AUGUST 2016
LAKE 1
Medical Park Family Care Get In. Get Out. Get Going.
Conveniently located a short, scenic drive along the eastern shores of Lake Martin,
Medical Park Family Care is here for you. Jamie S. Evans, M.D.
• Board Certified: American Board of Family Physicians • Residency: Family Medicine, OU Family Medicine and Preventative Health, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Medical School: University of Oklahoma - College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jamie S. Evans, M.D.
Tara Jones, DNP, CRNP • BSN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing, UAB • MSN-Master of Science in Nursing, UAB • Post-Master of Child Health Nursing University of South Alabama • DNP-Doctorate of Nursing Practice Samford University • Certified Adult, Pediatric and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Now Offering Same Day Appointments
256.825.9900
1034 Tallassee Street, Dadeville, AL
www.russellmedcenter.com 2 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Tara Jones, DNP, CRNP
ATTENTION, LAKE LOVERS:
YOUR APP IS HERE. The Shorelines app will tell you everything you want to know about your favorite Alabama lakes. If you love life on the lake, you’ll love the Alabama Power Shorelines app. It covers all 14 Alabama Power lakes and gives you the power to stay informed and get the most out of your favorite lake. From the hottest fishing spots to lake levels to generator schedules, you’ll be smarter and safer every time you visit. So download the Shorelines app today or visit APCShorelines.com. Then go jump in a lake. JUST SOME OF THE FEATURES: • Current conditions and water levels • Generation schedules • Fishing hotspots and hunting information • Interactive maps • Information about day-use parks and lake access
apcshorelines.com © 2016 Alabama Power Company
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 3
Letter from the Editor
A
ugust is that time when we fear the slipping away of summer. We’ve had our fun – starting with the season’s beautiful opener over Memorial Day weekend. Just a couple of weeks later, we gathered in town and at the lake by the thousands for the 26th Annual Jazz Fest, and after that, we gathered at Chimney Rock while temperatures climbed like the landmark’s jumpers. We’d only just recovered from the excesses of the Fourth of July before we plunged headlong into Sun Festival, and suddenly, here it was, staring at us from the calendars on our cellphones: August. Though the nails will not officially be seated in summer’s coffin until the last strains of music play from the Lake Martin Amphitheater stage on Labor Day, already our minds have turned – toward the school supplies the kids will need before the month is out; toward cooler days when the fish will bite again and the weekend traffic on the water dies down. But don’t let go just yet. There’s still all of August – and all of September, for that matter. The water is still high and cool on a 90-degree day, and there are many flips and dives and cannonballs yet to be made from the platforms and trampolines of the Tarzan boat at Parker Creek. The Tarzan boat made its debut on Lake Martin last month and won rave reviews from the lake lovers who lined up on deck for what some said was the best time they’ve ever had on the lake. Check out the reviews from those who took the opportunity to flip out over this floating mini-amusement park on page 30. And don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to swing on board – and off the boat – before summer really ends. Certainly, Stillwaters’ Madison Perkett has no plans to bid good-bye to summer until even the Neoprene doesn’t keep her warm on the water. This 10-year-old girl is taking the local wakeboard world by storm. Choosing board boots over ballet slippers, this hardworking, unassuming champion is looking for a third win at the Russell Marine Riverfront Wake Battle in Montgomery. Get to know her on page 44, and when you’re out on the water this month, you just might get to see her practice the backside 360 that she’s determined to land before summer’s end. And when the day winds into evening, reach for Katie Porterfield’s soon-to-be classic children’s book, Find Your Heart at Lake Martin, illustrated by renowned lake artist Lila Graves. Turn to page 26 to read the story behind the story and see a preview of Graves’ delightful artwork. Don’t let that calendar scare you. By month’s end, school might be in session, and fall clothes might be on the racks at your favorite downtown boutiques, but it will still be summer at Lake Martin.
Chairman KENNETH BOONE
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Publisher STEVE BAKER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Managing Editor BETSY ILER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Assistant Magazine Editor MIA OSBORN
mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com
Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER
tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com
EMILY GREGG
emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com
Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK
david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com
Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS
audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com
DARLENE JOHNSON
darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com
HALLIE HOLLOWAY
hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com
Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY HENRY FOY JOHN THOMPSON JULIE HUDSON ROB MCDANIEL
CLIFF WILLIAMS LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED DAVID GRANGER GREG VINSON VIVIAN AUTRY
All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:
256-234-4281 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011
Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 LAKE
Staff
AUGUST 2016
On the Cover Cover: Stillwaters' Madison Perkett pulls up for power during a wakeboard practice session last month. The 10-yearold girl will compete in this weekend's Russell Marine Riverfront Wake Battle in Montgomery and hopes to repeat her 2013 victory when she scored higher than the boys in her age bracket. Photo by Kenneth Boone
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 5
6 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Contents 26. NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK ON THE LAKE From A to Z, Porterfield and Graves showcase what's to love about Lake Martin 30. AAAAH-AH-AH-AH-AAAH-AH-AH-AH-AHHH! The Tarzan Boat comes to Parker Creek with rope swings and trampolines 38. NO SERIOUS INJURIES Boaters escape injury in two total loss boat fires on Lake Martin last month
30
42. RIDE LIKE A GIRL 10-year-old Madison Perkett gears up for a third win at Montgomery Wake Battle 50. SIMPLICITY Family's tiny cabin holds cherished memories of nearly half a century on Kowaliga Creek 58. KNOW YOUR KNOTS A photographic guide on how to tie things up at the lake 62. GRAFFITI GROWS Vandalism and paint threaten to turn the beauty of Lake Martin into an ugly mess 66. 40 YEARS OF MAKING SMILES Camp ASSCA celebrates a benchmark anniversary with a reunion
LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:
e
- edition
50
9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE
60. FAB FINDS
TO THE LAKE
68. LAKE Q&A
11. LETTERS TO THE
73. LAKE PROPERTY
EDITOR
74. HEALTHY LIVING
12. LAKE SCENES
77. BEHIND THE BOAT
16. WHERE IS LAKE?
78. LMRA
18. LAKE EVENTS
80. BIG CATCHES
20. LAKE MARTIN NEWS
83. CHEF'S TABLE
22. GEO 101
84. FROM THE CELLAR
36. NATURE OF THE LAKE
87. PRO TIPS & TEE TALK
Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.issuu.com.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 7
8 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month
June 2016 June 2013 June 2010
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
Inventory/ sales ratio
46 34 17
$447,383 $401,479 $330,941
$342,000 $339,092 $303,000
147 227 211
340 410 489
12.04 21.77 27.68
The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)
This Month's Fishing Forecast
Relicensing Fast Facts
August is a tough month for fishermen, said Randy Baker of Fish Tales Bait & Tackle in Alexander City. “There’s such hot weather in August that you should fish in the very early morning, late afternoon or night. Daytime bites are nonexistent right now,” Baker said. This is the slump month between the last of the active spawning periods and the start of the fall cool down. With daytime water temperatures hitting 80-plus degrees, most fish have gone too deep to be easily caught. Fish are more active in early morning or evening and can most likely be found on river ledges or in the cool shadows beneath bridges. A good bet for night fishing is to hang a rod off a dock with lights. “Mostly plastic baits will work for striper in August,” said Baker. “Catfish can still be caught with live bait.” Crickets are a draw for bream, if you can find them. Luckily, the slump won’t last forever. Fishermen need only wait a few weeks. “It’s going to be a slow month,” said Baker. “But normally in mid-September things will pick back up when it starts to cool down a little.”
In addition to authorizing Alabama Power Company to operate and maintain its 182.5-megawatt Martin Dam Hydroelectric Project, the new license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last December required the power company to implement the Tallapoosa portion of the Alabama Drought Response Operating Proposal (ADROP). A regionally coordinated drought management plan, ADROP could guide operation of the hydroelectric project - and water levels on the lake - during low inflow or drought conditions. Essentially, ADROP authorizes lower lake levels during drought conditions. The plan came into play this summer when precipitation levels for the Lake Martin area dropped from the normal May and June rainfall amounts of 4.33 and 4.45 inches, respectively, to 1.74 and 2.45 inches. Just before the Fourth of July holiday, Alabama Power released an alert indicating the water levels on area lakes, including Lake Martin, could be impacted if significant rainfall was not received soon. This ADROP trigger came after more than half of the days in the month of June recorded no precipitation at all. Weather patterns recently have brought rainfall almost daily this month, and though accummulation remains low, July's precipitation is expected to slightly surpass that of June.
Lake Levels During the Last month
Lake Martin's Weather Outlook for August
Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.12 Lowest: 489.37 Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and water-related equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions. For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https://lakes.alabamapower.com.
Year to Date
Precipitation: 28.83 inches Avg. high temp.: 73.4 Avg. low temp.: 49 Average temp.: 61.2
Our Normal August Precipitation: 4.5 inches Avg. high temp.: 89.9 Avg. low temp.: 68.4 Average temp.: 79.2 AUGUST 2016
August 2016 Forecast
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s with lows in the high 60s to lower 70s and about 4.5 inches of precipitation in the month of August. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be remain above average this month with slightly below average rainfall. Information from the National Weather Service.
LAKE 9
For Every Stage Of Life NEW LOCATION! Established in 1991, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery is proud to announce we’re expanding into YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Located just outside of Elmore Community Hospital, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery will begin treating patients in WETUMPKA, ALABAMA. Make Your Appointment today!
Gynecology • Obstetrics
Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy Performed by: Paula Sullivan, D.O.
Joseph Desautels, M.D.
525 Ho spital Driv e, Suite B , We tu m p k a , A L 3 6 0 9 2 • 3 3 4 -2 7 9 -9 3 3 3 W W W . O B G Y N M O N T G O M E RY. C O M
Looking for the perfect Lake Martin Area home?
Contact us today.
73 PINE POINT POINT, TRILLIUM 5 BR, 4.5 BA • $1,699,000
499 OLD STILL ROAD 4 BR, 3.5 BA • $840,000
419 PINE POINT POINT, TRILLIUM 5 BR, 4.5 BA • $1,075,000
5 BR, 4 BA W/OFFICE • $969,900
56 WIND WIN IND D HOLLOW HOLL HO LLOW OW
POINT POIN PO OINT T WI WIND WINDY NDY Y DR DRIV DRIVE IVE E
650 SHORELINE DRIVE
5 BR, 4.75 BA • $769,500
5 BR, 5.5 BA • $715,000
AMANDA SCROGGINS amanda@amandascroggins.com www.amandascroggins.com 256-749-6634
4 BR, 4.5 BA • $569,500
SAMANTHA SPURLIN sam@samanthaspurlin.com www.samanthaspurlin.com 256-786-0650
office 256.329.LAKE (5253) • 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
10 LAKE
375 WINDY WOOD
467 WINDY WOOD
5 BR, 5.5 BA • $1,095,000
AUGUST 2016
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I was driving my small runabout boat from the Real Island area toward Kowaliga on the afternoon of July 16 and passed a very large boat going the opposite direction. The wake of the large boat created waves so big that my boat was lifted and then dropped into the trough of the wake, causing me to become airborne then land very hard on my rear. I was in such pain that I was lying on the floor of my boat unable to move. Fortunately, some good Samaritans – Bill Azar and Chris McGee – rescued me and called an ambulance, which took me to Russell Medical Center where I spent two nights and received excellent care. The diagnosis was that I had compression fractures of two vertebrae. I am taking multiple pain meds and will have to wear a brace for six weeks. I am writing to you because I would like for other drivers of small boats to be aware of this danger. Also, I hope publishing my story would help in the cause of banning boats over a certain size from Lake Martin. John Dunbar, Prattville, Alabama Dear Editor: I am pleased to inform you that LMRA’s Board has expanded its membership benefits to include access to APCO (Alabama Power Company) Employees Credit Union (the “Credit Union”). The Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full service, closed field of membership financial institution that serves employees of Alabama Power, Southern Company, Southern Nuclear, Southern Company Services and SouthernLinc along with a number of other organizations. LMRA has recently been added to the list of other organizations. The Credit Union is member owned and operated and exists to serve the financial needs of its members. Because the Credit Union is a closed field of membership credit union, it pays above market rate dividends and charges interest rates on loans and fees that are well below market. Last quarter, the Credit Union paid 1 percent on basic savings accounts. That is approximately 10 times the national average. Examples of loan rates include 1.9 percent on new car loans and a VISA Credit Card with a fixed 10.9 percent APR. The Credit Union also offers free checking accounts and historically low mortgage rates. In order to access these services, you must join the Credit Union. Membership is free. To get started, all you have to do is deposit $25 into your savings account; however, through Aug. 31, 2016, the Credit Union will fund the initial $25 deposit. The Credit Union was formed for the purpose of promoting thrift and providing a source of low cost credit for its members. Join now to start taking advantage of the Credit Union’s products and services. If you have questions about how you can join, contact Caitlin Brothers at 205-226-6896 or cbrothers@apcocu.org. -John Thompson, LMRA President
LAKE MARTIN BUILDING SUPPLY
2695 Dadeville Road
256.234.5500
Alexander City, AL
Shop Cloud Nine 24/7 www.cloudninealexcity.com Receive 20% OFF your first online purchase! Use promo code: LAKE20
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 11
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
2
4
3
5
Reader Submissions (1) Brooke Lindsey goes wake-to-wake behind the boat at Dennis Creek. (2) Tate McKelvey, 12, snapped this photo of his fishing pole after an afternoon on the dock. (3) Ella Kate rides a golf cart to lunch at Catherine's Market. (4) Jack and Lydia Schultz take in the sun on a spring afternoon at the lake. (5) This winged beauty stopped for a snack on the McClendon's property.
12 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
3
4
2 5
7
6
Reader Submissions (1) Jeanette Wade had her camera handy when this pileated woodpecker visited the deck near Governor's Island over Memorial Day weekend. (2) April Moses Boyd caught this unique perspective on the family cabin while blowing bubbles with her kids. (3) Allyson Parmer and cousin Harper Patterson prepare for some paddleboarding on the lake. (4) Macy Rose takes to the lake on Memorial Day weekend. (5) Lake Martin turns calm again after a busy, beautiful holiday weekend in this photo by Kirby Farr. (6) The Children's Harbor lighthouse watches over another perfect day at the lake. (7) Dew-laden spiderwebs glisten in the sunlight on the banks of Lake Martin's Windover subdivision.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 13
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
2
3
1
5
4
6
Reader Submissions (1) At 2 years old, Ginger and Jon Bargainer's grandson Jeb acts as a self-appointed greeter at the lake. (2) Gunner Burns enjoys a cool float on Lake Martin. (3) Jane Ellen Coker catches a wave behind the boat. (4) Brice Collins catches a bream with his grandfather, Joe McClinton. (5) Brandon Williams took this photo of some campers at Wind Creek State Park getting in one last run while the sun set over Lake Martin. (6) Will and Sara Tate Schroeder relax at Willow Point's beach over July 4th weekend. (7) Caton Oswalt took a moment to savor the beauty of a Lake Martin sunset at Trillium.
