JANUARY 2016
LAKE 1
2 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 3
Staff Editor & Publisher KENNETH BOONE
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Managing Editor BETSY ILER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Assistant Magazine Editor MIA OSBORN
mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com
Not all “Highspeed Internet” is the same.
tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com
A SPEED FOR EVERYONE
debbie.dewildt@alexcityoutlook.com
5 MEG, 10 MEG, 20 MEG & NEW - 30 MEG (10X FASTER THAN DSL) ON OUR NEW ETHERNET NETWORK
Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK
KIM MORSE
kim.morse@alexcityoutlook.com
EMILY GUILL
emily.guill@alexcityoutlook.com
DEBBIE DeWILDT
david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com
Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS
audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com
DARLENE JOHNSON
darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com
COM-LINK, INC. Serving the Lake Martin area since 1996
Connect NOW! 1.800.722.2805 SPEED + SECURITY 4 LAKE
Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER
JANUARY 2016
HALLIE HOLLOWAY
hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com
Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY HENRY FOY JULIE HUDSON ROB MCDANIEL GREG VINSON
LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED CLIFF WILLIAMS DAVID GRANGER KATHRYN BRAUND
All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:
256-234-4281 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011
On the Cover Cover: As she completes her senior year at Auburn University, Alexander City's Brooke McKenzie looks forward to working with children in the preschool and nonprofit areas. And while she loves the Auburn community, the idea of coming home to good times on the lake also rings true. Photo by Kenneth Boone
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 5
Everybody thinks about IT, but not everyone plans for IT. Choose someone you can depend on. • Burial & Cremation Services • Prearrangement Planning • Caskets, Urns, Vaults & Monuments
Choose Radney Funeral Home PO Box 99 1326 Dadeville Road Alexander City, Alabama 35011 256-234-2511 www.radneyfuneralhome.com
6 LAKE
Langley Funeral Home PO Box 130 21837 U.S. Highway 280 Dadeville, AL 36853 256-896-2571 www.langleyfuneralhome.com
JANUARY 2016
Contents 20. IT'S OFFICIAL! FERC issues a Martin Dam license that raises water levels on the lake for 30 years
Our 10th Annual
SWIMSUIT LIFESTYLE
&
Special Edition FEATURING
Shelbie McDougall Brooke McKenzie Cecily Lee Emily Guill Matt Wickham Taron Franklin Alyssa Middlebrooks LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: 9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 13. WHERE IS LAKE? 14. LAKE EVENTS 16. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 72. LAKE WATCH 75. FROM THE CELLAR
e
- edition
76. FAB FINDS 77. LAKE PROPERTY 78. HEALTHY LIVING 79. CHEF'S TABLE 80. BIG CATCHES 83. PRO TIPS & GOLF NEWS
22
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.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 7
8 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month
November 2015 November 2012 November 2009
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
Inventory/ sales ratio
19 9 10
$573,105 $404,489 $457,200
$417,000 $330,000 $405,000
195 191 329
258 330 433
8.97 17.92 25.98
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 informtion is provided courtesy Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)
Fishing Forecast for January If December’s unseasonal weather patterns continue into January, the normal winter movements of fish in Lake Martin can be expected to stall, said Randy Baker of Fish Tales Bait & Tackle on Highway 280 in Alexander City. “If it doesn’t get cold, you’ll see a repeat of the fishing patterns we saw in December,” Baker said. “As it turns cool, the fish are going to keep moving toward creeks in the first part of January. Toward the end of the month, they’ll start moving back deep, hopefully around drop-offs.” Crankbaits and jigs would be good choices for bass, Baker said. “Some people are catching them now in 25 to 35 feet with jigging spoons,” he said. “That will continue as the weather turns colder.” Striper will start to migrate upriver as temperatures drop and could be caught on live bait or artificial, Baker said. Crappie will start moving out into the 25to 35-foot range in January. Catch them on jigging spoons and live bait. “It’s just all according to the what the weather does,” Baker said. “We can expect it’s going to turn cold. Until then, it will be like December has been.”
Lake levels during the last month
Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 483.28 Lowest: 480.82 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.
