEDICAL NEWS
Health insurance coverage is another structural barrier faced by SCD patients. SCD patients – especially those with sickle cell anemia – become disabled early in life, incapable of working a regular job because of frequent hospitalizations and clinic visits and attacks of severe pain. Consequently, they lose access to private insurance plans and end up on Medicaid.
Medicaid alone does not provide the same level of coverage that Medicare and private insurance companies do, and Medicaid pays only about 75 percent of what it costs the healthcare system to provide care. Because of that, many private physicians refuse to accept Medicaid. It’s not because of the patients; they simply can’t afford to provide adequate care for what Medicaid pays. This reduces the number of providers who will care for SCD patients.
Another systemic barrier is the lack of specialized care facilities. Evan Smith’s death shows how important it is for SCD patients to be cared for by experienced and well-trained providers. We’re fortunate in Alexander City to have two board-certified hematologists who
know how to provide expert, compassionate care to SCD patients. But most communities – especially smaller ones, like ours – don’t have that benefit.
Barriers to Treatment Sufferers of Sickle Cell Disease face unique challenges in receiving treatment.
There are only 77 centers across the United States that specialize in sickle cell disease, compared to 170 centers for hemophilia, even though there are five times more SCD patients than hemophilia patients in the United States. SCD patients who live in rural communities end up having to travel to more populated areas to get the care they require. That’s a severe burden for the many SCD patients with limited financial resources.
The final systemic barrier – and it needs to be said, though many don’t want to hear it – is racial discrimination. Two physicians, Alexandra Power-Hays of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Patrick McGann of Brown University co-authored a powerful editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2020.
They wrote, “Medicine is a mirror for the racial injustice in our society; it is a field riddled with racial disparities in everything from research funding to patient care to life expectancy. There may be no population of patients whose health care and outcomes are more affected by racism than those with sickle cell disease.”
Is it cold comfort to know that racism is a global phenomenon, affecting London, England, as well as London, Kentucky? Maybe not. If we are going to improve the quality of care for SCD patients, we’re going to have to confront the implicit racial bias that exists in our society; especially the racism inherent to the healthcare world, where lives are at stake.
~ George Miranda is the director of the UAB Medicine –Russell Medical Cancer Center.
George Miranda
Take advantage of high interest rates to maximize savings
With the state of the national economy, many of my clients are relying on credit and tapping into their savings to cover expenses. This serves as a reminder of how important it is to have a financial plan that includes savings.
I emphasize to my clients how, with a solid plan, they can set themselves up for financial success in the future.
MONEY MATTERS
Lori Harrell
Based on the current high interest rates, now is an opportune time to start saving. Here is a short list of savings options I recommend to my clients and the benefits associated with each account type.
Basic savings accounts are a great start. Although they typically have a lower interest rate than other savings accounts, they provide an easy
place to store money that can be withdrawn at any time. Their liquidity, low maintenance fees and easy access make basic savings accounts perfect for first-time savers. Many banks even offer them at no charge with a minimum balance.
High-yield Savings Accounts are like basic savings accounts, except for one key difference: a higher interest rate. The national average interest rate on savings accounts is below 1 percent, but we’re seeing HYSAs at more than three times the national average, so now is a great time to open one. Opening a HYSA now could mean earning significantly more interest compared to a standard savings account, providing extra funds for future needs.
With both HYSA and basic savings, it’s important to remember that if the Fed adjusts interest rates, they could drop, so it’s best not to wait.
Certificates of Deposit are a great option for long-term savings goals. They are perfect for saving money for your child’s college education, a future home purchase or even for a future vacation. CDs offer the benefit of a fixed interest
rate for the duration of the account, so even if interest rates change, yours won’t, providing a predictable outcome. However, there is a penalty for early withdrawal, and additional funds cannot be added once the account is opened, so it’s important to plan and have the money ready to deposit up front.
Individual Retirement Accounts and 401ks are specifically for saving for retirement, but it’s never too early to start. Use any online IRA calculator and you’ll be shocked at how much your money could grow over your working lifetime. These tax-deferred accounts allow you to pay taxes upon withdrawal, making them excellent options for early savers. Like CDs, these accounts have penalties for early withdrawals, so it’s important to talk with your financial planner to see if it’s right for you.