14 LAKE
7
AUGUST 2016
Luxury living on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Happiness awaits just outside Auburn University. Hidden away in the world-class golf courses at RTJ Grand National, the community of National Village offers everything you’ll need for everyday living. Reside in award-winning craftsman-style cottages, explore miles of picturesque nature trails, and enjoy multiple fishing and boating options on our lakes. Dive into the new resort pools and serve up some fun at the new tennis and pickle ball complex. Golfers will love the three courses at Grand National on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Homes from $200,000’s to over $500,000 in three distinctive neighborhoods. HOME OF BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP
nationalvillage.com 334.749.8165
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 15
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
2
4
3
5 7
Reader Submissions (1) Matt Saul and Hayes Holliday took Lake Magazine to Yosemite National Park. (2) Rick and Jane Owen and Dick and Mary Brantley Chambliss took Lake to Tuscany, Italy. (3) Jim and Helen Harber of Stillwaters took Lake to dinner in Sorrento, Italy. (4) Cortlynn Fisher took a copy of Lake on vacation to Kapolei, in Oahu, Hawaii. (5) Donna, Penelope and Mike Daniel and Amber Cleveland posed with Lake in sunny Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. (6) John Looney took this photo of daughter Maddie holding Lake on a father-daughter trip to Muscle Beach in Venice, California. (7) Chelsey and Tiffany Hall took Lake along for a stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
6 16 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
SU M M E R I S H E R E !
R
e G ot You r H e a lt h c a re C o v ’ e W . . . ve r ela x
e d!
NOW OPEN Specializing in Women’s (Gynecology, Hormone Therapy, etc.), Men’s & Pediatric Health, DOT Physicals and Laser Hair Removal FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK!
Friday 8:00am-12:00pm 2129 Moonbrook Drive • Dadeville AL 36853 (Inside the StillWaters Welcome Centre)
256-827-1489 Laura R Daniel CRNP-FNP
Please Join Dr. Robert Bartel And Staff In Welcoming April Dye To The Lake Martin Family Medicine Team.
April C. Dye CRNP • Associate Degree Nursing, Southern Union Community College, 2004 • Bachelor of Science Nursing, Auburn University Montgomery, 2014 • Master of Science Nursing, Auburn University, 2016 • Nationally Certified thru the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Mon, Tue, Thur - 8:00am - 5:00pm • Wed - 8:00am - 2:00pm • Fri - 8:00am - Noon 301 Mariarden Road, Suite B, Dadeville, AL • 256-825-7164 www.ivycreekhealth.com AUGUST 2016
LAKE 17
Aug. 5 Friday On The Green
This Friday’s free concert on the Russell Crossroads Town Green will feature The Bank Walkers from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs, kids and pets for live music, lawn games and time with family and friends.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN
Rexton Lee will open this year's summer ender at The Amp Labor Day weekend
Aug. 6 Russell Marine’s Riverfront Wake Battle
The best wakeboard and wakeskate riders in the Southeast will battle it out for $7,000 in prizes at the Riverfront in Montgomery. For information, visit www. RussellMarine.net or call 256794-1397.
The summer concert series at The AMP comes to a dramatic close with the final event of the year, featuring Rexton Lee, The Bank Walkers, The Alabama Gamblers and The Vegabonds. This annual concert is the unofficial end to the summer, and the tradition is to finish the season with a great time. This year will be no exception. Visit The AMP on Lake Martin on Facebook, www.theamponlakemartin.com or call 256-397-1019 for details to come on this year’s concert event.
This Friday’s free concert on the Russell Crossroads Town Green will feature Sid Phelps from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs, kids and pets for live music, lawn games and time with family and friends.
Aug. 13 ACHRC Fundraiser
Join the Alex City Horse Riding Club at the club arena of the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex at 1 p.m. as they welcome the East Alabama Horsemen’s Association for this fundraising event. To learn more visit www.achrc.com or call Andy Housch at 205-334-4882.
Aug. 19 Friday On The Green
This Friday’s free concert on the Russell Crossroads Town Green will feature shadowood from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs, kids and pets for live music, lawn games and time with family and friends.
This Friday’s free concert on the Russell Crossroads Town Green will feature The Bank Walkers from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs, kids and pets for live music, lawn games and time with family and friends.
18 LAKE
The Community Garden Club members will be up early cooking pancakes for all to enjoy from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. on holiday weekend Saturdays. Come by the Artist’s Cabin and feed the family and help out the garden club.
Sept. 4 Labor Day Weekend Concert at The AMP
Aug. 12 Friday On The Green
Sept. 2 Friday On The Green
Sept. 3 Russell Crossroads Community Garden Club Pancake Breakfast
Sept. 12 Horizons Unlimited
Storyteller Dolores Hydock will be the featured guest for this Horizons Unlimited meeting. Join Hydock for It’s the Little Things, a journey from the Arctic Sea to Singapore for the story of five tiny things that changed history in unexpected ways. This event will run from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Alexander City Board of Education building at 375 Lee St. Membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple and grants entrance to every event in the semester.
Season-Long Events Strand Sessions
Free live music and fun await in Alexander City’s Strand Park each Thursday through Aug. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your own coolers, chairs and blankets and enjoy this hometown concert series sponsored by the Lake Martin Young Professionals.
Bowling Pin Shoot
The Alexander City Shooting Club holds competitive bowling pin matches on the third Sunday of each month through October. Everyone is welcome to the range at Coley Creek Road to watch for free. Cost to participate is
AUGUST 2016
$10 per shooter per gun. Matches begin at 2 p.m. Upcoming dates are Aug. 14, Sept. 18 and Oct. 16. For information, call Woody Baird at 256-329-0080 or visit www.alexandercityshootingclub.com.
Trade Day, Millerville
Find clothes, dishes, artwork, antiques and flower arrangements, refreshments and military uniforms at the Millerville Trade Day the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Bibb Graves School on Highway 9. For information, call Doris Stewart at 256-839-5254.
Electronics Recycling
The City of Alexander City Public Works Department will host an electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in conjunction with the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership. Electronics contain a number of harmful chemicals. The events give citizens a chance to get rid of old and outdated electronics without risking the water supply by sending them to a landfill. Items accepted include desktop or laptop computers, computer mouse, keyboards, modems or routers, CDs and DVDs, power supplies, PC mix systems, home or cell phones, printers or copiers, mainframe servers, TVs, audio/video adapters, laptop chargers, cable boxes and nickel cadmium or lithium ion batteries. There is a $10 fee per television. For more information, call Sabrina Wood at 334-429-8832 or Amanda Thomas at 256-409-2020.
Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit
The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display at the Alexander City Board of Education building all year long. The BOE is located at 375 Lee Street.
Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store
Located on Highway 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children's Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.
Real Island Supper
The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month (2nd Friday in December) at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are “themed,” so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.
Antique Car Cruise-in
On the first Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts cruise into Arby’s parking lot on Highway 280 in Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join the fun and enjoy an era of classic cars and classic music.
Charity Bingo
Play charity bingo at Jake's Restaurant at 16 Broad St., Alexander City, at 6 p.m. every Thursday night. Cards are $1 and proceeds benefit local charities.
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours
Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. Your children will love every minute. Check the calendar at Calendar. RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.
Yoga On The Green
With The Stables as a back-drop, the Town Green is the perfect place to discover your inner being through yoga at 7 a.m. every Saturday through Oct. 1. Great for beginners and the experienced; just bring your mat and water bottle.
Wine Tastings
Come by Catherine’s Market at Russell Crossroads for wine tastings on Fridays through Sept. 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sample a variety of wines for $5, and then apply that $5 to your purchase of a bottle of your favorite flavor from the night’s sampling.
Church of the Living Waters
Everyone is invited to attend services by guest pastors all summer long at Church of the Living Waters at Stillwaters. All services begin at 9 a.m. and are casual in attire. Communion will be served Sept. 4. Come by boat, car or bicycle and worship on the water! For details, call 256-8259808. Aug. 7: Rev. Ed Hornig Aug. 14: Rev. Tommy Greer Aug. 21: Dr. Roy Hornsby Aug. 28: Dr. Joel Richardson Sep. 4: Rev. Carment Falcione
Church in the Pines
Services are held at 9 a.m. each Sunday at the outdoor chapel at Kowaliga, across State Route 63 from Children’s Harbor. Lake services are casual. Come by car or boat to worship and fellowship on the beautiful shores of Lake Martin. Aug.7: Charles Gattis, United Methodist Aug. 14: Belon Friday, United Methodist, Bear Creek Aug. 21: Robert Smith Aug. 28: Mark Jackson, Mulder Memorial United Methodist, Wetumpka Sept. 4: Mickey Morgan, United Methodist, Birmingham Sept. 11: John Coleman, Church of the Ascension, Montgomery Sept. 18: John Mann, United Methodist, Dadeville Sept. 25: Mike Holy, Bluff Park United Methodist, Birmingham
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 19
Lake Martin News Social Media Saves the Day
LMRA's John Thompson presents a check to Jay Taylor
Alexander City’s Jay Taylor was just looking for a good camping spot for he and his wife when he noticed it. “We found this spot,” Taylor said. “It was nice and flat, overlooking the lake. It was gorgeous.” But a little further down the road Taylor noticed something that was disturbing. “We drove around a bend and trash was just everywhere,” Taylor said. “We got out and looked around at it all.” Taylor had found an illegal dump near Bay Pine Road, but instead of just finding it and leaving, Taylor decided to do something about it. “We found mail,” Taylor said. “Not just one piece, but piece after piece with the same two names on it.” Next Taylor did what a lot of people are doing recently – posting to social media. “I put it on Facebook,” Taylor said. “From there it took on a life of its own. People were blowing up my phone, some from as far away as Wisconsin.” But Taylor did not just leave it to social media. He went a step further and reported his findings to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department. “Taylor sent it to us through email and Facebook,” Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said. “A lot of times, people will not say anything.” Sheriff Abbett is asking for the public’s help when they see something. “If you see something, say something,” Abbett said. “Whether it is trash or something else. Everyone has to step up when they see something and take responsibility to say something.” Saturday Abbett joined the Lake Martin Resource Association’s John Thompson to give Taylor a reward under the LMRA’s Report a Litterer program. Thompson commented that recently social media has been a big help in cleaning up illegal dumps around the lake. “Two good things have happened with social media about cleanup,” Thompson said. “This cleanup and the one at Fox Creek.” Taylor had his own motivation for reporting the illegal dump. “It is so hard to find spots like this because of trash being thrown out,” Taylor said. “There is hardly anywhere to go anymore because of this.” That motivation caused Taylor to report it and get involved in the cleanup. It was not until later that Taylor knew of the reward from LMRA.
No Thankless Job
As diving members of the Alex City Rescue Squad for years, Ken Cowart and Jerry Whetstone were part of a recent training exercise at Church in the Pines, practicing their skills and teamwork. “We have to stay ready,” Whetstone said. “You have to be ready all of the time.” The training allows them to hone their abilities to respond quickly if they get the call to help find drowning victims or assist law enforcement in finding evidence. “Jerry and I went out to Fox Creek on a drowning when a storm was coming up,” Cowart said. “There was a boy who had drowned. Lightning was starting to pop all around. The training lets you know your limitations.” “We rushed because the water was going to come up,” Whetstone said. “If we had not found him or stood around and waited on the storm, he may have gotten washed out.” Cowart said. “We might not have been able to find him for a while. But we went in and found him within 10 minutes.” The countless hours of training require some help. On this mission, James ‘Cowboy’ Bailey was there to help. His mission was to help the divers stay in line from a boat just like in a real rescue. “Today’s mission is find a watch,” Cowart said. “Cowboy is going to go out in the slough and drop it and help keep us in line.” Whetstone recalled a time of finding a father who tried to rescue his sons. All three had drowned. “What has repaid me for all the diving I have done over the years was the words from the grandfather of a victim,” Whetstone said. “He said, ‘thank you for finding my boys. I am thankful they did not have to stick them with the hooks to find them.’” Cowart recalled a holiday incident. “We had a rescue in Tallassee on a Mother’s Day,” Cowart said. “After recovering the body, we got a hug that day from the victim’s mother. She told us it was the best Mother’s Day gift in the world, you found my son. How do you respond to that? You can’t. That hug and statement was thanks enough.” ~ Cliff Williams Rescue Squad members look for a watch to train
~ Cliff Williams 20 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Racers pull in to shore in a Sun Festival paddling event
Wind Creek Hosts Sun Festival Family Day at the Lake
Wind Creek State Park July 24 hosted several hundred people who turned out for the Sun Festival opening weekend activities on the lake. In addition to paddling races, beach volleyball tournament, fishing, a mini triathlon, sailing lessons, a block party and a hot dog eating contest at the park, officials at Wind Creek waived the admission fee for the day, allowing patrons to use the picnic areas, beach, hiking trails and other amenities free of charge. The weeklong Sun Festival celebration included 60 events over eight days of celebration. ~ Mitch Sneed A pair of boys hone their sailing skills during the Dixie Sailing Club's lessons at the lake
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 21
At 90 years old this year, Lake Martin is 44,150 acres of clear water and great quality of life
22 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Lake Martin
The features, resources and wildlife that define our lake
63
Timbergut Landing
22
280
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Alexander City
Camp ASCCA
9 Flint Hill Church 280
49 22
Jacksons Gap Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
280 Pleasant Grove Church
11
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
63
Dadeville
Bethel Church
128
Russell Farms Baptist Church
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church
57
280 New Hope Church
20
Liberty Church
Camp Hill
Smith Landing Willow Point
Pleasant Ridge Church
24
34
63 Camp Alamisco
Equality
Kowaliga Boat Landing
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters
The Ridge
55
Seman
Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis
Trillium
Stillwaters
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor The Amp Ko
wa
lig
a Ba
y
Walnut Hill 50
80
9
Central
90
50
Union
Union Church
Red Hill 63
49 229
Eclectic
GEOGRAPHY 101 Tallassee
Kent
Reeltown
STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 23
A
t 31 miles long and more than 150 feet deep in places, Lake Martin covers 44,150 acres and includes 880 miles of shoreline, though the hydroelectric plant for which the lake was made occupies only 1.39 acres at the lake’s southernmost point. The lake was created through the construction of Martin Dam, located at Cherokee Bluffs on the Tallapoosa River’s 92nd mile. GPS coordinates for Lake Martin are 32 degrees 45 minutes 59.37 second North and 85 degrees 54 minutes 3.85 seconds West. The reservoir was built over igneous and metamorphosed rocks that are projected to be 570 to 240 million years old with linear ridges that resulted from tectonic movement 500 million years ago. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Final Environmental Impact Statement of April 2015, there is no indication of any movement in the last 200 million years. Soils in the lake area range from fine clay to coarse sand and gravel with loamy sand being the most common. The total drainage area of Lake Martin is about 3,000 square miles, including parts of northern Georgia and east central Alabama. The reservoir is formed by a 2,255-footlong concrete gravity and earth dike dam that includes 20 spillway gates. Four Francis turbines with a total capacity of 182.5 megawatts are used to generate about 375,614 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. Typically, the water level of Lake Martin fluctuates according to specified rule curves between 481 and 491 feet, mean sea level. While hydroelectric generation is the lake’s primary purpose, other benefits of the project include flood control, recreation, water supplies and downstream navigational flow. Alabama Power Company operates the dam by the authority of a license renewed most recently on Dec. 17, 2015, by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The license will be due for renewal in 30 years. The lake stretches nearly 10 miles from east to west as 24 LAKE
the crow flies and includes two operational bridges, one on U.S. Highway 280 over the Tallapoosa River bed between Dadeville and Alexander City and the other on State Route 63 over Big Kowaliga Creek. Once known as the world’s largest man-made body of water, Lake Martin reaches its picturesque fingers into three counties – Tallapoosa, Elmore and Coosa counties – in East Central Alabama. Fishermen know Lake Martin as an infertile, clear water reservoir of sport and baitfish with the most fertile area in the northeastern region of the lake. With its numerThe 2,255-foot Martin Dam ous steep, rocky bluffs, holds back the Tallapoosa Lake Martin includes River to create the lake large areas of deep, open water, as well as shallow sloughs. These deep, open water areas are excellent for striped bass fishing while the areas of low fertility are popular for recreational fishing of more than 75 species, including largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. The area is home to typical wildlife species of the Piedmont region, including bobwhite quail, wild turkey, copperhead and white-tailed deer and a variety of resident songbirds, such as eastern bluebird and downy woodpecker, along with numerous migrant species of warblers, hummingbirds and more. The lake area also hosts osprey, American kestrel, several species of hawks and owls and bald eagles. Recreational use of the lake emcompasses fishing, boating – including kayaking and canoeing – water sports and swimming, an $89 million industry supported by 12 marinas, several restaurants and numerous retail stores. The lake area includes 58 recreational sites with 26 of these located at or on the water, comprising 195 picnic tables, six swimming areas and 24 boat launch lanes. Popular off-water activities around the lake include hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding and picnicking. One state park is located on the water’s edge. Wind Creek State Park, at 1,445 acres, offers more than 600 campsites, cabins, boat launches, hiking trails, playgrounds and designated picnic areas. The park frequently hosts fishing tournaments and educational programs.