The Story of Alice Missoula Children's Theatre will present Alice in Wonderland at the Tallassee High School Auditorium Jan. 16, celebrating a story that is 160 years old. In 1856, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson made up the tale to entertain the 10-year-old daughter of a colleage as they rowed to a picnic. Alice loved the story so much that she implored Dodgson to write it down for her, which he did – under the name of Lewis Carol. When the original Alice offered up her manuscript for auction at Sotheby's in 1926, it sold for an amount that today would be equivalent to $670,491 U.S. dollars.
Lake Martin's weather outlook for December 2015 Year End
January 2016 Forecast
Our Normal January Precipitation: 4.67 inches Avg. high temp.: 72 Avg. low temp.: 16 Average temp.: 43.5
Information from the National Weather Service.
Precipitation: 46.35 inches Avg. high temp.: 76.0 Avg. low temp.: 52.7 Average temp.: 64.3
JANUARY 2016
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s with lows near or below freezing and about 4.5 inches of precipitation in the month of January. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will remain at or slightly below normal and rainfall will be slightly above average levels this month.
LAKE 9
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
1
2
3
4
5
Reader Submissions (1) Eli Patterson does some fall fishing on the banks of Lake Martin. (2) Carol Flowers took this photo of a sailboat enjoying a peaceful Saturday near Emerald Shores. (3) Cousins Libby Kate and River Sawyer and Emily Bruce dance on the rocks at Lake Martin. (4) MacKenzie White had so much fun surfing at Lake Martin last summer that she wrote an essay about her adventures here when she returned to California. (5) Jim Watkins and Boo enjoy a day at the lake together.
10 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
2 3
4 5
Reader Submissions (1) A golden sun rises at the Gainer house below Smith Mountain. (2) Christy Leggett caught this breathtaking sunset at Manoy Creek Lake Martin. (3) Karen Treadwell caught this image of her dog, Mia, enjoying her first boat ride on the lake. (4) Patton Sanders relaxes in a hammock swing at her grandparents' house on the lake. (5) Kyle Thornton snapped this picture of the Children's Harbor lighthouse on a gorgeous sunny day.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 11
To all of our clients in 2015 we thank you for your trust and confidence. 2MM Advertising A1 Four Seasons A Second Act A&M Plumbing Alabama Power Above & Beyond Cleaning Advanced Cardiovascular Advanced Heating & Air Alex City Guide Service Alex City Marine Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Ambrose Canoe America’s Home Place Amy Clark Real Estate Artistic Teak Atkinson’s Homes Auburn Dental Spa Audra Williams Photography B&T Lawn Care Bayou Lodge & Guest House Black Sheep Blue Creek Iron Works Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation Buttons & Bows C&T Electric, LLC Cardens Gift Cottage Carlisle Drugs Cedar Point Central Alabama Community College Certapro Painters Chuck’s Marina City Pawn Cloud Nine Coach Kraft Upholstery Comlink, Inc Tallassee Community Hospital Coosa Valley Medical Center Creekside Lodge Custom Docks, LLC Cutwater Marine Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Co Davco Development DB Lawn Care Depot Gun & Pawn Designs By Trish Docks Unlimited Dr George Hardy Dr Kent Norris East Dale Realty Eclectic Emporium Emporium Wine Episcopal Church of Ephiphany Montgomery Yamaha First Baptist Church - Alexander City First Baptist Church - Dadeville
First Realty First United Methodist Church Flint Hill Methodist Church Four Oaks Design Fun Carts of Opelika GNL Flooring Harbor Pointe Marina Hardin Creek Timber Harold Cochran - State Farm Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama Henderson & Coker Heritage South Credit Union Hilltop Landscaping Hillabee Baptist Church Hinson Galleries Hodges Vineyards Holley’s Home Furnishings Holman Floor Ingram & Associates Interscapes James & Company Kane Builders Karen Channell - State Farm Kenneth Ingram - Attorney King’s Furniture Kowaliga Whole Health Lake Martin Baptist Church Lake Martin Building Supply Lake Martin Community Hospital Lake Martin Dock Company Lake Martin Mini Mall Lake Martin Realty Lake Martin Storm Shelters Lake Side Marina Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Concierge Lakeside Excavation Lakeside Mercantile Lanier Photography Lee Apparel Lex Wedgeworth Pest Control Lake Martin Resource Association Langley Funeral Home Lou Belles M.T. Cleaning Service Magnolias Mainstreet Alexander City Mathews Construction McDaniels Supply Memories in Motion Merle Norman Mikes Mobile DJ Mitchell’s Upholstery Nail’s Noel Boone Odie’s Deli