As you get started, here are two tips I have for saving:
Start early. I just had this conversation with my adult son, who is in his mid-20s and hasn’t started a retirement account. I explained to him that even small monthly contributions can grow significantly over time, and I recommended he open an account as soon as possible.
Save extra money you receive, such as raises, bonuses or birthday gifts. Putting this money into a savings account can have a big impact on your future without affecting your current budget.
Whether you’re helping your adult children set themselves up for financial success or looking to boost your own savings, it’s always a great time to talk with your financial planner. Sit down with your banker, review your options and choose the best savings plan for your needs. Start today, and watch your financial future flourish.
~Lori Harrell is Vice President and Market Manager at Valley Bank’s Mill Square branch in Alexander City and the Dadeville branch in Dadeville. She has more than three decades of experience in the banking industry and has been with Valley for the past 13 years.
This article is intended for educational purposes only. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are solely of the writer and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion or position of Valley Bank.
1. Kara Hunt, Kailynn Beacon, Breazie Jones and Meredith Rudd
2. Sandra Thompson and Tiffany Clark
3. Lizi Arbogast Gwin and Melody Rathel
4. Jeremy and Laurel Johnson
5. Sylvia Wilkerson and Tracy Scott
6. Barbara Powell and Kathra Mattox
Friday, August 30, 2024
Tiger Stadium, Dadeville
1. Earl Watkins
2. Emma Hanks and Stephanie Tidwell
3. Laurynn Davis
4. Teri Stephenson, Tom Cochran and John Wilcox
5. Caleb Wyckoff and Peyton Webb
6. Chineka and Elaine Rowell 7. Ashley and Riley Heflin
OH SNAP! Dinner on the Square
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
1. Lesia Woody, Corey Hallmark, Kim Hyde and Veronica Miller
2. Judy Perry, Karry McKenney, Carol Waters and Sunni Green
3. Joey and Judy Wright, John and Regina Freeman and Jimmy and Susan McBride
4. Rhonda and Charlie Baker and Pam and Brad Copeland
5. Jimmy and Felicia Long, Cara Scott, Rachel Gowin, Lori
Booth, Holly Keel and Robert and Lisa Reed
6. Jim and Lisa Peace and Lee and Judy Coon
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Russell Crossroads
1. Steve Dean and Oscar Hughes
2. Terri Craney and Andy Caputi
3. Rae Ford and Julie Hudson
4. Janet Douglas and Bill McCain
5. Lauren and Linda Sherman
6. Lynn Wallace and Ferris Edwards
1. Kasey and Zoie Pair
2. Jordan Gunn, Kayla Atchinson and Sabrena Tarver
3. Lola Popov and Joyce Reeves
4. Joe and Brenda Croley and Janice Glaze
5. Marylyn Turnipseed and Marcie Gaylor
6. Sarah Pasquantonio and Denise Walls
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Zazu's Verandah, Dadeville
1. Joel and Cathy Link
2. Charles and Lainey Smith
3. Marsha Pace
4. Randall McDaniel and Andrew D. 5. Joanne and Bill Walker
Sue and Dan McGinty
THE LAKE REGION
Calendar
FEATURED EVENT
A Delightful Evening Out
Art and champagne at show to benefit Dadeville Performing Arts Center
Join Lake Martin Living magazine from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. September 26 at Dadeville Performing Arts Center for a champagne reception to showcase local artists and photographers. The event will feature heavy hors d’oeurves, desserts, champagne and nonalcoholic beverages, live music by Luke Keel and door prizes for attendees.
During the reception, prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place art and photography entries, and attendees will vote for the People’s Choice winner.
First prize in each category will win $200. Second place entrants will receive $150, and third place entries will receive $100. The People’s Choice winner also will receive $100.
New at this year’s show will be a children’s division with the winner taking home $50. A children’s reception will be held Wednesday
afternoon with appropriate refreshments.
Proceeds will benefit Dadeville Performing Arts Center, a music and performing arts space dedicated to building community in the Dadeville-Lake Martin area. Tickets to the reception are $20 and are available at Tallapoosa Publishers in Alexander City or online at eventbrite.com.
Artists and photographers may enter up to three pieces of work at $25 each. Every entry includes a ticket to the reception. Entries must be delivered to the office at TPI, 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, to be considered for prizes.