AUGUST 2016
Center photo: The lighthouse at Children's Harbor; Clockwise from top left: Acapulco Rock; Kowaliga Bridge; Kowaliga Marina; Wind Creek State Park; The River Bridge; The restored fire tower on Smith Mountain.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 25
New children’s book on the lake From A to Z, Porterfield-Graves book showcases all there is to love about Lake Martin
A
STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
t 33 pages, the A-Z illustrated guide to life on the lake, Find Your Heart in Lake Martin, by Katie Hines Porterfield and illustrated by Lila Graves, is a delightful gem for the young, the young at heart and anyone with a soft spot for Lake Martin. Author Katie Hines Porterfield was raised in Atlanta, but her parents hailed from small Alabama towns. Spending summers at the Russell cabin leased by her father’s family kindled in her a lifelong love of Lake Martin. Porterfield attended The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. “I wrote for magazines and newspapers,” said Porterfield. “When I had my kids, I stopped working full time. Then I started thinking about children’s books.” Porterfield’s first book, Sewanee A to Z, was a celebration of the university domain that she loved. “After that one did really well, I thought, the next place that’s close to my heart is Lake Martin,” said Porterfield. Her first book employed a local artist as illustrator, so Porterfield began the search for someone else that knew and loved the lake as much as she did. Lila Graves’ name was the first one that came up. The Alexander City based artist is a local celebrity for her whimsical, colorful paintings, and Porterfield realized the choice was obvious. “My cousin is actually friends with Lila’s sister-in-law. I told her, ‘you have to get me in touch with her!’” said Porterfield. This project not only brought the author and illustrator together as friends but also helped to rekindle a long-lost connection between their families. As it turned out, when Porterfield expressed her desire to work with Graves, her father revealed that Porterfield’s grandfather, Judge Bill Hines, had been a close friend of Dee Graves, Lila Graves’ grandfather. Porterfield relayed this information to Graves during one of their first phone conversations. “When I asked Lila if she would do it, I dropped the grandfather thing in at the end, just to seal the deal,” Porterfield said. It was an offer Graves couldn’t refuse. The two met in person for the first time in the summer of 2015. They brainstormed over Otter Pops in Graves’ Alexander City home, and then drove around town, chatting about the book and getting to know one another. “The thing about Lila is that when you first meet her, you feel like you’ve known her forever. She’s so open, she shares everything,” said Porterfield. The feeling was mutual. “We were like best friends the first second we met. It was so easy!” Graves said.
26 LAKE
That friendship grew through the yearlong process of writing and illustrating the book. First came the text. Porterfield’s cheerful rhymes highlight all the best parts of spending time at Lake Martin, from waterside rope swings to trail rides and pizza at Chuck’s. Graves drew up sketches to go along with the scenes Porterfield described. Then, the pair met at Porterfield’s family cabin and laid out all the images. “They all looked pretty good, but there was one that was just awesome,” said Graves. “So then, all the others had to measure up. That’s where I started having to really work. The rest was easy and fun.” Graves tweaked and tinkered with paintings for months, mailing them to Porterfield for feedback when the two couldn’t meet in person. The process took time, but Porterfield said she didn’t mind. “You can’t fault someone for wanting to get it perfect. I’m a perfectionist myself, so I really appreciated that,” she said. Graves also faced challenges (albeit enjoyable ones) in the rendering of visual expressions to certain aspects of lake life. “I had to figure out how to convey a rainy day on the lake,” she said. “It’s that lavender sky. The one in the book shows the rain as it moves across the lake.” On the surface, Graves’ illustrations are simple, but those who look closely will see the details that fill her illustrations, such as the elusive insects hidden throughout the book, sending readers on something of a treasure hunt to find them all. “With my other book, we had an eagle that you could look for in the pictures, like a Where’s Waldo thing. It adds another element to it,” said Porterfield. Graves’ illustration of a Chimney Rock jumper holds a secret of its own: The graffiti on the rock actually includes the initials and birth dates of Graves’ and Porterfield’s family members. The same image was also screen-printed for a line of T-shirts that Graves produced for Little Black Dress, a boutique in downtown Alexander City. Little Black Dress owner Stephanie Smith also hosted a book signing for Porterfield and Graves last month where the author and illustrator discussed the project with their readers, noting the joy that Find Your Heart in Lake Martin brought them. “We both have investments in this, for sure,” said Graves. “Time and love and heart investments.” Find Your Heart in Lake Martin and the corresponding shirts are available at Little Black Dress in Alexander City, The Company Store at Russell Crossroads and Lakeside Mercantile at highways 49 and 30. The book can be pre-ordered at mascotbooks.com. The book sells for $17.95. T-shirts are $20; tank tops are $25.
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 27
28 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 29
Aaaah-ah-ah-ah-aa 30 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Lake Martin's Tarzan Boat operates out of The Landing at Parker Creek
Tarzan Boat comes to Parker Creek STORY BY MITCH SNEED PHOTOS BY MITCH SNEED & VIVIAN AUTRY
a h h -ah-ah-ahhh! a a AUGUST 2016
LAKE 31
A swimmer springs from a Tarzan Boat trampoline ...
flips forward ...
completes her turn ...
lays out ...
and hits the water
32 LAKE
A
little bit of the jungle has come to Lake Martin as a floating aquatic playground known as a Tarzan Boat made a big splash at its debut last month. The boat that features slides, a rope swing, trampolines, platform dives and a massive sun deck opened for business July 23 at The Landings at Parker Creek. Judging from the smiles and responses from those who were on the maiden excursion, Herb Winches and Randy Visser have a big hit on their hands. “It was the best time we have ever had on the lake,” said Katherine Boland who has been coming to Lake Martin with her family every summer for six years from Tallassee, Florida. “I mean the kids just loved it and we all did. We love the lake, but having this here now, I know the kids won’t want to wait to do this again.” The boat is one that is manufactured and is now in use at locations all across the country, including in Orange Beach. The boat can handle up to 40 occupants, and they have plenty to keep them busy. Visser and Winches teamed up to purchase and bring the boat to the area. On weekends, the boat is located at Winches restaurant, The Landing at Parker Creek, and for $20 each, those who journey out can jump, dive, swing and slide for an hour. A new voyage takes off every hour on the hour. “We opened here a year ago and in that time we’ve been very fortunate,” Winches said. “But when Randy came to me with this idea, I felt like it was the perfect thing to bring another element to this side of the lake. So we have it here on the weekends, and people can come here to enjoy it. Judging from what we saw on that first weekend, people seem to be excited about it.” On weekdays, the boat is available for private parties and since it is motorized, they can even bring the boat to you. Visser said the calls have been flooding in for requests for birthday parties and all sorts of gatherings at the lake. A party rental is $675 for three hours, Visser said and they have already started booking dates. To book a party, Visser suggested visit www.tarzanboatz.com. “It’s a floating, mobile water park,” Visser said. “That first weekend far exceeded our expectations. Without any real advertising, we have had calls and requests flooding in. We are really excited about the reaction that people have had. “When we decided to do this, the idea was to make Parker Creek and the Tarzan Boat the Chimney Rock of our side of the lake. From what we are seeing, we think that is just what we may have with this.” The boat is decked out with a Gorilla Bounce, featuring a trampoline that allows a jumper to take a 14-foot plunge into the lake. The Monkey Bounce gives swimmers an 8-foot plunge, and the Tarzan Swing will allow participants to swing out from 12 feet above the water and drop into the lake. There is also a 6-foot platform dive for less adventurous boaters, and the jungle slide offers a twisty route to the cool waters below. Henry Maxwell was with a group of 12 on the boat on its first trip on the lake. He said adults and kids couldn’t get enough. Maxwell and his group sat around a table at the restaurant talking about the dives and the belly flops that they wished they had video of to show off to others back home. “I don’t know who had more fun, the kids or the parents,” Maxwell said. “Look at the kids, they had a ball. But we all did. We may be a little sore tomorrow, but it was blast. We will definitely do this again.” Winches said that while Lake Martin is an incredible draw, he AUGUST 2016
hopes the boat will be something that makes every trip a little more memorable. “Like the group we had here from Tallahassee, they come every year,” Winches said. “They go out on the boat and tube, but this is one more thing that the parents and kids can do together. Making memories, isn’t that what Lake Martin is all about?” Making memories is exactly what Kelly and Stephen Hand had in mind for their son Rhodes Michael when they let him take a water slide ride on the Tarzan Boat. Waiting in the lake at the bottom of the slide, they held out their arms as reassurance when the 2-year-old hit the water, but Rhodes - already comfortable in the water just wanted to know when he could come back. “They want to do the Tarzan Boat every time they come to the lake now,” said his grandmother, Vivian Autry. Visser said that while the business plan does include covering expenses, he and Winches plan to donate a portion of profits to charity. “This isn’t about us getting rich,” Visser said. “We want to bring fun and raise the profile of this side of the lake and give back if we can.” To get to Parker Creek, take Highway 9 to Equality and then take a left on Coosa County Road 2. Go about 6 miles, following the signs to Parker Creek Marina, and it will lead you to where the Tarzan Boat calls home.
Kelly and Stephen Hand catch Michael Rhodes coming off the slide
The Tarzan Boat features trampolines, platforms, a rope swing and sun deck
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 33
34 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
We’ve Got You Covered
Now with 3 Locations to Serve You
Birmingham 10396 Highway 280 East Westover, AL 35185 205-678-4321
Smith Lake 21680 County Road 222 Crane Hill, AL 35053 256-286-0050
Huntsville 15904 Highway 231 North Hazel Green, AL 35750 256-828-3590
RamboMarine.com
CUSTOM DOCKS
LET’S BUILD Office (256) 268-8309 | Visit us at customdocksllc.com AUGUST 2016
LAKE 35
Eastern Fence Lizard
Y
ou walk up to a fallen tree or a woodpile and hear it – that dry scurrying sound that is often the first indication that an Eastern Fence Lizard is nearby. Fence lizards, very often called pine lizards here in Alabama, are probably the second most common lizards found in our area. In the Lake Martin area, the American Anole, which is often called a “chameleon,” usually ranks No. 1, depending on the local terrain. If you’re around fences, logs, rocks and the edges of forests, the Eastern Fence Lizard might be more plentiful. And the reason these gray lizards are often heard before seen is that they spend a lot of time basking in the sun on top of log piles and rocks, where they can see you coming from quite a distance and where their camouflage makes it hard for you to see them first. Eastern Fence Lizards are usually gray, brown or rusty red in color. The patterns of these colors vary depending on where the lizards live and their genders. Males during breeding season have a bright blue throat and belly. Females typically have a series of dark wavy lines across their backs, like the one pic36 LAKE
tured here. These lizards are relatively thick-bodied and can reach a length of almost 7½ inches. Their average weight is about half an ounce. The Eastern Fence Lizard – Sceloporus undulates – is one of many closely related subspecies, including the Southern Fence Lizard, the Southern Prairie Lizard, the White Sands Prairie Lizard, the Northern Prairie Lizard, the Northern Fence Lizard, the Southern Plateau Lizard and the RedLipped Prairie Lizard. The lizard in our area ranges from New York to Texas and Colorado to mid-Florida. A wide range of bugs make up this lizard’s diet: ants, lady bugs, spiders, grasshoppers, stink bugs, centipedes, beetles as well as some vegetation and a snail or two. Eastern Pine Lizards spend most of their days basking and moving from place to place with the sun to regulate body temperature. They typically hunt for food twice a day. Once the body’s temperature is up, this lizard can move very quickly. These lizards are preyed upon by predatory birds,
AUGUST 2016
NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE
snakes – such as cottonmouths, king snakes and rat snakes – other lizards and domestic cats and dogs. They are commonly pestered by chiggers, which attach to them as parasites. Like squirrels, Eastern Fence Lizards flee up the trunk of a tree when pursued by predators, stopping on the opposite of the tree. If the predator circles around, the lizard will continue to corkscrew higher up the trunk to safety. Male Eastern Fence Lizards can be aggressive during breeding season when they show off their blue undersides by bobbing their heads and doing pushups to warn other males that are entering their territory. They use their blue throats and bellies to attract females in the spring mating season as well, and they also have a chemical love potion – a pheromone secreted from their anal gland that the gals find enticing. Fence lizards are not monogamous. In fact, they have a love ‘em and leave ‘em habit; males and females don’t hang out together after mating season. Females deposit their eggs – a clutch of 3 to 16 at a time
– a couple of inches under the soil, and the young lizards hatch out after about 10 weeks. While the first-time moms usually lay a single clutch in a year, older gals can have as many as four clutches of eggs a summer. Mother lizards treat their offspring the same as their boyfriends … no contact after the eggs are laid. Eastern Fence Lizards reach maturity at 1 to 2 years old and live roughly 4 to 5 years. Interestingly, studies have shown that these lizards have evolved longer legs since the fire ant arrived in America at the Port of Mobile around 1918. Fire ants can kill a Fence Lizard in less than a minute. Eastern Fence Lizards make good pets in a terrarium with a UV light bulb. They typically like daily misting with water and lots of fresh drinking water. They should be fed 3-4 times a week with 3-4 live crickets at each feeding. Information for this article came from the www.animaldiversity.org, which is part of the University of Michigan; the National Wildlife Federation and www.lizardtypes.com.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 37
A family of five jumped overboard, along with their dog, when their boat caught fire near Bay Pines over July Fourth weekend
No Serious Injuries in Two July Boat Fires STORY BY MITCH SNEED PHOTOS BY RON RICHARD & MITCH SNEED
S
inged hair and minor burns were the only injuries after two separate boat fire incidences on Lake Martin last month. The first fire occurred July 3 when a family of five and their pet Brittany Spaniel went overboard to escape the flames when the the back of boat caught fire. The second fire, which occurred more than two weeks later, involved the some of the same people who responded to the distress call in the first fire. At about 2 p.m. early in the month, the boat was in an area not far from Bay Pines across from Young Island when a fire broke out in the area of the engine. Two adults, two teens, a toddler and the dog were all on the 2006 Correct Craft, which was a complete loss. “We are all OK,” said Nicki Bryant, who stood at Wind Creek Marina with her family after being brought back to safety by Marine Police. “Thank heaven for so many good people on the lake.” All five members of the Sylacauga family and the dog 38 LAKE
went overboard quickly and were picked up by a nearby boat. Two marine police boats, a TowBoatU.S. boat and countless other private boats came to help the family as black smoke billowed high into the air and could be seen from more than 2 miles away. The passengers and dog were able to get safely off the boat, while water was sprayed on the white ski boat. “When we got there we started to tow the boat so that it could not drift and get to a residence and cause damage,” said Jackson Dozier of TowBoatU.S. “We then used the fire hose to extinguish the blaze. We then towed what was left to a boat ramp and put it on of one our trailers to put in storage.” The family was loaded on one Marine Police boat, while the other escorted the towboat as it pulled what remained of the charred shell of the boat away from the area. “It’s something you never dream of happening to you,”
AUGUST 2016
who had fires, that one just a few weeks ago,” Dozier said. Bryant said. “It’s still kind of hard to believe, but we are “I never thought it would happen to us, but you never all here and no one was hurt. That’s the main thing.” It is still too early to determine a cause of the fire, but it know. It doesn’t take much with gas fumes.” Black smoke could be seen billowing up into the air for started in the rear area of the boat and the upholstery was miles away from the Eiland Drive area off Shady Point the first thing to go up in flames. Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate that fire. where the boat was in the water. The boat, which had been the main one used and the Then on July 21, Dozier found himself on the site of fastest Dozier used in his business, appears to be a total a boat fire as his own vehicle exploded during a routine loss. maintenance check. The Twin Vee boat owned and used as a part of Jackson Gasoline fumes ignited when a battery Dozier’s TowBoatU.S. business cable sparked during regular maintenance exploded and burst into flames of a TowBoat U.S. vessel as he worked to get the boat ready for what was expected to be a busy weekend. “We have gas cans on the boat and with the heat, the vapors build up and leak off,” Dozier said as he watched firefighters douse the charred remains of his boat. “We went to put cables on a battery to charge it up and it just went up. It was unbelievable.” Neither of the two men working on the boat were seriously injured, although there was some singed hair and minor burns. Dozier said they both hit the water and sprinted to get away. “We’ve helped some other Marine Police provide an escort as a TowBoat U.S. vessel tows the charred remains of the Bryant family's ski boat
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 39
242X Series
EDGY. EPIC. ENERGETIC. ENGINEERED FOR WAKESPORTS. • NEXT-GENERATION CONNEXT® • DUAL SWING-IN WAKESPORTS FEATURING DRIVE CONTROL RACKS AND MIRROR WITH PRE-PROGRAMMABLE • DRIVE BY WIRE TECHNOLOGY CUSTOM RIDE SETTINGS • ADVANCED RESPONSE • TRIPLE BALLAST SYSTEM HANDLING • PREMIUM 1,000-WATT POLK® • COLOR-MATCHED UPHOLSTERY STEREO SYSTEM • PORT SIDE ENTERTAINMENT • FORWARD-SWEPT TOWER WITH AREA SOLAR TRICKLE CHARGER AND • BOW DOCKING LIGHTS RUNNING LIGHT • PAINTED TRAILER INCLUDED
190 FSH™ Series
FOR THE FISHING ENTHUSIAST WHO LOVES HIS FAMILY AND THE FAMILY WHO LOVES TO FISH Now you can enjoy the legendary Yamaha jet boat experience and the fishing-friendly center console design all in the same boat. It has everything: Fishing Gear Storage, Aerated Livewell, Jet Wash™ Washdown System, Convertible Leaning Post, Ski Eye, and Convenient Storage Options.