Offshore Marine & Outdoors Paige Patterson Painting By Allen Paradise Lake Events Poor House Branch Marina Powder Box Antiques Radney Funeral Home Rambo Marine Re/Max Around the Lake - Amanda Scroggins Re/Max Around the Lake - Samantha Spurlin Red Ridge United Methodist Church Renaissance Electronics Riley Real Estate Russell Do It Center Russell Lands on Lake Martin Russell Marine Russell Medical Center Sandy’s Dandies Southern Cookin’ Satterfield Inc Be-YOU-Ti-Ful Salon Security Pest Control Seibels Servants House Community Church Service Printing & Office Supply Shoppes of Queen’s Attic Singleton Marine SMI Advertising Southern Star Special Arrangements St John Apostle St James Episcopal Church Sweet Malisa’s Sylacauga Country Club Tallapoosa Ford Temple Medical Center Teresa’s Catering The Butterfly Barn The Fringe The Little Black Dress Thomas Mortgage Tiffany Interiors TNT Stone Tow Boat US United Rentals Vision 2 Reality Wal-Mart Walton Law Firm Ware Jewelers Wayside Animal Hospital Wedowee Marine Wellborn Forest Products Wickles Pickles Williams Plumbing WSC Disctinctive Builders
From our family at Lake Magazine, we extend our wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.
12 LAKE
548 Cherokee Road, Alexander JANUARYCity, 2016AL 35010 | 256-234-4281
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE? PEOPLE AND PLACES
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
1
2
4
3
5
Reader Submissions
(1) Doug and Barbara Reid cruised with Lake around Quebec, Canada, aboard the Norwegian Dawn. (2) Karen McCaffery, Cathy Cramer, Peggy McGimsey and Debbie Griffith took Lake magazine to Pont due Gard in the south of France. (3) Tom and Nancy Jacobus brought Lake to Stari Grad, the oldest town in Croatia, during their September vacation. (4) For their annual mystery trip this year, Linda Baker Boone, Kathy Lashley, Joy Dunlap, Patty Hamrick, Wanda Toland, Cindy Whatley, Paula Walker, Cindy Blake and Angie Strickland of the XiXi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi visited Graceland. (5) Scotty and Jane Howell, Jan and Matt Hare, Kay and Gary Thomas and Joyce and Ken Riley took Lake along on their annual trip to Steinhatchee, Florida.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 13
Jan. 2 Wildlife Presentation
Alice in Wonderland to the Tallassee High School Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. This whimsically madcap, fun-filled fantasy is entertainment for the whole family. Follow Alice as she Join Russell Lands On Lake Martin Naturalist Marianne wanders through a terrific adventure into the zany world of Hudson at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads for a discussion of the local white-tailed deer. She'll Wonderland, complete with truly unforgettable characters – White Rabbits, Mad Hatters, homicidal Queens and a misguidhave tips on attracting and repelling deer and offer valuable ed Jabberwocky! Can Alice save information about the anithem all? Or is this just a dream? mals’ habitat and food sources. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for Program is free of charge for all children. For information, call ages. Contact Marianne at 256Mona Mills at 334-201-4892. 496-2710. WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN
Jan. 2 Guided Nature Tour
Jan. 19 Art Association of Central Alabama
Alice in Wonderland will take the stage at Tallassee High School Jan. 16
Russell Lands On Lake Martin Naturalist Marianne Hudson will lead an educational foray into Russell Forest to see how some forest animals and plants change their lifestyles during the winter months. And search for signs of white-tailed deer. Kick-start your New Year with this energetic hike at 1 p.m. Hike fee is $10, and registration is required. Call Marianne at 256-496-2710 for meeting place, registration and other information.