Third Place
Sponsorships are available to support DPAC. For sponsorship, entry or reception information, call 256234-4281.
Mimi Amerson's crab took home $100 in last year's benefit show.
September 15
Painting in the Park
Join Wind Creek State Park Naturalist Dylan Ogle for a relaxing afternoon of plein air painting by the lake. Meet at the historic silo landmark in the park at 2 p.m. The $8 participation fee includes park entry. Register for this event online and present your receipt at the gate for entry. For more information, visit reserve.alapark.com/register/paintingin-the-park.
September 16
Lunch and Learn
Danny Hayes with the Tallapoosa Museum in Dadeville will lead a discussion of Tallapoosa County history from noon to 1 p.m. at Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama, 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. Call 256-234-0347 to reserve a space or email vcca.al@gmail.com by noon on Thursday, September 12.
September 19
The Making of a Moon Garden
Advanced Master Gardener Dianna Fortner will review the process and selections in creating a moon garden in a free program open to the public at 11 a.m. at Red Ridge United Methodist Church.
September 19
Cars & Cocktails
Wellborn Musclecar Museum will host this special event from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to benefit Main Street Alexander City. Tickets are $50 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, raffle items, live music by Bo Jones, live painting with artist Sydne Schuler. There will be a bourbon tasting and cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit mainstreetalexandercity.org/events for tickets and details.
September 19
After Hours Meet & Greet
Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a social gathering from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lake Martin Community Hospital on Mariarden Road. Meet local community members for great conversations at this free event.
September 20
Dillon Dixon
LAKE REGION EVENTS
at Destination Glamping
Storyteller and musician Dillon Dixon has written songs for George Jones, Restless Heart, Natalie Cole, Ronnie Milsap, Neil McCoy, Steve Holy, Alabama, Josh Gracin and Rodney Atkins among countless other American artists, as well as songs for blockbuster films. Purchase tickets at tdsc.com or call 615-477-9813.
September 20
Auburn Bluegrass Band Show
Outstanding Bluegrass musicians will perform toe-tapping, soultouching Bluegrass and New Grass at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com. Tickets will be $15 at the door. Children attend free.
September 23
Lunch and Learn
Dr. Andrew Kerley of Kerley Clinic of Chiropractic will discuss the importance of a healthy spine, nutrition, and vitamins and minerals to support a healthy body in this Lunch-andLearn program hosted by Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. The program will begin at noon at 5030 U.S. Route 280 in Alexander City. Call 256-234-0347 to reserve a space or email vcca.al@gmail.com by noon on Thursday, September 19.
September
25
AACA Membership Luncheon
Artists Association of Central Alabama will host their annual membership luncheon program at 9:30 a.m. in the Senior Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City. Members will share examples of their work and enjoy a networking lunch. Guests are welcome. AACA membership is $20 per year and entitles members to attend workshops, demonstrations in a variety of genres, field trips and more. Call Joe Fehrmann at 205-746-0322 for information or to reserve a place for you and your guest.
September 26 – 29
Women’s Wellness Weekend
The Destination Glamping Resort presents its Second Annual Women’s Wellness Weekend, featuring programs on self-care and time to relax, focus on wellness, pampering yourself and having fun. Lodging, meals, wellness treatments and activities are included. Prices and reservation information are available by calling 615-477-9813 or at thedestinationglampingresort.com.
September
27
Children’s Harbor Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Children’s Harbor/ Magic Moments Clay Shoot at Selwood Farms. Meals are provided. Email franniemcbrayer@childrensharbor.com for questions or to sign up.
September
30
Lunch and Learn Balcony People
Retired registered nurse Sandra Patten will present “Balcony People,” to help people live with a positive attitude, at Volunteer Community Connections Association, 5030 U.S. Route 280 in Alexander City, at noon. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. Call 256-234-0347 by noon on Thursday, October 3, to reserve as sapce or email vcca.al@gmail.com.
October 1–Nov. 23 Art Gone Wild
The Kelly’s annual wildlife art exhibition will feature the works of artists and collectors from across the Southeast in the gallery at 301 Hill Street in Wetumpka. Best of Show wins $10,000. For more information, visit thekelly.org/wewa/art-gone-wild.