Best Prices Available
40 LAKE
www.WedoweeMarine.com 256.357.2045 or 800.780.2045 AUGUST 2016
r e v o c s Di your Home
On Lake Martin
5 Eagle Ridge | $2,160,000 5 Bedrooms | 6.5 Bathrooms One-of-a-kind property - Bill Ingram Masterpiece.
90 Whispering Ridge | $1,999,900 8 Bedrooms | 8.5 Bathrooms Beautiful Property with Incredible Views.
614 Ridgeview Point | $5,750,000 7 Bedrooms | 8 Bathrooms Spectacular Sunrise to Sunset Estate!
441 Windy Wood | $870,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms Excellent setting to enjoy Lake Martin
160 Shady Lane Drive | $449,900 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Enjoy full-time, part-time or anytime living here!
209 Delilah Lane | $372,000 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Life is Good on the Lake!
515 Beach Island Trace | $315,000 4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Great waterfront inside beautiful Stillwaters!
183 Lakeview Drive | $289,000 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Lake and Leisure at Barron’s Bridge!
55 Stoney Ridge | $1,325,000 5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms Rare Ridge home situated on large point lot w/ 750+/- Ft. of shoreline!
151 North Darby | $695,000 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Fabulous Lake Martin waterfront w/ pier, boathhouse & long views.
31 Stone Ridge | $1,100,000 4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms Fabulous cottage style Home in The Ridge on Lake Martin!
695 North Ridge | $439,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms Craftsman style home in The Ridge on Lake Martin.
72 Stoney Ridge | $1,449,000 5 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bathrooms Custom Home with Privacy and grogeous views in the Ridge!
50 Shady Ridge | $1,795,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Full Baths - 2 Half Baths Cabin fabulous by McAlpine in The Ridge on Lake Maritn!
109 South Cardinal | $895,000 4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms Spectacular Lake Martin Retreat - Stillwaters
154 Narrow Leaf | $1,375,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms The finest in Lake Martin living in Trillium on Lake Martin!
The Haynie Team
Becky Haynie • 334-312-0928 | Howard Haynie • 334-312-0693 Becky@HomeOnLakeMartin.com
www.HomeOnLakeMartin.com AUGUST 2016
LAKE 41
Ride Like a Girl 10-year-old Madison Perkett gears up for a third win at Russell Marine’s Riverfront Wake Battle STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
W
hile other girls her age might be practicing their pirouettes for dance recitals or polishing tack before a horseback riding lesson, 10-yearold Madison Perkett takes a different kind of ride: She loves to jump wakes on Lake Martin. And she’s very good at it. Perkett is a two-time winner of Russell Marine’s Riverfront Wake Battle. The annual competition draws some of the most experienced wakeboarders from all over the Southeast and beyond to Montgomery each August. Perkett won first place in the Girls 12 and Under division in 2013 and 2014 (she didn’t compete in 2015). The 2013 victory was made extra sweet by the fact that judges also scored her higher on difficulty and execution of her runs than they did all
42 LAKE
the boys in the same age group. The self-possessed Perkett has been wakeboarding since the age of six. She doesn’t remember what gave her the idea, but once it got into her head, she stuck with it. “She talked about it for a little while,” said Tava Perkett, Madison’s mother. “My generation didn’t really wakeboard, so I didn’t know how to teach her.” That’s when Alex Graydon entered the picture. A wakeboarding instructor based at Singleton Marine’s Blue Creek Marina, he gave Perkett her first wakeboarding lesson. “The first day, Alex brought in a board from somebody else, and I got behind a wave runner, and we just practiced
AUGUST 2016
She'd like to master the 360 by summer's end
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 43
The highflying tail grab is her favorite trick
44 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
getting up,” Perkett said. In his 15 years of teaching, Graydon has introduced plenty of kids to wakeboarding, but he said Perkett stood out. “She’s a natural at it,” Graydon said. “The first or second time, she just hopped up.” Graydon said he approached Perkett’s training in the same way he always does with young An "awful loser," Perkett students, by making hopes to win this weekend's sure she was comwake battle fortable in the water. “Just like anything else, you start with the basics,” Graydon said. “The main thing is to make sure they’re not stepping too far out of their comfort zone. We ease them into it. But Madison definitely didn’t need to be eased in.” It wasn’t just Perkett’s natural athleticism that helped her learn quickly, but her passion for the sport. “She showed so much interest,” said Graydon. “Some kids can get the basics pretty quickly, but if they don’t have that drive, they tend to fizzle out.” In her four years of training, Perkett has mastered a collection of wakeboard tricks. Her favorite is the high-flying tail grab, in which she grasps the back of her board while soaring mid-jump over the wake. Her most recent conquest was the 360-degree frontside spin. “The 360 was hard to learn. I feel like the backside 360 will be easier now that I can do the regular frontside 360,” she said. By the end of the summer, Perkett hopes to master that backside 360, as well as other tricks that will have her flipping completely upside-down as she’s towed behind a speeding watercraft. “Madison rides about 20 to 21 miles per hour,” explained Graydon. “Usually, for kids her age, you want
to go a little slower, but she likes to go fast.” Perkett takes lessons with Graydon once or twice a week, but she practices almost daily with her mother’s help in the wind-sheltered coves near the family’s lakefront home in Dadeville. All that practice has paid off, and she looks forward to the 2016 Riverfront Wake Battle this week. She was especially pleased during the 2013 competition to have surpassed the boys in a sport that, even among younger age groups, is dominated by males. “It feels awesome,” she said. As a reward for her victory, Tava Perkett took her daughter on a trip to Orlando, Florida, where they visited Disney World and the cable park at the Orlando Watersports Complex. Cable parks hook wakeboarders and water skiers up to electronically-powered cables, so they can be pulled along without the need for boats. Perkett had strong feelings about which part of the trip was her favorite. “I liked the cable park better,” she said. “There’s not a bunch of giant characters walking around trying to hug you. That’s weird!” Perkett has also tried wake surfing, but she didn’t enjoy it as much as her sport of choice. “I don’t really view surfing like wakeboarding,” she said. “With wakeboarding, you can go to different places. You can go to cable parks and do tricks off of the cables there. I’m not sure you can go to a cable park for surfing; that’s just behind a boat.” Perkett’s outspoken love of wakeboarding has led her to recruit others to the sport, including her friends from Auburn’s Lee Scott Academy. “Some of my friends have asked me about wakeboarding. I say, ‘you need to find a day when you can
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 45
Tava Perkett pulls her daughter for a practice session
Perkett started wakeboarding at age 6
46 LAKE
come over and we can go out and just do it,’” said Perkett. She has also tried to convince her little sister, Talynn, but so far hasn’t been successful. “She likes soccer more,” Perkett explained. “She likes princesses and pink stuff. I’m different. I like blue. I like wake boarders.” The wakeboarder she looks up to the most? Perkett, looking shy for the first time in her interview, pointed across the table at Graydon as she explained that her training with him has taught her what it takes to make good wakeboarders. “They have to be really confident and willing to learn new stuff,” she said. Since her own personality and affinity for the sport perfectly matches that description, Perkett is poised to climb the wakeboarding ranks, including eventually going professional. For now, she’s set her sights on not only attending but also winning that 2016 Riverfront Wake Battle. “I’m an awful loser,” Perkett admitted. “I don’t like it at all! I get mad at myself.” Fortunately, with her skills, Perkett probably won’t have anything to be mad about. The Wake Battle will take place at Riverfront Park, Montgomery, on Sunday. For information, call 256-794-1397.
AUGUST 2016
At 7 years old, she scored higher on difficulty and execution than the boys in her division
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 47
48 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 49
Lake gear at the ready just inside the Johnsons' cabin door
50 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Tim and Dana Johnson's cabin is a mere 1,000 square feet
Simplicity Family's tiny lake cabin holds cherished memories STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
A
lexander City natives Tim and Dana Johnson have made memories at a tiny Kowaliga cabin on Lake Martin for 44 years. Tim’s aunt leased the 1,000-square foot Russell cabin in 1972, and 10 years ago, his wife and he took over the lease. Their daughters grew up there and became engaged on the pier, and the family continues to escape to the sweet, simple cabin at every opportunity. “We spend a lot of time here in the summer,” said Dana, who teaches at Jim Pearson Elementary School. Tim, with Mill-It-Up in Birmingham, works from the lake
whenever possible, spreading his paperwork across the dining table that once belonged to his aunt. When it’s time to relax, the pair pour a glass of wine from a rack Dana’s brother made and sit below the deck in metal chairs that once belonged to her grandparents. “The cabin is filled with meaning for us,” Dana said. “There’s not much ‘stuff’ here, and what is here isn’t expensive, but it’s pleasant and simple, and we love being here.” The one-bedroom cabin sleeps six comfortably. The Johnsons put a kingsized bed in the knotty-pine-paneled bedroom and a queen bed and a futon
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 51
White nautical pillows emphasize the lake theme and natural light
Dana's brother made the wine rack on the dining room wall
Pillar candles in a rough wooden box lend charm to the table
52 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
The north side of the den doubles as a lakeview bedroom
Fish-themed Adirondack chairs on the beach are a favorite haunt for the Johnsons
in the closed in lakeside porch. Dana found some of the few furnishings at local antique shops and flea markets, including the canoe bookcase in a corner and a small end table painted like a fish. The one-person kitchen includes just the bare necessities – a sink, a stove and a small microwave oven on a shelf below metal cabinets that are original to the cabin. Under a Formica breakfast bar, the Johnsons keep just enough pots, pans and serving dishes to accommodate mealtimes at the cabin, covered with muslin curtains made by their daughter. They do most of their cooking and eating outside, where an almost constant breeze blows the bugs away. “Sometimes it blows away the umbrella on the pier, too,” Dana said.
The Johnsons spend most of their cabin time outside and over the years have created the seating arrangements for lake watching, whether they take in the view of boats passing across the sunset or the wildlife – bald eagles, fox, bobcat and deer – on the spit across their slough or in the surrounding woods. When it’s just the two of them, they like to slump into the Adirondack chairs on the tiny beach, and they enjoy dinner on the pier with family or a small group of friends. But when there’s a football game on, they bring a television to the 24-foot deck they added to the cabin two years ago. The large table and lounge chairs on the deck, which nearly doubles the footprint of the original cabin, will accommodate a crowd of Auburn Tiger fans.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 53
Whimsical lake art keeps the cabin atmosphere light
Casual and uncluttered is the rule for relaxation at the lake The new deck hosts fall football parties
The small but efficient kitchen is all the family needs to prepare food at the lake
And when Children’s Harbor or Kowaliga Restaurant across the lake have outdoor music events, the Johnsons like to sit outside and listen to the music. On quiet afternoons, they might play horseshoes in the pits their son-in-law built or take a boat ride into the sloughs and fingers of the lake north of Kowaliga Bridge. All of these small improvements, as well as the addition of carpet in some of the cabin’s rooms, Tim said, had to be approved by Russell Lands. “The crew at Russell Lands is great about coming out and fixing anything,” Tim said. “They always take care of any needs we might have.” The keys to making the small space feel open
54 LAKE
and uncramped, Dana said, are natural light and no clutter. They love the wall of windows on the porch that has been turned into a den/bedroom. This view includes a glimpse up Big Kowaliga Creek to the Land Between the Lakes. They also love the triangular transoms in the dining/kitchen great room and the vaulted ceiling and exposed rafters there, which make the room feel larger. Other decorative touches – a collection of nautical pillows, a box of pillar candles and simple lakey artwork – add interest and color to the small rooms. While the cabin is comfortable and pleasant, it’s also rough with little to no storage and limited living conditions. “But that’s part of the fun,” Tim said. “We come to the lake for the simple life.”