Jan. 16 Wildlife Presentation
Join Russell Lands On Lake Martin Naturalist Marianne Hudson at 9 a.m. at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads for a discussion of the local white-tailed deer. She'll have tips on attracting and repelling deer and offer valuable information about the animals’ habitat and food sources. Program is free of charge for all ages. Contact Marianne at 256-496-2710.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at The Lake Martin Area United Way building at 17 Main Street in Alexander City. Artistic technique in painting, drawing and other arts taught at each meeting. For information, call Martha McKnight 256-825-6503 or Jerri Hallmark 256-825-0595.
Jan. 21 Wine Tasting
Emporium Wine will host a a wine tasting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 128 Calhoun Street, Alexander City.
Jan. 22 Mardi Gras Auction
Proceeds at this 5K walk/run and 1 Mile Home Plate Dash will benefit the Holtville High Softball Team. Registration is $25 for 5K runner; $15 for 10 and under Home Plate Dash participants.
St. James Episcopal Church will host live and silent auctions at this inaugural event to support the Feast of Sharing ministry, which provides free meals twice a week at First United Methodist Church to some 100 people in need. Auction items will include original art, a Russell Marine wakeboarding package, a family portrait photo shoot and a print by Kenneth Boone, handmade pottery items, a vacation at the beach for the whole family, the Rev. Rob Iler’s handyman services for a day and more. There will be beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and entertainment. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved by calling St. James Episcopal Church at 256-234-4752. For information, contact Heidi Ross at 256-794-7010 or Susan Mange at 601-234-4752.
Jan. 16 Alice in Wonderland
Jan. 23 PATH Trash Walk
Jan. 16 Slapout Strikeout 5K
Missoula Children’s Theatre will bring their production of
14 LAKE
Meet at 9 a.m. at the fountain in front of Jake’s Restaurant
JANUARY 2016
to pick up supplies and assignments. Come out and join your friends and neighbors for a healthy walk while removing unsightly litter from the roadways of the most scenic county in Alabama. For additional information, contact John Thompson at jthompson@lmra.info.
Jan. 25 Taste of Elmore County
Elmore County Food Pantry will benefit from this annual community-wide event at the Wetumpka Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the food pantry.
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.
Jan. 30 Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade
It’s Mardi Gras time! Don’t miss the party on the festival grounds with rides for the kids and vendors at the Village Green in downtown Millbrook. Activities start at 9 a.m. with the parade at noon.
Feb. 16 Art Association of Central Alabama
$20 on the 20th
The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce is asking our community to “Spend $20 on the 20th” of each month to help our local economy.
Children’s Harbor Thrift Store
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at The Lake Martin Area United Way building at 17 Main Street in Alexander City. Artistic technique in painting, drawing and other arts taught at each meeting. For information, call Martha McKnight 256-825-6503 or Jerri Hallmark 256-825-0595.
Feb. 25 Watermelon Wine: The Poetry of Southern Music
Located next to Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin on Highway 63, the thrift store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 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.
Memory Makers Quilt Guild
Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Frye Gilliard and Anne E. DeChant will host this evening of poetry and music at 7 p.m. at Emporium Wine, 128 Calhoun Street, Alexander City.
Feb. 27 7th Annual Russell Forest Run
Meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Jr. Sportplex campus. Participants come and go between 1 and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5, followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.
Real Island Supper
Register at www.active.com or www.russellforestrun.com for the 5K or 10K race option that benefits the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation. The 10K race starts at 7:45 a.m. with the 5K at 7:55 a.m. Registration for the 5K is $20; 10K is $40. Pick up race packets Feb. 26 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the day of the race between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. at the Discovery Center at Russell Crossroads. Call 256-397-1019 for information.
Season-Long Events Library Storytime
Storytime for children ages 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Electronics Recycling
tain 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.