October 4–6
Dixie Sailing Club
Po' Ol' Kowaliga Open Regatta & Charity Dinner
This fall regatta is open to sailors across the Southeast and includes a charity dinner and silent auction at The Ridge Clubhouse to benefit Lake Martin’s Children’s Harbor. Email heflijb@gmail.com to purchase tickets, donate auction items, become a sponsor or enter the regatta.
LAKE REGION EVENTS
October 5
DINK for DPAC
Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host a pickleball tournament from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Dadeville High School tennis courts. Entry fee is $60. Register at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.
October 5
11th Annual Dadeville Fall Festival
The Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce will host this annual community celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live entertainment, family friendly activities, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, games for the kids and more just off the courthouse square at Tallassee Street.
October 7
Lunch and Learn That’s Deductible!
Kathy Lewis and Barbara Willis with the Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama tax programs will discuss income tax deductibles. Participants will receive a deductible form to use when preparing their next year’s taxes. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. Presented by VCCA, 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City. Call 256-234-0347 to reserve a space or email vcca.al@gmail.com by noon on Thursday, September 26.
October 8-10
Figures in Their Environment
Artist Margaret Dyer will lead this three-day workshop in soft pastels and oils at Tallapoosa School of Art. Limited to 10 students, this class is open to all levels. Learn to paint impressionistic figures in their interior or outdoor settings. Visit tallapoosaworkshops.com for more information.
October
11
20th Anniversary of Friday Night Jams
Celebrate 20 years of dancing and socializing at the Red Hill Schoolhouse from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will honor the original musicians and organizers who began the Friday night dances back in 2004. There will be quality music, lively dancing, food and plenty of socializing, and as it has been
for 20 years, the event is completely free. For more information, contact Paula Castleberry at 334-541-2474.
October
12
Octoberfest
Alexander City Parks & Rec will host this annual autumn celebration from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Charles E. Bailey sportplex in Alexander City. Live music, arts and crafts and food vendors will line the road. There will be a car show, hay rides, activities for the children and more.
October
12
Miss Alabama’s Miss Lake Martin Pageant
The 2024 Miss Lake Martin pageant will be held this fall in the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium after several years of absence. This pageant is a preliminary for the Miss Alabama and Miss Alabama’s Teen pageant, where the winners will go on to compete for the national title of Miss America and Miss America’s Teen in January 2025. Anyone who lives or works in Alabama or attends school at least 40 hours a week in the state of Alabama is invited to participate. For questions about the pageant, or to enter, contact misslakemartinal@gmail.com.
October
12
Everything’s Art Holiday Arts and Crafts Market
Everything’s Art! and Pennington Park will host Dadeville’s 4th annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Market from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Pennington Park. The Market will feature local arts and crafts, seasonal baked goods and food trucks. For vendor information, email everythingsartguild14@gmail. com or call 770-328-2094. Additional information may also be found on Everything’s Art and Pennington Park’s Facebook pages.
October
12
Olde-Time Music Open Jam
Dadeville Performing Arts members and guests will gather to play from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to come, play and listen for free at 128 Broadnax Street.
October
12
Author Talk
Local author, Dean Bonner (The Lie Berry) will present a talk at 12 p.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center, hosted by the Dadeville Public Library. Bonner is a 2013 Alabama Literary Competition winner and a quarterfinalist in the 2019 Austin Film Festival. Learn more about him at cdbonner.net/tag/humor.
October 14
Lunch and Learn
Courtney Layfield with Lake Martin Area United Way will provide information on the UW agencies providing services to Tallapoosa and Coosa County citizens. Bring a sack lunch to Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama at 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City. Dessert and tea will be provided. Call 256-234-0347 by noon on Thursday, October 10, to reserve a space, or email vccaal@gmail.com.
October 18
Auburn Bluegrass Band Show
Bluegrass musicians will perform toe-tapping, soul-touching Bluegrass and New Grass at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com. Tickets will be $15 at the door. Children attend free.
Season-long Events
Yoga on the Green
Bring your mat, water and a towel to the Town Green at Russell Crossroads at 7 a.m. every Saturday through September 28 to start your day at the lake well. Certified instructors are provided by Russell Lands for this free event.
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours
Come see Naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.
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 Thursday through Saturday 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 334-857-2008 for more information.