AUGUST 2016
The dining table once belonged to Tim's aunt, who had the cabin for 34 years before the Johnson's took over the lease
Land Between the Lakes lies across Big Kowaliga Creek to the northwest
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 55
56 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 57
Square or Reef Knot Used to tie two lines together, this is a very common knot used in temporary situations.; however, like the very similar bow knot used to tie shoelaces, it has a tendency to work apart over time.
Boaters use knots to tie off a boat to a dock; tie an anchor to a line; connect a tow rope to the back of the boat for a skier or wakeboarder … or to the front of the boat for a tow back home. Knowing a few knots with specific purposes could make a day on the water easier and safer. It doesn’t take but one time swimming after a boat that’s broken loose from its mooring to get motivated to learn a few knots. A simple landlubber’s rope taken onto a boat is properly referred to as a “line.” There are hundreds of knots for use on the lake, from fishing knots to mooring knots to knots that make the best rope swings, but if you know a couple of bends (knots that tie lines together), hitches (knots that tie a moving object to a stationary one, and how to make a loop that won’t tighten down, you're off to a very good start. We also suggest visiting www.animatedknots.com or www.boatsafe.com for step-by-step directions.
Bowline The bowline is one of the most simple and useful knots for boaters. It creates a loop that will not slip under a load. And without a load, it is easy to untie.
Cleat Hitch Used for tying a boat to a cleat on a dock, this is a simple and elegant knot, though often botched by boaters. Knowing how to tie this quickly will make boating life easier. AUGUST 2016
LAKE 58
Sheet Bend This knot is used to tie two lines together and is especially useful if the lines are different thickness. Always use the thickest line to make the loop, as is pictured by the yellow line here.
Pile Hitch To tie off a boat to a short dock post, this knot is a quick and easy solution, though not reliable enough for permanent mooring.
Clove Hitch A quick, temporary way to tie off a boat to a pole. Be careful with this knot, as it has a tendency to slip and/or bind over time. Extra half hitches around the line can make it more secure.
Anchor Hitch The anchor hitch (sometimes called the Fisherman’s Hitch or Bend) is a great choice for an anchor line to an anchor. It’s a good idea to add a couple of half hitches for extra security. AUGUST 2016
LAKE 59
FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
FABULOUS FINDS
South Ridge Harbor, Brooke Ann RLH Construction just completed this elegant lake home designed by Chuck Frusterio. Owner’s retreat and guest suite are on the main level. Two great rooms, generous lake toy storage, expansive covered deck and terrace and 2-car garage completes this plan. $1,295,000. Russell Lands On Lake Martin Call Emily or Rhonda 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
South Ridge Harbor, Stone Manor A new gem completed by Newcastle Construction! Architect David Smelcer has artfully blended natural stone and wood to create an eye-catching design offering vaulted ceiling and open floor plan with 2 Master suites on main level. Three additional guest rooms on terrace level, 2 family rooms, lake prep room, and more! $1,465,000 Tour the house, take in the views, and meet the builder. Russell Lands On Lake Martin Emily or Rhonda 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
Willow Glynn, Cove Cottage Ready To Move In! Henderson & Coker just completed this beauty in Willow Glynn. A Mitch Ginn design includes owner’s suite, guest bedroom, bunkroom, and bonus loft room on main level. Expansive open kitchen-dining-living area with access to large covered porch. Lake level offers 2 guest suites, large family room, covered patio and bar for plenty of lake fun. $1,197,000. Russell Lands On Lake Martin Rhonda or Emily 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
South Ridge Harbor, Breakwater $1,575,000 Just completed by Newcastle Construction and designed by David Smelcer. This 3,825 sq. ft. five bedroom, four and one half bathroom plan has generous open living-diningkitchen with owner’s suite and guest suite on main level. Lake level offers three bedrooms, two baths, rec room, bunk room, and lake prep room. Covered porch and lake level patio provide lots of outdoor living space. Russell Lands On Lake Martin Rhonda or Emily 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
South Ridge Harbor, Fairwinds $1,375,000 Newcastle Construction completed this gorgeous lake home designed by David Smelcer just in time for family lake time and SEC football. Owner’s suite, guest suite, expansive open kitchen-diningliving area and spacious covered porch all with fabulous lake views. Lake level offers two additional guest suites, rec room, kitchenette and lake prep room. Upper level provides another guest suite and bonus room. With 4,043 sq. ft. on three levels, there are views from most every room. Russell Lands On Lake Martin Call Emily or Rhonda 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
55 Lakeside Village, Dadeville, AL • $369,000 Welcome to Paradise! This newly painted and professionally landscaped beauty with sprinkler system is move in ready. Purchase complete package furnished for $389,000. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath offers outside deck off living room and master. Two flagstone terraces for entertaining and plenty of storage for lake toys! Dock space and beach with no HOA fees. Granite, stainless appliances and lots of counter space. Includes additional lot across the street! Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
755 Ridgeway Drive, Eclectic • $575,000 Great family lake home to share with friends! Beautiful rock fireplace, large terrace level with room for additional bedroom. Two bedrooms on main level and large bedroom on second floor. Easy walk to the water with many outdoor entertaining areas. Easy access for families from the Montgomery area off of Hwy 229. Lake Martin Realty Amy Duncan 256.221.2222 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
664 Longpine, Eclectic • $875,000 Truly the best buy on the lake. This home boasts not only a huge view but all the upgrades you want in a home. Perfect for full time or weekend lifestyles. Call for your personal appointment! Lake Martin Realty India Davis 256.749.7592 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
200 Laurel Ridge, Alexander City • $1,225,000 Ridge on Lake Martin home with all the features-inside & out-you want & need! The home offers open living / kitchen / dining which extends out onto a covered stone deck. Large bedrooms with the Master on main level. The stone deck and patio offer easy access to Lake Martin where you will enjoy the views, waterfall, steps into the lake and large dock system. Enjoy Spring and Summer 2016 on the lake! Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
60 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
FABULOUS FINDS
219 Ridgeview Point, Alexander City • $895,000 Located in The Ridge for a great price! Move right in & enjoy this spacious home which offers family rooms on main & terrace levels. Vaulted ceilings, big windows, wood floors, open kitchen & lakeside dining make this home one to see! 5 bedrooms with waterfront views (2 on main), 4 baths, spacious garage, lakeside deck, patio, concrete seawall, pier, are just a few of the features you will love! Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
231 Lakeview Ridge, Dadeville • $635,000 Great Stillwaters home for friends and family to gather and enjoy Lake Martin! Gorgeous wide open view, big deck, high ceilings, open floor plan, terrace level game room, spacious rooms, deep water, stone retaining walls, pier and floating dock. This home has had recent updates which include the kitchen, floors, painting and more. If you are looking for a home with space and a view - This is it! Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
1880 Squaw Ridge, Eclectic • $430,000 Great cabin located in the Little Kowaliga Creek area of Lake Martin! Enjoy the lake from this 4 bedroom, 2 bath cabin with an open kitchen, eating and family room. The lakeside windows feature the lake, the view, the flat yard between the cabin and Lake Martin. The lot has 110+/- feet of waterfront, seawall, pier with covered area, and great swimming. Plan to visit soon before this one is sold! Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
35 Canoe Point, Equality • $795,000 New Construction. The Shell Cracker XL is a great terrace level floor plan designed by Mitch Ginn. Home features two bedrooms and baths on both main and terrace levels. Terrace also has game room with summer kitchen. Located in the new development of Cedar Point with large lots and incredible views. This pre-sale package includes the lot, cottage, seawall, and dock. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
139 Cedar Drive, Equality • $760,000 Proposed new construction. Plans by architect Mitch Ginn. The Spot Tail's design provides a great place to relax or entertain guests with its open living, dining and kitchen area. Located in the new development of Cedar Point. Large lots with incredible views. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
396 Holley Mill Road, Eclectic • $395,000 Beautiful custom 4 BR, 4 BA home on 10 fenced acres with barn and pond. Located in the Eclectic school district just 5 minutes from Kowaliga on Lake Martin. Home has surround sound with custom built-in entertainment center. Bonus room could be 5th bedroom. Gated entrance. If you want room for horses yet convenience to Lake Martin, look no further. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
136 Oaks Point • $929,000 Incredible custom lake home on large point lot with 424 Ft. wf. Near Hwy 280. 4 BR, 4 Bath with four car garage. Solid oak flooring and cabinets, oak panel library, home theather...Call to see today! Great Value! First Realty Call Bill Whatley 256-234-5163 www.lakemartinhomes.net
3111 Hwy 63N, Alexander City • $499,000 GREAT LOCATION, only minutes to town! Gorgeous 5BD/3.5BA home located on 50 sprawling acres! Main level features an open LR, eat-in Kit and formal DR w/wood flooring, high ceilings crown molding, granite countertops, SS appliances. Has large laundry, large office. Master suite includes his/her walk-in closets, bay window. Master BA has slate floor and shower, jacuzzi tub. Additional guest BD or that perfect nursery. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
1698 Capstone Drive, Alexander City• $679,000 SIMPLY IMPRESSIVE describes this +-5400 sq. ft. home located on 1.4 acre lot in College Heights. 5BD/4.5BA plus makes this floorplan a perfect match for a big or growing family. Rock/stone exterior, lg. rooms w/9 and 10 ft. ceilings and crown molding throughout, gourmet kit. and more! It's custom built with quality workmanship, attention to details and, as a special bonus, very low maintenance! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 61
Vandalism has long been an issue at Chimney and Acapulco rocks
62 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
This summer, graffiti has shown up at Dixie Island
Unsightly graffiti more common at the lake
T
STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
he word “graffiti” calls to mind dark city alleyways or grimy overpasses. Around Lake Martin, though, graffiti has been appearing on an evergrowing array of rocks, cliffs and landmarks. But just because the setting is different doesn’t make the defacing of public property any less of a crime. It’s a crime that local authorities are cracking down on this summer, as instances of graffiti continue to climb. Two of the most obvious examples of graffiti around the lake are the famous Acapulco Rock and its often-confused neighbor, Chimney Rock. “I’ve seen quite a bit of graffiti on both Acapulco Rock and Chimney Rock. It has definitely increased in the last few years,” said Russell Lands Vice President and General Counsel Steve Forehand.
It’s unclear when the tagging of Acapulco Rock got started, but it’s logical to make a connection between the two traditions associated with the place: jumping off the 60-foot cliff face and tagging its side with initials. As the local legend of the Acapulco Rock jumpers grew, so did the graffiti left by those who visited, whether or not they made the leap. The graffiti on Acapulco Rock is Now, thousands of boats spreading to previously gather around the rocks untouched areas each summer so boaters can watch daring jumpers climb up the rock’s face – a face that has been getting more and more covered with graffiti as the years go by. There is hardly a spot of the rock that hasn’t been marked by an enterprising tagger, and Chimney Rock is almost as popular. The graffiti-spattered slopes of Acapulco Rock have become so synonymous with summer fun at Lake Martin that renowned local artist Lila Graves has made it a specialty to
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 63
Healthy Hearts Make More Memories More moments mean more memories. More time with grandkids and family. More days on the lake. More sunsets. Kevin Sublett, MD, and the staff at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama are committed to keeping your heart healthy, so you can keep on making memories. The clinic is backed by the world-class expertise you expect from UAB Medicine, offering: • The full spectrum of cardiovascular care • Care from a physician board-certified in interventional cardiology • The latest in cardiac and vascular ultrasound technology, as well as nuclear medicine imaging in accredited laboratories • Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders • Convenient location within Russell Medical Center Call us today to schedule an appointment!
3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 Alexander City, AL 35010 (256) 234-2644 uabmedicine.org/heartcentralAL 64 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
paint images of the rock, complete with the custom initials and birth dates of the patrons and their families. But while Graves can complete her graffiti from the comfort of her studio, how some of the graffiti artists complete their works on the rocks themselves is a mystery. While most places on Acapulco Rock could be tagged while standing on another part of the rock, others – such as the overhangs – could only be accomplished by someone dangling from a line tied to a higher point. Forehand believes the increase in graffiti can be tied to one-upmanship among graffiti painters. “I think the taggers try to outdo each other,” he said. Whether graffiti is left for reasons of pride, to outdo others, or simply for fun, the result is the same: Russell Lands, Alabama Power and other owners of graffiticovered landmarks are left holding the proverbial bags and footing the bills for cleanup. “We recently removed some of the graffiti from Chimney Rock, which Russell Lands owns. Alabama Power owns Acapulco Rock, so I can’t speak to that,” said Forehand. What Forehand can and will speak to is Russell Lands’ intention to punish, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone caught in the act of spraying graffiti on corporate property. “If we catch anyone out there, we will prosecute,” Forehand warned. “Taggers can expect to face charges for criminal mischief and criminal trespassing. If there are any other charges we can add to that, we will.” While “mischief” sounds like a pretty small crime, the reality of the charge is a big deal. According to the Criminal Code of Alabama, criminal mischief that results in up to $2,500 in property damage is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $6,000 in fines or up to one year in prison. That’s a high price to pay to have your initials spray painted on a cliff. “It’s private property,” said Forehand. “They have no right to be there.”