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 con-
The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Road, Equality. We have a lot of fun, and 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.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 15
Lake Martin News Water Ski Federation inducts three into Hall of Fame Three pioneers of water skiing last month were inducted into the Alabama Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame during the federation’s midwinter meeting at Kowaliga Restaurant on Lake Martin. Margaret Ann Woodard, Jerry Woodard and Leah Marie Leah Marie Rawls Atkins, Margaret Ann and Rawls Atkins Jerry Woodard were inducted into the Alabama were honored Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame Nov. 21. at the Nov. 21 event. The Woodards have a long history as competitors in the sport and judged numerous competitions at the regional and national levels. Atkins was the state’s first world water skiing champion and was the first water skier and the first woman inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Some 60 people attended the event at Kowaliga, where the Water Ski Hall of Fame occupies a hall in the restaurant. ~ Staff Reports
Grant funds playground at Wind Creek State Park A $51,000 grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund will upgrade equipment and provide erosion control at Wind Creek State Park’s playground, said Gerard Martin, manager of the park. “We’ll add more swings and replace the other equipment and have enough money to do some more things,” Martin said. The grant requires a 100 percent match, which means the park will have a total of approximately $102,000 to work with, Martin said. Gov. Robert Bently announced Alabama’s recipients of the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants Nov. 24. Wind Creek is one of four Alabama state parks and 10 16 LAKE
towns and cities in the state that will benefit from more than $700,000 in grant money aimed at improving recreation in the state. “Local parks and outdoor recreation facilities are vital to the well-being of communities, residents and visitors,” Bentley said in a news release. “Our parks provide places for families and friends to go outside, enjoy nature, participate in community events and socialize. Parks add to an area’s identity and I think more than anything they help create wonderful lifetime memories.” The Land and Water Conservation Fund is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and is funded through royalties derived from oil and gas drilling. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the grants. ADECA manages a wide range of grants and programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management. ~ David Granger
County voters to decide on issue of Sunday alcohol sales Tallapoosa County voters could go to the polls in November 2016 to decide on allowing Sunday sales of alcohol after Tallapoosa County commissioners voted 5-0 to pass a resolution asking the local legislative delegation to introduce a local bill calling for a referendum. With the timing of the session, County Attorney Thomas Radney said the soonest a vote could come without a special election would be in the November election. “I have had discussions with Rep. Mark Tuggle, and I don’t think it will be an issue for it to be introduced in the session in February,” Radney said. “Once that local law is passed, then it could be put to a vote. I think, realistically, it would be November when it could be on the ballot.” The commissioners have heard from two separate groups of business people in recent months asking for a Sunday sales measure to be considered. The underlying message from businesses is that being able to serve alcohol on Sunday would even the playing field with businesses in Lee and Elmore counties. Radney said the language of the referendum would allow for alcohol to be served until 2 a.m. on Sundays. At that time, sales would stop and not be allowed to begin again until noon on Sunday. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the resolution and ask legislators to introduce the measure in February.
JANUARY 2016
~ Mitch Sneed
Butch Fuller removes sawdust from the poplar log that will become a dugout canoe
Creek canoe constructed Creek (Muscogee) Nation representatives connected with their history last month as they began to build a traditional dugout canoe for an exhibit at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. The canoe builders came to Alabama from Oklahoma in September to oversee the cutting of a massive poplar tree in Dadeville. Two logs were sawn from the tree, one of which went back to the Muscogee Creek Nation Cultural Center in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. There, it was made into the first of two dugout canoes. The second canoe is being built here. It’s a time-consuming process of scraping and burning, and it takes several hundred manhours to complete each canoe. The building team is looking forward to March, when the Alabama canoe will be completed. The finished canoe will be put on display in the Horseshoe Bend museum. Members of the Oklahoma Creek Nation plan to make a third trek to Alabama to attend the completion ceremony. ~ Mia Osborn
Arrests made in lake burglaries Three 17-year-old Montgomery residents were arrested last month in connection with a series of home burglaries in the Lake Martin area after an investigation that spanned several months. Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said a break in the case came when the department received a call of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Windy Trail in Jacksons Gap. Patrol units in the area determined that residences had been burglarized. The suspicious vehicle was observed in the immediate area and a patrol unit attempted to stop the vehicle. After a high-speed chase the vehicle was stopped in Alexander City. Stolen items from 10 lake residences was recovered in the investigation. ~ Mitch Sneed JANUARY 2016
LAKE 17
Building Trust... One Project at a Time! ALL WORK GUARANTEED
LAND OR WATER
FREE ESTIMATES!