Friday On The Green
Every Friday night through September 28, Russell Lands hosts free music and lawn games on the Town Green from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, kids and the pup on a leash to start your weekend at the lake with family and friends.
Music in the Air
Come out to Zazu’s Verandah on the beautiful courthouse square in Dadeville from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday for an evening of music, meeting friends and enjoying the community. Beverages will be for
Explore
Lake Martin
Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111
The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300
River North Marina 256-397-1500
Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700
Real Island Marina 334-857-2741
Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888
Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550
Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600
Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's 256-444-8793
SpringHouse 256-215-7080
Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070
Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035
Acapulco Mexican Gril 334-283-2725
Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567
Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132
Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256
The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333
Kowaliga Vet Care 334-857-1816
Aronov Realty Lake Martin 256-825-4133
Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847
Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717
Creekside Lodge 256-307-1440
Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820
Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293
Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 334-857-2443
Docks Unlimited LLC 256-203-8400
Lakeshore Pharmacy 256-825-0063
Momentum Marine at Lake Martin 256-825-9286
Spencer Heating and Air at Lake Martin 256-373-3165
Bolton Cove 256-392-7524
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ALEXANDER CITY
Robinson Iron
A & M Plumbing
Carlos
The Body Shop
Walgreens
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
Jake's
Moore Wealth Management
Carlisle's
Emporium Wine
Cloud Nine
Downtown Girl
Shay Aesthetics
JR'S
Hillabee Towers
Senior Nutrition Center
Noel Boone
George Hardy
First Realty
Dark Insurance
Warren Appliance
MainStreet Family Care
Grace's Flowers
Koon's Korner
Larry's General Merchandise
Daylight Donuts
Alfa
Valley Bank - 280
Pricare
Temple Medical
AllState
BB&T Bank
Hometown Pharmacy
Lake Martin Home Health
Allen's Food Mart (Exxon)
Karen Channell - State Farm
Insurance
North Lake Condo
River Bend Store
River North Marina
Lake Martin Building Supply
Petro
Sho'Nuff BBQ
Hair Design
Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture
Longleaf Antique Mall
Playhouse Cinemas
Chamber of Commerce
Winn Dixie
Re/Max Around the Lake
City Hall
A&E Metal
Regions Bank
Marathon - 280
Renfroe's Market
Russell Medical Center
Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors
Koon's II
Tallapoosa Ford
Dylan Johnson - Country Financial
Holley's Home Furniture
Jackson's Drugs
Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark
The Sure Shot
Shell - 280
Big B Bar-B-Que
Russell Do It Center
Russell Home Decor
Holman Floor
Satterfield Inc.
Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars
Tippy Canoe
Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office
Wind Creek Gate
Wind Creek Store
Willow Point Office
Willow Point Country Club
Smith Marina
Nails
Kowaliga Marina
Children's Harbor
Catherine's Market
Russell Lands Corporate Office
Russell Lands Real Estate
Sales Center
SpringHouse
Ridge Club
Ridge Marina
HACKNEYVILLE
Hackneyville Water Authority
NEW SITE
Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland
DADEVILLE
Chamber of Commerce
Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery
Root 49 Salon
Ellaby Boutique, LLC
Alabama Power
Siggers
Siggers Barbershop
Fusion Cafe
Dadeville Library
At the Beauty Shop
Dadeville Courthouse
Payne's Furniture
PNC Bank
Valley Bank
McKelvey Chevrolet
Renfroe's Market
Foshee's Boat Doc
Lakeshore Pharmacy
Russell Building Supply
Lakay's
Tallapoosa Nutrition
Sweet Pickins
Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Jim's Pharmacy
Poplar Dawgs
Still Waters Country Club
Still Waters Home Association
Russell Lands Realty
Fuller Realty
Harbor Pointe
Oskar's
Aronov Realty Lake Martin
Creekside Lodge
Blue Creek Marina
Lakeside Marina
Niffers
Hwy 50 Eagle
Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery
Lakeside Mercantile
Walnut Hill
Chuck's Marina
Deep Water Docks
Lake Martin Pizza
CAMP HILL
Link Gas Station
EQUALITY
Five Star Plantation
Equality Food Mart
Southern Star
Parker Creek Marina
Charles Borden
ECLECTIC
Lake Breeze Realty
Offshore Marina
Lake Martin Mini Mall
Corner Stone Coffee Co.