9 5 9 1 e c n i S s e v a W g n i k a M n Boats o o t n o P y h Godfre it w s ie r o m cruise with t e e me s k n a u s M n rine. A o a M s odfrey ll G e a , s y s il u n m R i a f d an ubing with t f 4 MAr ARTIN o y a d a nt options r e o m s in d a n t M r ie e r t f more en r e LAKE v li h-end e ig d h s , n n o ig o s t e n Po g-edge d orth in t t N u c r e h options e T t n r. e e v m Riv e in a n t a r h e t 1500 . dible ent 7 e r c 9 gant in le 3 e . d , n 6 e a c , n t r a 25 o f m com rior perfor rina e p a u s M e h t atio; or e ; P n g a a d p u i n q a A R S f o f o The 0 0 h design s 3 li 1 y t . s 7 d ater, you n 9 a w t e rt, o e f w m S o f c 256.3 g value o ina in r d a a le n that's y o M r o t t s n u a o d g P in i y e l th a Godfre Kowa 's 1 e r 1 e 1 h t 2 e . r 7 can be su r family. 334.85 u o y a d n n a i u r o nd Ma erfect for y p a l s I e and join in r a M 1 ll Real 4 e 7.27 isit Russ 5 V 8 . Lifestyle. 4 n 3 o o 3 t n o P y the Godfre
RussellMarine.netAUGUST 2016
LAKE 65
40 Years Making Smiles Lake Martin’s Camp ASCCA celebrates a landmark anniversary with a staff reunion STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & JIM DENNEY
T
he staff at Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults (Camp ASCCA) has spent the last 40 years helping state residents with special needs to recognize their own potential in a safe and enriching environment. This month, Camp ASCCA administrators will extend their thank yous to all who have worked to make the organization a success at the Camp ASCCA 40th Anniversary celebration. On Saturday, Aug. 6, Camp ASCCA will welcome four decades worth of past and present camp staff and their families for a day of fun and reconnection. “We have invited former staff and their families from the past 40 years to join us for lunch and an afternoon of reunion,” said Camp ASCCA’s Director of Marketing and Communications Dana Rickman. An Easter Seals facility, Camp ASCCA opened its doors in 1976, and has provided support and fun to children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities since day one. “At first, we offered canoeing, boat rides, campfires and different things like that,” said Rickman. Forty years later, Camp ASCCA still offers these traditional camp activities. But they have added a host of more modern sports and recreation options, such as a zip line, splash pad, water slide and miniature golf course, all of which will be available to party guests on Aug. 6. “There will be old camp activities that they know and new ones we’ve added along the way. It’s an opportunity for families to come together and see how the camp has changed, yet
66 LAKE
stayed the same,” Rickman said. She and other current Camp ASCCA staff are looking forward to the event, which Rickman said will be decorated with old photographs from the camp’s 40 years of operation. Camp ASCCA has a reputation that keeps its employees coming back. Judy Williams of Talladega, one of the camp’s first staffers, has remained an active participant each summer. She, along with other first-generation Camp ASCCA staff, are helping to plan the anniversary event. With an anniversary this size, Camp ASCCA will need all the planning support it can get. Rickman estimated the number of guests will approach 100, if not more. It will be a full house, but one that Rickman will be happy to see. “It’s a day for everybody to enjoy, and to celebrate serving children and adults with physical intellectual disabilities for 40 years,” Rickman said. She is excited about the connections that could be formed between new staffers and those with decades of skill and training. “It’s a chance for younger counselors and staff members to get together with more experienced ones,” said Rickman. Camp ASCCA is a nationally recognized leader in therapeutic recreation for children and adults with both physical and intellectual disabilities. Camp ASCCA is open year-round for weekend and weeklong sessions. Located on 230 acres of woodland beside 1.5 miles of Lake Martin shoreline, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of recreational and educational activities. For more information about the reunion clebration or Camp ASCCA, visit www.campascca.org.
AUGUST 2016
Clockwise from opposite: For 40 years, Camp ASSCA has brought smiles to the faces of campers with disabilities; the ropes course builds confidence; campers enjoy lake activities, like tubing; staff and campers break for lunch; with the help of a counselor, a camper thrills to a ride on the water slide; a camper rests beside the lake between activities; the chapel on the lake was recently renovated.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 67
Capt. Jon Archer took command of the Central District of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Marine Police Unit last spring. Where are you from originally, and how does that area compare with Lake Martin? I am originally from Mobile County. I grew up on Dog River in South Mobile. Dog River and Lake Martin are two very different bodies of water, both offering different settings for recreational boating activities, as well as wildlife settings. What was your first impression of Lake Martin? How long have you been here and what places have you visited at the lake so far? I was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of Lake Martin. I first visited the lake a few years ago on a holiday weekend and was shocked at the pristine water and clarity. I came to Lake Martin in my official capacity on March 1, 2015. I have visited a number of local spots on the Lake: Wind Creek, Parker Creek, Sandy Creek and a number of the waterways and tributaries. I have also visited most of the marinas on the lake: River North, Ridge, Anchor Bay, Chuck’s and many others. You have mentioned that during your previous work at the coast, you heard a lot about Lake Martin. What did you hear? Have you found those things to be true? Working on the coast, we heard about Lake Martin, mostly about the volume of boating traffic on this lake. So far, the reputation has lived up to the hype; Lake Martin has a lot of recreational boating traffic. I was also told how beautiful the water is on Lake Martin, and yes, those rumors are true. The Lake can be quite stunning. When did you become interested in law enforcement? How did you get the job you have now and how long have you held this position? Growing up on the water, and having an interest in law enforcement, Marine Patrol seemed like a perfect fit for my career. I attended the University of South Alabama and obtained a B.A. in Criminal Justice, as well as an M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration), which prepared me to enter the law enforcement field. I applied to work for the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources – Marine Police Division in the fall of 2003. By 2005, I received the call to see if I was still interested in becoming a Marine Police Officer, and I jumped at the opportunity. I have been with the Marine Patrol since August 2005. You have coined the phrase, ‘Never be in a hurry at the lake.’ How would slowing down make a difference? Yes, that is a phrase I use a lot. I find that boaters seem to get into the most trouble when they are operating at high speeds. Slowing down saves gas and prevents accidents, vessel breakdowns, getting lost and damage to other boaters and property. Being a respectful and courteous boat operator means slowing down around other vessels, vessels at anchor or vessels congregated in popular spots. I urge boaters on Lake Martin, if you see one of the marine patrol vessels stopped with another vessel (emergency 68 LAKE
lights on) to slow down and reduce speed. We can’t put a boat in park like on the roadway, so the troopers have to conduct the boat stop while maintaining a safe but functional distance. It can be quite difficult to keep everyone safe and not damage someone’s boat when other boaters are throwing wakes. What are you planning to do to get the ‘Slow Down’ message out there? It will be a slow and steady process. Boaters that “wake out” troopers will be stopped, and I will speak to them about courtesy on the water. Courtesy goes a long way in life. We must realize that Lake Martin is for the enjoyment of all recreational boaters. To prevent accidents and damage to the Lake and other boaters, I ask everyone to simply “slow down” and take in all the beauty the lake has to offer. How often do you go out on a boat on Lake Martin? What do you do when you are out there? I currently manage 32 counties with 14 bodies of water from Tuscaloosa to Opelika and down through the Wiregrass area. I only have six troopers and one lieutenant to handle all this area. With all that entails, I try to get out on Lake Martin at least once a week to continue to familiarize myself with the geography and the population of the lake. What is the most memorable day you’ve ever had on the water? What happened to make it so? I have had many great days on the water. I enjoy interacting with the public and waving at everyone. I have had the opportunity in my career to pull from the water people who were near death and get them the medical attention they needed. Those moments stay with you. I love when a child smiles or wants to see the “police boat,” and I enjoy speaking to younger people about who we are and what we do on the lake. Are you married? If so, how did you and your spouse meet? Do you have children? Yes, I met my wife at the University of South Alabama while we were both attending college, and we have been married for 14 years. We have one daughter, Lillian, age 8. Your command includes several counties and bodies of water. Where do you live, and why did you choose that location? I currently reside in Autauga County and commute to our district office at Wind Creek during my workdays. I moved to Central Alabama a few years ago and chose that area due to its central location within the state. If you could have dinner with any three people from any era, who would they be and why? My Father – I lost my father when I was 14 years old, and a day does not go by that I don’t think of him and wish to have more time with him. Elvis Presley – Dinner with the “King” – I grew up listening to his music. My mother is an adoring fan. I recently had the opportunity to take my mother to Graceland, which was a wonderful experience. General George S. Patton Jr.– U.S. Army Officer – Hero
AUGUST 2016
Lake Q&A:
Capt. Jon Archer
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 69
of World War II – I would like to discuss with him his leadership style, and how he motivated his troops to fight and overcome odds. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received and from whom did it come? I have always been told throughout my career in law enforcement that I am “too nice.” I find that to be one of the best compliments. If I can effect change on boating behaviors while still being considered nice, I will take it. I stress to all my troopers to be nice and respectful to all boaters they encounter while on patrol. Most of the people we meet are out to have a nice day on the waters of Alabama and have simply made a mistake. As long as all parties are respectful, I am sure a resolution from Marine Police troopers will be completed with efficiency and professionalism. What are you interested in seeing or doing (non-professionally) at the lake? I would really like to take a vacation at the lake. I spend all my time on the lake in work mode, but I would like to come up for a weekend in the fall and simply enjoy the beauty of the area. Name one thing that most people don’t know about you. When I was 14 years old, I decided to learn to ride a unicycle. It wasn’t easy, but I am known to be a driven individual, so once I put my mind to it, I was successful. I think picking up that skill helped me later in life when it came to balancing between large vessels in sea swells of the Gulf of Mexico.
70 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 71
(256) 234-6366
(256) 839-6711
(256) 825-9244
(334) 864-8854
Who’s DINER Who’s Hungry? 1560 Hwy. 22W, Alex City • 256.212.1501
We touch the lives of the people you love
256.329.9611
TANNING! MOVIES & GAMES
2006 Cherokee Road, Alexander City www.rack.myvideostore.com
Buck’s
Assisted Living
Dairy Quick
Short Term Rehab
Home of Buck’s Famous Slaw
Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Long Term Care 72 LAKE
256.392.3565 1171 Tallapoosa Street, Alex City
AUGUST 2016
Local Customs Prevail
T
ate based on your preferences; however, I would he State of Alabama requires a certain guess that 95 percent of the time, possession is amount of education before one can sit given at closing here at Lake Martin. Maybe this for the real estate licensing test. One huge gets back to the high second home rate in the part of the licensing education is a discussion area. Maybe it is because, many times, furniture of professional liability. The training includes a is involved, and that cuts down the burden of seemingly constant refrain that the potential agent moving. should always quote sources and encourage conSpeaking of furniture, that’s another area of sumers to consult an attorney. When I took those the contract that sometimes causes confusion. I courses, I often wondered; if we are steadily tellget a lot of buyers that ask a common question ing people to consult an attorney, why do they when walking through homes, “Is the furniture need an agent? included?” The answer is a wise one: Let lawyers practice LAKE PROPERTY Again, it pays to be really specific. As a buyer, law, and let agents stick to real estate. BY JOHN COLEY if you can’t imagine finding a kitchen table more As such, I would encourage the reader to conperfect for your family, go ahead and write it in sult an attorney on all of the matters below, as I the contract. If you are the seller, and you know that no matam just a real estate agent. Not a lawyer. ter what, there is no way you can part with your MeMaw’s With that disclosure out of the way, I would like to talk antique rocker, it is wise to specify it as excluded in the conabout subjects that sometimes cause confusion when buyers tract. and sellers negotiate a real estate contract. In Alabama, the Exclusions can work on the buyer side, too. I have had a law says that everything is negotiable. There are no standard few buyers say, “they better be sure to get that junk in the yard terms or standard rules. I will say that, from market to market, we do find that local out of here,” and we have had to write it in as an exclusion. One last word on furniture and any other personal property: customs prevail. I find it interesting that even in the same state Consult your lender on the wording here. Some underwriters there are varying degrees of “normal.” Agents from other have major objections to seeing anything, even refrigerators, areas, such as Montgomery, Auburn, Birmingham or even the included in the real estate contract. Other loan underwriters beach, show property here at Lake Martin, and sometimes, don’t mind, as long as you state that they are adding no value even present offers. When that happens, there is usually a frank discussion between agents to identify the parts of a con- to the real estate purchase. Check before you write it up. Surveys are another example of possible confusion. I have tract that might be different in each region. Even when both had agents tell me there is a law in the State of Alabama that agents are from the lake, a clear understanding of all the contract terms is paramount. I will attempt to touch on a few parts says all sellers must provide a survey. That is incorrect. In fact, most brokers’ contracts are written in such a way that of the sale that might possibly be confusing. you have to check a blank to stipulate who will pay for a surOne important part of a real estate transaction is figurvey, buyer or seller. Again, consult an attorney to be sure you ing out when the buyer actually takes possession of the real understand the contract. estate purchased. In the case of a lot purchase, it is really no Did you clean up after yourself? big deal. Usually, the seller has little or no property on site; If you are a seller in the home transaction, is there a clause therefore, there is nothing to move. But what about a home in the contract that addresses the cleanliness of the home? If purchase? you are the buyer, is this a high priority? If so, make sure you In this situation, buyers and sellers can agree to just about have some language in the contract that covers it. Also, maybe anything. Two possibilities are: 1) buyer takes possession at closing, or 2) buyer takes possession, say, two days after clos- you had better schedule a walk through before closing, so you can make sure the contract was followed. There are many defing. I have seen cases where the seller doesn’t move out, but initions of “clean,” so in my opinion, it is difficult to address instead rents back from the buyer for a month. Admittedly, around Lake Martin, closings like that are pret- this in writing. When I am advising sellers on this subject, I ask them to ty rare. That is understandable, as most buyers use the propergo overboard. I have never seen a buyer complain that a house ties as vacation homes and are looking forward to vacating as soon as possible. In many a closing, the buyers drive up to the is too clean. The main point here is that nothing is standard. Sellers are not required to dust the first bunny. Put it in writclosing attorney’s office in a U-Haul, loaded to the gills and ing. ready to move and hit the water for some fun. Those are just a few areas of the real estate sale that might Sometimes, sellers might want to wait and not give poscause potential misunderstandings. To find out more, talk to session until after the actual closing. They might think, why your real estate agent, and yes, consult an attorney. should I move all of my stuff out before I am absolutely sure that I will get my money? I can see their logic, but the John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice same could be said by the buyer. Why should I give them my Realty. He is also the author of the blog Lake Martin Voice at money when they haven’t even started moving out yet? LakeMartinVoice.com. The point is this: Be sure to read the contract and negotiAUGUST 2016
LAKE 73
F
Being Flexible
Working on flexibility definitely plays lexibility is one of the most neglected an important part in a workout. Improved aspects of fitness. Many times, people flexibility will make for a better aerobic avoid flexibility training because of time workout, as well as muscular training. constraints or concentration on cardiovascuResearch has shown that people who include lar or strength training routines. Think for a flexibility training into their routines have minute about your own daily routine and how fewer injuries, as flexibility allows a person flexibility might affect everyday activities and to move smoothly through a wider range of tasks. motion. Flexibility allows you to get out of bed in When performed correctly, flexibility the morning and take care of your children training can help you to become more in and yourself. It allows you to reach and bend, tune with your body and provide an avenue lift, tie your shoes and pick something up off HEALTHY LIVING for mental and physical relaxation and the floor. Flexibility does diminish as you age, BY JULIE HUDSON recovery. especially if you live a sedentary life. The perfect time to work on your flexWhen flexibility decreases, people someibility is immediately following a workout. It is a time to times overcompensate with poor posture and bad habits focus on relaxing and rejuvenating your body. Muscles that may lead to reduced mobility. Staying active and are already warm, which encourages further stretching. working on flexibility will help prevent a decrease in Maintaining and improving flexibility has many benmobility and will help individuals to stay independent as efits, including increased range of motion (ROM) and they age. muscle length; increased release of muscle tension and soreness; better circulation due to increased blood supply to muscles and joints; enhanced postural stability, coordination and balance; reduced lower back, neck and shoulder stiffness and discomfort; and decreased risk of injury. The American Council on Exercise recommends 30 minutes of stretching three times per week to improve flexibility. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends flexibility exercises for each major muscletendon group at least twice a week. There has been a lot of research lately regarding professional athletes who enhance their workouts with yoga and Pilates, which are flexibility based. If you find that these classes don’t fit into your schedule, try stretching after your workouts or at the end of each day, which could improve your flexibility. Stretch at least three days a week for at least 10 minutes to improve and maintain flexibility. The length of stretching time required relates to the goals and commitment of each person. Stretching should never be painful; the goal is to bring the muscle to the point of extension. There are two basic types of stretching – static and dynamic. These stretches can be used separately or in combination. The most popular is static stretching. This type of stretching is recommended after a workout, when the body is warm. Static stretching involves taking the muscle or joint to the maximum range of motion until a slight tension is felt, but there is no pain. This position should be held for 20 to 60 seconds. Rest for 20 seconds and then repeat two to three times.