• Gazebos • Seawalls • Pile Driving • Boathouses • Floating Docks • Boat Lifts • Step Systems • Decks
PLEASE GIVE US A CALL! (256) 268-8309 customdocksllc.com
CUSTOM DOCKS LLC
18 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Ready To Say Goodbye To Unwanted Hair Forever? The experienced aestheticians at The Wellness Center safely remove hair from all parts of the body: Lip • Chin • Sideburns Beard • Brow • Ears Arms • Back • Stomach Shoulders • Chest Neck • Under Arms Bikini • Brazillian Legs • Feet
We treat men, too! The latest technology, the most competitive prices!
WELLNESS CENTER AT LAKE MARTIN Call For an Appointment! (256) 825-2304 Mon. - Fri. 5:00am - 8:00pm • Sat. 7:00am - 12:00pm
201 Mariarden Road, Dadeville, AL • 256-825-7821 • www.lakemartinhospital.com A division of Ivy Creek Healthcare
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 19
It's official! FERC issues new license for Martin Dam that includes higher water levels for 30 years
A
STORY BY BETSY ILER & GRAPH BY AUDRA SPEARS
ny seawall or dock work in process on Lake Martin may need to be completed in less than three weeks, as water levels are expected to rise in conjunction with the much-anticipated new license the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued last month to Alabama Power Company for the operation of Martin Dam. As the vast majority of stakeholders
had hoped, the long-awaited license includes rule curve changes that require a winter pool level on Lake Martin at 484 feet (mean sea level) and the opportunity for a fall extension of the summer pool level of 491 feet when conditions are met. The new license will be effective for 30 years, so the higher lake levels are here to stay. Issued on Dec. 18, the license – and
the new rule curve stipulations – will become effective Jan. 20, and according to power company Hydro Services Manager Jim Crew, the water level will rise toward the new winter pool level as precipitation allows. “We still have to operate by the old license until the 20th,” Crew explained. “By the old license, we have about 10 more inches for the lake to drop to get to its lowest level on Dec. 31, so we
New Rule Curves for Lake Martin – Effective Jan. 20, 2016
20 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
will continue to operate to get there. By the old license, it would be February before the water level would rise, but we will change our operational mode to the new license on the 20th and start bringing the level up to the 484-foot level.” Depending on the amount of rainfall received in the 4,675-square-mile watershed, the lake might not reach the new, 3-foot higher winter pool mark before Feb. 28 (the date on which the lake begins to rise toward full summer pool), Crew said, but with sufficient precipitation, the level could be noticeably higher by mid-February. Crew said the power company is pleased with the license issued last month, and he is especially happy with the way FERC handled some additional items on which the company asked for clarification when FERC staffers issued their final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) last April. At that time, Alabama Power requested clarification of some land use classifications and implementation procedures for plans and programs that are not yet finalized. The license calls for monitoring of nuisance vegetation, reservation of more than 500 acres of public smallgame hunting land within the project boundary and a public education program for the conditional fall extension of the summer pool level. “We have the opportunity to further clarify some of those land use issues when we file a revised shoreline management plan (within one year of license issuance),” Crew said. The water level (rule curve) changes that FERC incorporated with the new license were hot issues with Lake Martin stakeholders. Studies conducted during the license application process
indicated higher water would substantially prolong recreational use of Lake Martin – with the potential to positively impact the local economy – and could increase property values for homeowners whose docks would enjoy yearround water with the new pool level. More than 730 individuals filed with comments with FERC in the matter, and FERC staffers saw unprecedented attendance (600-plus people) at a public hearing on the draft EIS held 18 months ago. Following that meeting, FERC staffers requested additional modeling from Alabama Power Company, and
JANUARY 2016
those modeling results showed that a change in pool levels could enhance recreational opportunities on the lake without proportionate substantial negative effects on downstream landowners and environmental concerns. The new license dictates procedures and practices covering a wide array of subjects pertaining to Lake Martin, from recreational improvements to wildlife studies, a new “Adopt an Island” program and more. Look for continued coverage of licensing provisions and developments in upcoming issues of Lake magazine.