Lake Martin Dock Company
Cotton's Alabama Barbecue
Russell Do It Center
Johnson Furniture
WOW Catering LLC
Eclectic Library
Real Island Marina
Anchor Bay Marina
Wetumpka
Wetumpka Herald Office
Tallassee Marathon
Tallassee Eagle
Tallassee Chamber
Parris Mullins Jr. O.D.
Get Lake Martin Living delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Calling All Artist We’re Having An Exhibit-And-Reception Event & You’re invited!
n Submissions accepted in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil, photography and mixed media. (3D works are accepted as long as they can be hung on the wall. )
n No free-standing sculptures.
n Entries must reflect the nature, beauty or lifestyle of Alabama.
n All entries must be ready to hang.
n Entry fee is $25 per piece. Children’s entry fee is $10 per piece.
Clearly mark each entry with the artist’s name, address, phone number and email. Deliver entries to the Lake Martin Living magazine office on or before 5 p.m. September 17. The office is located at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City.
First place winners receive $200; Second place winners receive $150; and third place winners receive $100. People’s Choice winner also receives $100. A children’s division is open to eighth grade and younger. Children’s division winner receives $50.
All submitting artists will be featured in the October issue of Lake Martin Living, with one of the first place works featured on the cover. Call magazine editor-in-chief Betsy Iler at 256-234-4282 with questions or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com.
The reception will be on September 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Exhibit reception tickets are $20 and available at eventbrite.com.
Jubilee
Kowaliga
Lacey
Summer Memories
It was the Tuesday after Labor Day, and I found myself shuffling through the console of our boat, digging beneath seat cushions and towels. My purse had lived there all Labor Day weekend, and now it was temporarily lost in a mess of towels, sunscreens and snacks. You know it was a good weekend on Lake Martin if your car remained parked on land, and you traveled solely by boat.
I am always surprised by the sudden change in weather after September 1. The temperature was only in the mid 70s that morning. The water was low. My Confederate Rose bush was getting ready to bloom, and there were still a few hummingbirds at the feeder. They, too, will soon move on, just like all the summer people who trek back to the cities for school and football season.
Culture Shock
There’s always a bit of melancholy at the end of summer. 2024 was a good year to be on the lake. We did a lot of boating and really enjoyed weekly trips to the new Landing at Harbor Pointe.
Lacey Howell
The highlight of my summer was doing the 4th of July Boat Parade with my nieces and their cousins. It was a lastminute decision. I told the team I would handle all the décor and keep it simple. If we wanted a shot at winning, we were going to have to stand out in a sea of red, white and blue. We needed to be a different color. My mind went to the movies and American holidays, and I landed on Will Smith and Independence Day. We would do everything lime green and alien-themed!
If you have ever searched for alien gear on Amazon, you’ve likely found it’s a true honey hole. I bought blow up aliens and an inflatable alien costume, along with lime green tablecloths to wrap the boat, which was topped with shiny garland.
We assembled the décor once we arrived at Kowaliga, getting to work with duct tape and zip ties. About an hour later, I hopped off the boat at the marina and admired our handiwork.
“Guys – we look good!”
I was excited because I knew, after seeing the boat in all its glory, we had a shot at winning the contest. There was such a great crowd, with great music and loads of patriotism. We would go on to win “Most Creative” boat, and I have never been so proud. We will definitely make the boat parade a new tradition and are already scheming for next year.
There is plenty to look forward to this September and October. I am very excited that Springhouse has reopened and look forward to hiking out at Cherokee Ridge. The Dixie Sailing Club’s Po’ Ol’ Kowaliga Open Regatta is October 5 and 6. Yoga on the Green goes until the end of September. Cooler temps make time at the barn more enjoyable for horseback riding, and I know all of our local hunters and fishermen are beginning to get excited. There will be that first joyful night when the temperature reaches the low 60s, and I decide to build a fire.
I hope you, too, are holding onto great summer memories, but don’t pull out your sweaters just yet. We still have a little bit of summer left in us.
~ Lacey Howell is a recovering English major from Auburn who now lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, rides horses and loves good wine. Follow her on Instagram @LaceyHowell.
Alien Invasion
Lacey's boat decked out in alien green.
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