74 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
A good example of a static stretch would be the hamstring stretch. Sit on the floor with one or both legs extended. Take a deep breath; on the exhale, reach out over the legs toward the feet. Hold at the point when tension is felt. The advantage of static stretching is that it is suitable for almost anyone. It is easy to learn, safe, can be performed anywhere and does not require specialized equipment. The downside to static stretching is that it is specific to body position. It limits overall range of motion, which an athlete may be focused on achieving. It is well suited for noncompetitive people, those whose goals are for overall health instead of sport specific. Dynamic stretching is recommended as a warmup for a workout or before participating in athletic activity. This type of stretch involves a continuous, controlled movement through a full range of motion. Dynamic stretching increases range of motion, warms up joints, reduces muscle tension and maintains current flexibility.
Dynamic stretching examples include unweighted squats, single leg lunges, knee lifts or walking with high knees, pushing and pulling arms with no resistance, full arm circles, arm swings or twisting movement in the waist. Dynamic stretches are perfect for athletes or those who participate in activities that require wide range of motion or speed. Dynamic stretches should be used gradually and after instruction for the appropriate movements. Ask for assistance when trying these stretches for the first time. Flexibility training has a place in everyone’s life regardless of athletic ability, fitness level or medical condition. Stretches can even be modified for those who are immobile in wheelchairs or bed ridden. When starting an exercise routine, choose stretches that work on flexibility, as well as relaxation. This is a wonderful way to de-stress from a busy life. Julie Hudson is a dietician at the Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.
256.215.FISH (3474)
2190 Cherokee Road , Alex City, AL
www.alexcitymarine.com
Certified Outboard Dealer
Call us today about our Summarization Specials
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 75
W O ! N PEN O
Used Boat Super Center Now Open! Singleton Marine has been serving Lake Martin families since 1988. We’re excited to announce that we’ve opened a dedicated Used Boat Super Center on Highway 49 South in Dadeville. Stop by and see our wide selection of tow boats, pontoons, sport boats, and more. Or, check out our entire New and Used inventory online at SingletonMarine.com. Singleton Marine Used Boat Super Center 5792 Highway 49 South Dadeville, AL 36853 888-606-3535
Selling Your Boat? We want it! Get a buy bid at SellUsYourBoat.com. 855-900-5964 SingletonMarine.com
76 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
End of Season Tips From the President of the One-More-Run Club
T
This is the time to replace the knot-filled, his is the beginning of the end frayed rope, the sun bleached seam-splitting of summer. August is the month vest or the board that you’ve just had way too when school starts back, and by long with worn out bindings. Year-end closethe end of the month, Lake Martin will out should be music to your ears. Stores don’t become a weekend-only getaway again. particularly like to go into the off season with Riding every single day, getting up early excessive stock sitting on the floor, so it’s every morning so you can get the good pretty normal to see some substantial price water before anyone else does becomes BEHIND THE BOAT changes on that product you’ve been eyeing a Saturday and Sunday endeavor. So it’s BY SAWYER DAVIS every time you stop by to fill up the boat. time to take advantage of every opportuShopping locally also helps you in a few nity to work on the tricks you have been ways. For one, you should be able to talk with someone trying all summer, and it’s time to get a few new ones in about your upgrade. Is it the right board or binding for your pocket and make the rest even more consistent. It’s a good time to get with your riding friends and make you? Will something else fit your style or riding ability a little better? The diversity of product today is quite impresa point of getting out and spending time in your favorite spots, trying over and over until you stick that elusive trick sive. The flex and speed of a board and choice of bindings just make it fun picks. you’ve been so close to making. Repetition works. Try it Hopefully, you’ve taken advantage of one of the mariagain and again. nas’ demo days and seen the products, been in a boat and And with today’s video technology, you can surely get heard riders and coaches talking about the boards. This someone to document your efforts, which would be really makes the decision easier and a little more educated. If cool for that moment when you land it just right and ride your decision is simply price-driven, then hey, you get a away, but it’s even more important during your attempts to good board at a good price. It fits; you have fun. Score, end stick it. Video your attempts, so you can see what you are of story. There’s plenty to chose from, so go see what’s out doing wrong. If you aren’t working with someone that’s coaching you, there. Also, it has been brought to my attention on more that a video will help you see if you’re throwing a trick going one occasion lately (due to a previous article on the subup the wake or off the lip; if you start your rotation too ject) that we all need to be practicing wake etiquette. Please early; or if your handle pass is just all wrong. be mindful of your wake. I like a big blown up wake more Take advantage of those resources available and keep at than anybody, but please try to ride away from highly resiit. It’s easy to get discouraged working on a new trick. If you’re not getting it, step back and just ride. Have fun with dential areas with docks and boats. There are good places to go to ride that don’t work up the water in these areas. where you are; then, come back to it later. Take the time to get away from everyone, if at all possible. Don’t get so fatigued that your form suffers, or there Riding in the busy hours in heavy traffic areas is not would be little chance of getting a solid ride-away-clean. going to give you any opportunity to enjoy, learn or progWhen you are tired, you get closer to taking a bad fall and ress, and I can’t tell you how often I see it. Wakesurfers, possible injury. trust me here; the boat isn’t going to be able to stay at a Admittedly, I’m not very good there. As long-standing consistent speed, and you’re not going to be able to ride, do president of the One-More-Run Club, I’m getting better at a trick or even stay in the wave under those conditions. If stopping when my legs are just Jell-O. you have to surf with the rope in those conditions, find a When you can see that the trick isn’t going to happen, slough with decent water and let the boat stay at speed. it’s time to get in the boat, drive away and try again later. If later means the next day, then it’s the next day. Given the One big surge of speed from the boat will drop a surfer in the blink of an eye. Do yourself and your neighbors a favor time of year, those days are relatively limited, so exploit and surf in a spot where you’re not bothered by other boats’ your opportunities! wakes and where you’re not bothering anyone else either. The month of August and end of summer brings about Have fun out there. I’ll see you on the water. another opportunity that has always been a favorite of mine – year-end closeouts on equipment! All of the local marinas Sawyer Davis is a wakesurfer for Victoria Skimboards (you should absolutely be shopping locally) run specials to and grew up on Lake Martin. get the remaining stock gone by summer’s end. It’s a great time to pick up whatever you need. AUGUST 2016
LAKE 77
LMRA replaces buoys after busy holiday weekend
E
ing damage to their boats and possibly harm to stimates of the number of boats on Lake their passengers. Martin during the long Fourth of July Here are just a few suggestions for all who holiday weekend exceed 10,000; many want to make certain that they are doing everyof those boats continued to operate into the thing possible to insure every boating experilate evening hours while enjoying the firework ence ends safely: displays. While the vast majority of these boatBoaters are advised to keep a distance of 100 ers were very familiar with hazardous areas feet from all hazard buoys and never navigate and used common sense and good judgement between buoys that are within 200 feet of each for safe navigation, there were a few who were other. Failure to heed this warning may put the careless and risked great harm to themselves LMRA boater in extreme danger. and their passengers. These few created huge BY JOHN THOMPSON Buoys placed within 100 feet of the shoreproblems and dangerous situations for the line indicate shallow water or hazards between the buoy and remaining Lake Martin boating public. the shore. Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA), operating Boaters should not be on the lake at night without a good under the authority of the Marine Police and funded by knowledge of the boating area. Only a few of the buoys are its membership, install and maintain more than 400 buoys lighted. across Lake Martin. Most of these mark submerged objects During lower water elevations, boaters should use or sand bars that are not visible and pose a hazard to the extreme caution and boat only in areas with which they are boating public. Currently, due to cost and short life span, familiar. only about 20 percent of these are lighted. Boaters should use common sense and good judgement at Within one week following the holiday weekend, LMRA all times while operating vessels. volunteers received reports of 25 hazardous area buoys And lastly, everyone should heed the advice offered by that were destroyed, damaged or removed from their locaCaptain Jon Archer at the LMRA Annual Meeting in June: tions. Two of these created a great deal of concern because “Slow down, Lake Martin boaters: Chimney Rock is not the markers were actually signs mounted on posts, one of going anywhere.” which was lighted. The other one marked a large rock pile LMRA goes to great lengths to provide information to and warned boaters to stay at a safe distance. Lake Martin boaters by providing a map of all buoy locaUnder the very capable leadership of Rendell Clark and tions, as well as a document containing buoy guidelines, on assisted by Rich Lubben, along with numerous additional volunteers, the LMRA buoy team began the task of replace- our website www.lmra.info Please visit often. ment as quickly as possible. In the meantime, boaters have John Thompson is president of the Lake Martin Resource no warning of these dangers, and unless they are very Association. To learn more, visit www.lmra.info. familiar with the hazardous areas, they are at risk of caus78 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 79
Look-alike Baits
Looks can be everything when it comes to hooking up 80 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
I
water. just returned from one of the biggest fishing Color becomes more important with increasing shows of the year. It’s called ICAST, an acrowater clarity. If you are fishing stained or dirty nym for International Convention of Allied water, it may be more important to choose colors Sportfishing Trades. A lot of times, it seems like a that you know the fish can see first. If the fish are big reunion because there are many other anglers feeding on minnows, chartreuse is a great complithere, as well as people from the industry that ment to white when you are in dirty water. may not have seen each other in a while. The one When the fish are feeding on bream or crawthing that we all share is a common love for fishfish, brown/green or black/blue combos will proing, so the conversations quickly turn that direcduce best. In that case, use darker colors the more tion. stained the water. When someone says, “I pair my skirt with a As you move into places with more visibility, matching chunk,” the other person knows exactly BIG CATCHES you’ll want to pay more attention to shades of what they are talking about. In another conversaBY GREG VINSON color. Hopefully, you can match the shades of tion, a person may talk about how he skipped your bait to the shades of the crawfish, bream or docks all day or stroked a jig. Fishing has a lanminnows the fish are looking for. Orange or chartreuse highguage of its own sometimes. I often refer to the phrase ‘match lights on the baits can do a lot to give them a realistic appearthe hatch’ when sharing a tip or technique, but what exactly ance. does that mean? Catching a live specimen is your best way to achieve this, I’ve heard that phrase for many years, but I don’t recall the but that can be a challenge. When I was younger I would walk first time I heard it or where it was. It was explained as a term the banks of Lake Martin, flipping rocks over to find crawfish that flyfishers used because of their tireless effort to exactly for fun. Later in life, it gave me a good perspective on size and mimic the tiny organisms on which trout feed. color combos for craws in our lake. The stream waters are usually extremely clear; and thereOccasionally, you might see a wounded minnow struggling fore, the fish are very difficult to fool. Many insect larvae are aquatic until they hatch and move to the land or air. Just as dif- on the surface or one that has been killed during a feeding frenzy. Pull over and take a close look at the minnow, and ferent species of fish hatch in different water conditions, so do you’ll notice some important features that can help you match the bugs. The trout and other stream fish get used to feeding on what- the hatch. Bream can be caught with rod and reel, so take a kid out ever bugs are most prominent at the time. The best examples and some crickets and get a few pictures of your catches. Look of this that we see every year around Lake Martin are the closely at the colors in the bream, as those photos could help Mayfly hatches. you match your bait the next time out. Fly fishing anglers often tie their own flies to get an exact The importance of action is oftentimes overlooked as well. match of the insects on which the fish are feeding. Size, color Having the right size and color of lure is very important, but and action are a few of the very important characteristics that to truly match the hatch, you need to give it life. Consider how have to be just right. the species of forage you want to mimic moves through the The attention to detail is similar among other types of fishwater or on the bottom. ing. If you want a fish to take a lure that’s not real, you have For example, if the fish are feeding on minnow species, I to convince them that it is. The best way to do that is to match want to present a bait quickly and erratically. If they are feedthe hatch. First, consider the type of fish you would like to ing on crawfish, slow down the retrieve and keep the bait snug target. At Lake Martin, the primary ones are largemouth bass, to the bottom most of the time. spotted bass, crappie, various species of bream and striped You can refine the action you are imparting on the bait with bass. Each species of fish has certain preferences for food. So pauses, twitches, etc. Longer pauses and small movements determine what the target species of fish is feeding on (the are often productive in colder water temperatures. Part of the hatch), and show them a bait that matches it. reason this works is that the forage species are less active and Some might think color would be the most important feature to match, but I think size is equally, if not more important, move more slowly in those conditions. One of the great advantages to the this match the hatch than color. Lure sizes for bass cover a large range, from 2 approach is that with a little research, you can go into an unfainches all the way to 15 inches. Thickness is very important, too. You can narrow that range miliar water body and have a good idea of what type of forage you will need to mimic. when you start to match the hatch. Most of the creatures that One of the reasons I think jigs and soft plastics are so good bass feed on in Lake Martin will range from 2 inches to 7 across the board is that one bait can cover a broader spectrum inches, and that’s a great starting point for lure selection. Keeping a fishing log helped me early on to determine what of the forage base. With minimal adjustments in size, action the fish were feeding on at different times of the year. Chances or color, the same bait that works on your home lake can work somewhere else as a starting point. are good that they will be looking for the same food sources With more experience on that new water body, look for the the next season. clues to refine those elements of your bait and presentation to a The best indicator is when you catch a fish, and it regurgipoint where you’ve perfectly matched the hatch. tates something like a minnow, a crawfish, a bream, etc. You may not be able to tell exactly what color it is, but based on Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the the size and shape of the body, you can learn a lot. Pay attenBassmaster Elite Series and PAA tours. He lives in Wetumpka tion to whether it’s more slender or stocky. How long is the and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. body? Choose a bait that will have a similar profile under the AUGUST 2016
LAKE 81
82 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Curried Zucchini, Caramelized Garlic, Sweet Onion and Tarragon Ingredients
4 small zucchini 1 tablespoon vindaloo curry 1 small sweet onion 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup olive oil 5 cloves garlic (smashed, peeled and minced) 1 tablespoon chopped parsley CHEF’S TABLE
BY ROB MCDANIEL
Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England culinary Institute.
Directions
In a medium sauce pot, warm butter and olive oil over medium heat; add the garlic and allow to cook until it just starts to turn brown; then, reduce heat to low and add the curry. Mix the curry into the oil mixture well and place over very low heat. Cut the zucchini into rounds; then, toss into curry and oil mixture. Remove from heat and allow to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. Arrange on a serving plate and top with as much or as little onion you would like. Garnish with tarragon and enjoy!
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 83
Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within this municipality on Sundays as further provided for and regulated by ordinance of the municipal governing body? Question facing lake area voters this year 84 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
L
ater this month, voters in New Site, Liquor cannot be sold in Oklahoma on Dadeville and Alexander City will go Sundays, New Year’s, Memorial Day, to the polls to vote on Sunday alcoIndependence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving hol sales. Most of Lake Martin is outside or Christmas! the corporate limits of these municipalities, The local referendum before the votbut a similar referendum will be on the balers will simply be a ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ on lot for Tallapoosa County in the November Sunday sales. Opponents will focus on the General Election. The lake also touches evils of alcohol and zealous attempts to keep Coosa and Elmore counties, but neither the Sabbath holy. Proponents will meekly has passed a countywide measure allowexpound on the economic potential and tax ing Sunday alcohol sales. Voter ratification revenues. All arguments are valid. Is it a in Dadeville, Alexander City and Tallapoos moral issue or an economic issue? a County would be a great convenience for Invariably the opponents will ask, “Why FROM THE CELLAR do you need alcohol to have fun?” people on the lake and visitors to the area. BY HENRY FOY Alcohol related issues always stir debate; This always catches the proponents off put Sunday in front of it, and “them’s fightin’ guard because most everybody knows that words.” The opposition will be out en force. Most of that one does not, in fact, need alcohol to have fun. Give a opposition, whether they realize it or not, is rooted in the point to the opponents. Of course, to paraphrase Bill so-called “blue laws” that have been with us since coloClinton, it may depend on the definition of what fun is. nial times. Opponents would have you believe a group of office Any laws that restricted commercial activities on workers or mill workers who gather for a beer after work Sunday were and still are considered blue laws. It is an do so for the effects of alcohol. Not so. People meet after old term that younger generations may not be familiar work to relax, share common interests and for fellowship with. It is also an archaic but dying concept that was cre- and camaraderie. ated to respect and protect the Christian Sabbath. Though That the meeting place serves alcohol is secondary. most blue laws are no longer in effect, the sale of alcoPeople shouldn’t be condemned for living life. The hardhol on Sunday is often still prohibited. core drinker will skip the fellowship, go straight home The original concern was with activities the Puritans and drink alone until satiated. Or saturated. considered to be immoral, such as gambling or consumThere can be no doubt that the over-consumption ing alcohol. In the 19th century, state and local laws of alcohol causes problems. Most treatment programs became more stringent, forbidding almost any business accept that those who drink will drink; one way or anothfrom operating on Sunday. That led to prohibitions on er, they will find alcohol. They will buy larger quantities tobacco sales, certain forms of entertainment and literor drive farther to satisfy their need. Prohibiting the sale ally any kind of labor. Some of those continue to linger; of alcohol on Sunday hasn’t changed that. several states don’t allow car dealerships to open on For most people, Sunday is just another day, and it is Sundays. Occupations of charity or necessity, which the second highest day for consumer sales. Between jobs include hospitals, were eventually exempted while other and ferrying kids to soccer and swim practice, there isn’t blue laws were slowly modified or repealed. a lot of time left to shop. Sunday alcohol sales will do In Pennsylvania, competitive sports on little to change our shopping habits, but it will increase Sunday were prohibited until the 1931 challenge by the convenience, service and hospitality that we extend the Philadelphia A’s. The legislature modified the law to to our visitors. That is a great positive for an area strugallow for baseball games on Sundays but had to modify gling to regain positive traction in a highly competitive it again in ’33 to allow the NFL Eagles to also play on arena. Sundays. Car dealers remain closed in Pennsylvania, and It isn’t an easy question, but in the long run, passage there is no hunting on Sundays except for foxes, coyotes of the Sunday alcohol sales referendum would provide and crows. more benefits to the area. If you can vote in one of these If we thought the alcohol restrictions were tough, elections, please mark ‘yes’ on the ballot. If you can’t the prohibitions on hunting are – from an Alabama vote, encourage someone who can to vote ‘yes.’ And if point of view – absurd. Hunting on Sunday is illeyou can’t support this measure or know a voter who is gal in Maine, New Jersey and in most of West against Sunday sales, remember that you can abstain. Virginia. North Carolina prohibited gun hunting on You don’t have to vote ‘yes,’ but you don’t have to vote Sundays until just last October but retains the restric‘no’ either. It is a secret ballot (wink). tion between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sundays. As What does this have to do with wine? We shall see. recently as 2014, Virginia only allowed hunting bear, rac- Cheers. coon and fox on licensed preserves. The new law allows hunting on Sundays under “certain circumstances.” Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine, Café Some of the alcohol restrictions across the country 128, Gallery 128 and Lake Martin’s only walk-in cigar actually make Alabama look good. In Texas, beer and humidor located in downtown Alexander City at 128 wine can be sold on Sundays but not liquor, which also Calhoun Street. He can be reached at 256.212.WINE, on can’t be sold on New Year’s, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instagram, Facebook and at emporium128@bellsouth. And when New Year’s and Christmas fall on Sunday, net. liquor cannot be sold in Texas on the following Monday. AUGUST 2016
LAKE 85
86 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
Practice Makes Perfect
Pro Tips From Lee Williams The title of this article is not really true in golf terms. As anyone who plays golf knows, this is a game that can never be perfected.There are too many variables over which players have no control, and some things are nearly impossible to predict. Instead of focusing on all the things we golfers don’t have control over, let’s focus on something we do. Every serious golfer should have a practice plan before getting to the golf course.This plan is essential, even if your practice is just warming up before playing with friends. Before arriving at the course, it is important for a player to know what he or she will be working on while hitting practice balls to warm up, putt and chip.This can be as simple as working on alignment or ball position for full swings on the range. It doesn’t have to be technical. Every practice plan should include some time on the putting green.While on the putting green, spend 90 percent of the practice on putts inside 20 feet.These have the highest probability to make, so it only makes sense to spend the most time practicing inside this range.While practicing putting, get a good feel for the speed of the greens and do your best to finish putts inside 1 foot past the hole.The better your speed, the more putts you will make. Lastly, most good practice routines include some form of chipping work.The more shots you can hit with different clubs while chipping, the better.When I practice chipping, I typically don’t hit more than four or five balls in a row of the same shot before switching to another shot, another hole or another club. The more you can vary what you are doing, the closer practice mirrors the golf course. If you can be disciplined enough to map out a routine for what you are trying to accomplish before you play, your score will show it. Also, seeing through your plan will put you in a better frame of mind before teeing off. Be diligent in doing this each time you go to the course. Good Luck! Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing at Willow Point Country Club. As an amateur, Williams was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Walker Cup teams, as well as the 2004 World Amateur Team. He is sponsored by Russell Lands, King Honda, Nowlin and Associates, P.F. Chang's, Tempus Jet, Hyatt, Adams Golf, Russell Athletic, Titleist, Ameritas Financial Corp. and Southwest Airlines.
Keep your mind in the game when it's too hot to play BY BETSY ILER
It's just too hot to be out there. With the heat index topping 110 degrees daily in the last weeks of July - and no relief in sight - playing the game could be downright bad for your health. And yet, it’s summer, and summer means playing golf, improving skills and developing your game. While you can practice putting in your living room, read golf tips online and in golf magazines and glue the television buttons to The Golf Channel, it’s also important to exercise your mind - to calculate yards to the hole, make club selections and ponder whether to lay up or go for it. It keeps your head in the game to do so. And with modern gaming technology, you can. There are thousands of free golf apps available for download on your cellphone, including Golf Star by Com2uS USA, World Golf Tour’s Virtual U.S. Open and Super Stickman Golf by Noodlecake Studios, Inc. Golf Star is the Google Play Editor's Choice with realistic graphics and physics-based gameplay. Ball impact angle, wind, temperature, humidity and terrain are just a few of more than 70 factors that will affect your virtual play, and you can specify 10 swing techniques in single play, matches with friends, tournament or skins modes. Keep your mind in the game with USGA to play Oakmont Country Club, the host of this year's recent U.S. Open, or play the front nine of Pebble Beach, St. Golf Star Andrews or Chambers Bay. This game uses GPS and 3D technology from 15 championship courses to keep your mind on realistic virtual play decisions. You can hit the virtual course in multiplayer stroke play, single, torunament play or hole-in-one challenges. Super Stickman Golf will indulge your wishful thinking. Less realistic than the options above, in this game, you can freeze the water hazard or stop your ball mid-flight to make an adjustment. You can play with your golf buddies, too, and virtually win the match, even if there’s no chance of that in reality. None of these games will help you with muscle memory, and Super Stickman won't even pretend to improve the game between your ears, but it's fun golf at a time when getting out on the greens isn't much fun during the dog days of summer.
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 87
Legend
63
21
22
280
23
To Sylacauga
20
Public Boat Ramps
Alexander City
16
Churches 9
Camp ASCCA
Flint Hill Church
Camps & Parks 280
Power lines U.S. Highways
3
22
County Roads
Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
Pleasant Grove Church
11
COOSA COUNTY
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
128
Russell Farms Baptist Church 63
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church
11
New Hope Church
Liberty Church 14
20
Willow Point
24
34
5
7
Equality
Kowaliga Boat Landing
55
4
Seman
Camp Kiwanis
63 Camp Alamisco
8 19 The Ridge
1 9
Church in The Pines
22
2
The Amp Ko
wa
15 10
lig
aB
ay
80
9
Central
90
Union
ELMORE COUNTY Union Church
Red Hill 63
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
17 Kent
88 LAKE
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor
Trillium
AUGUST 2016
Timbergut Landing
Lake Martin Alabama
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
49
42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
Jacksons Gap
53. Singleton Marine & Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd, Equality, AL 36026
280
62. Singleton Marine @ Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Highway 49 South, Dadeville, AL 36853 Bethel Church
18
Dadeville
280
Camp Hill
86. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
57
Smith Landing
9 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Pleasant Ridge Church
10 Harbor Docks Restaurant at Anchor Bay Marina 334-639-4723 2001 Cataway Island Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024
12 13
Business & Shopping
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters
Restaurants 76. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
11 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010
Stillwaters
12 Lakeside Mercantile 334-850-6357 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36853
6
14 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt @ Smith's Marina 256-444-8793 1590 Pine Point Road, Alex City, AL 35010 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 15 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 16 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 17 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 18 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 19 256-794-1333 111 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 20 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com 21. McDaniels Storage Center 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010 22. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
Hotels & Lodging
23 2 Cherokee Bend Bed & Breakfast 877-760-7854 5833 Highway 22 East, Alex City 35010
Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact us at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.
13 EastLake Coffee @ Lakeside Mercantile 334-850-6357 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36853
Walnut Hill 50 50
49
Reeltown
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 89
Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart El Rancho Grande Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs
Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club Larry’s General Store Little Black Dress Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant T.C. Russell Airport
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot USAmeribank Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place PNC Bank Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank
DADEVILLE American Motorsports Bay Pine Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foodland Foshee's Boat Doc Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community Hospital
ECLECTIC Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory
SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
H
OLMAN
“WE’RE
F
LOOR
C
OMPANY
THE PROFESSIONALS”
Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700
Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!
haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
90 LAKE
Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
AUGUST 2016
EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star
KELLYTON
Five Star Plantation
RED HILL Citgo
TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce The Tallassee Tribune
WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery
WETUMPKA
The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are available at these locations. To start your subscription, call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281.
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory
COACH KRAFT
residential. commercial. interior. exterior.
UPHOLSTERY Complete Marine Upholstery! ■
■ Floors ■ Carpets Bimini Tops ■ Custom Seats ■ Mooring Covers
Patrick Mason 334-283-6759 676 Dean Circle • Tallassee, AL www.coachkraft.com
334-651-0033AL/706-225-8070 GA
columbus-auburn.certapro.com 1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294,Auburn,AL36830
Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting
Professional! Trey Callegan Area Manager Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval!
A Division of Goldwater Bank, N.A.
248 Inverness Ctr Dr, Birmingham AL
334-332-3435 Since 2008
205-995-7283
Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval NMLS #47862 Corporate NMLS #452955
Performance! Call me for your FREE home sellers kit.
Paige Patterson
205-616-8046
LAKE
www.paigepatterson.com
Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin. Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281
MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 91
Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 75
George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 11
Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8
Advanced Cardiovascular...................................... 8
Harbor Pointe Marina.......................................... 28
Russell Lands.................................................... 48-49
Advanced Heating & Air...................................... 76
Henderson and Coker......................................... 82
Russell Marine........................................................ 65
Alabama Power........................................................ 3
Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 29
Russell Medical Center.......................................... 2
Alex City Guide Service...................................... 76
Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 96
Saint James Episcopal Church............................ 75
Alex City Marine................................................... 75
Holman Floor......................................................... 90
Satterfield.................................................................. 6
Alex City Taxi & Shuttle...................................... 91
Jackson Thornton.................................................. 29
Security Pest Control............................................ 8
Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........10
James & Co............................................................. 76
Seibel's..................................................................... 79
Atkinson Home..................................................... 91
Kona Ice.................................................................. 70
Shorelock Storage Solutions.............................. 90
Becky Haynie, Lake Martin Realty..................... 41
Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 91
Singleton Marine.................................................... 76
Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 91
Lake Martin Building Supply............................... 11
SportzBlitz.............................................................. 86
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation......................... 8
Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 17
State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........90
Buck's Dairy Quick............................................... 72
Lake Martin Dock................................................. 21
State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........91
C&T Electric.......................................................... 11
Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 93
Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 56
CertaPro Painters................................................. 91
Lakeside Marina..................................................... 82
Temple Medical Center......................................... 8
Chuck's Marina...................................................... 56
Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 34
TNT Stone............................................................. 75
Cloud Nine............................................................. 11
Mitchell's Upholstery........................................... 70
TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5
Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 91
Movie Rack............................................................. 72
Troy Cable................................................................. 6
Crew Lending......................................................... 91
Music Depot........................................................... 91
UAB Heart & Vascular......................................... 64
Custom Docks....................................................... 30
National Village...................................................... 15
Walmart.................................................................. 91
Damon Story, Cedar Point................................. 71
OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery.............. 10
Ware Jewelers....................................................... 95
DAVCO Development......................................... 90
Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......91
Wedowee Marine................................................. 40
Designs by Trish....................................................... 5
Painting By Allen.................................................... 90
Who's Diner.......................................................... 72
Docks Unlimited..................................................... 5
Playhouse Cinemas............................................... 72
Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8
First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8
Prime Management............................................... 72
WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 57
First Realty............................................................... 6
Rambo Marine....................................................... 35
92 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
MINI MALL WE SELL THE BIG GREEN EGG! Gift With BGE Purchase!
Free Set-up & Delivery On BGE
5% Sales Tax
Everything for your tailgating needs!
We Believe in Quality Products & Service Mon. - Fri. 10-5 • Sat. 9-4 • Sun. 1-5 7995 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 • 334.857.3900 www.LakeMartinMiniMall.com AUGUST 2016 LAKE
93
Parting Shot
Hula-hooping at The Lake Martin Amphitheater on the Fourth of July
Photo by Kenneth Boone
"I love any and all situations where you celebrate creativity." ~ Brad Paisley
94 LAKE
AUGUST 2016
AQUARACER WITH DIAMONDS
Maria Sharapova never stops challenging herself. Like TAG Heuer, she keeps pushing her limits and never cracks under pressure.
111 South College Street • Auburn, AL • 334.821.7375 The Shoppes at EastChase • Montgomery, AL • 334.386.9273 Eastern Shore Centre • Spanish Fort, AL • 251.338.9273 www.warejewelers.com
AUGUST 2016
LAKE 95
GET THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE DURING FOOTBALL SEASON! Unbeatable Selection! Unbelievable Prices!
Casual comfort in an elegant design. Take a seat flanked by pillow-padded arms adorned with large nailhead trim detailing. Consoles with two led cup holders and a storage compartment
96 LAKE
256.234.4141 Alexander City
AUGUST 2016
334.279.3101 Montgomery