LAKE 21
Cecily Lee skims across the lake on a Sea-Doo Wake Pro 215 from Russell Marine; Right: CACC ambassador Matt Wickham leaps for the pigskin at the lake while Emily Guill basks in the golden light of a fading sun
22 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Our 10th Annual
SWIMSUIT LIFESTYLE
&
Special Edition
In this our 10th Annual Swimsuit and Lifestyle Special Edition of Lake magazine, we highlight the Lake Martin lifestyle through interviews with local folks who live, work and play at the state’s only Treasured Alabama Lake. From boating to swimming, taking in the lake’s spectacular sunsets, paddleboarding, wave running and enjoying quiet moments on an island beach, Lake Martin promises the magic of great times with good friends in Alabama’s most beautiful county. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 23
Lake Martin Dock Company outfitted Cecily Lee for a great day at the lake with a Bote paddleboard for fun and a Yeti cooler to keep refreshments cold
24 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Taylor Jones, Shelbie McDougall, Alyssa Middlebrooks and Matt Wickham try to topple each other during an afternoon of fun on Lake Martin
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 25
Former CACC ambassador Shelbie McDougall looks forward to a career in nursing
26 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
G
Shelbie McDougall
The oldest of three children, Shelbie McDougall last year transferred from Central Alabama Community College to the nursing program at Auburn University. She is working now as a home health aide and finds satisfaction in helping patients do everyday things. “I first chose to go into nursing because a lot of my family is in the medical field,” she said. “There are a lot of family stories about nursing, and they have received awards for their work. That’s made an impression on me.” But McDougall could have made a different choice. Having played piano since age 5, she attended CACC on a music scholarship and played in the jazz ensemble. McDougall says CACC was a great “I don’t think I want a career introduction to the in music, but I like to play for my college experience family,” she said. The daughter of Johnny and Amanda Johnson and the late Billy McDougall graduated Valley High School and grew up riding horses. “I rode until I started college,” she said. “I will do that again sometime, but there is no time right now.” Being a CACC ambassador, she said, was a great introduction to the college experience. “But it wasn’t just an ambassador thing,” she said. “The teachers at CACC are awesome. They will spend one-onone time with you. They want to see you succeed.” She also loves Lake Martin. “I make time to be at the lake,” she said. “I like to ride the Jet Ski and go boating. I love late night cruises when it’s cool outside.” JANUARY 2016
LAKE 27
Laura and Heath Daniel, with their children, Madolyn, Gauge and Cole, joined Stacey and Eric McKinley and their children, Tess and Tripp, for some friends and family time at the lake in a Harris 220 Solstice from Singleton Marine Group
28 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 29
Our cover girl, Brooke McKenzie loves spending time on the lake with friends
30 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
A
Brooke McKenzie Brooke McKenzie grew up near Alexander City. A graduate of Benjamin Russell High School, she spent two years at Central Alabama Community College. Now a senior at Auburn University, McKenzie looks back fondly on her time on Lake Martin. “I loved to go out on the boat with my friends and ride Sea-Doos,” she said. Some of her favorite times were spent with friends at Chimney Rock, although she A graduate of BRHS, never made the leap that McKenzie attended CACC makes the island famous. before transferring to “All my friends jumped off, Auburn University but I didn’t. I was a big chicken,” she laughed. This careful outlook will serve her well in her career, which she hopes to spend working with children. McKenzie is majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She is preparing to complete her senior internship next fall. “What I would like to do is work at a preschool, and after that, at a nonprofit that helps children,” she said. She is the youngest daughter of Alyson and Mac McKenzie, and has one older sister, who was also featured in a Lake Swimsuit & Lifestyle issue. After graduating college, McKenzie hopes to stay close to the Auburn community she’s grown to love. But she doesn’t rule out the possibility of returning to her roots. “I would go back to Alex City, definitely,” she said. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 31
Brooke McKenzie enjoys the treat of a warm autumn day at the lake
32 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Laura and Heath Daniel, along with their children, Madolyn, Gauge and Cole, check out a Regal 2500 from Singleton Marine Group
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 33
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Administrator Cecily Lee loves to relax at the lake in her off time
34 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
E
Cecily Lee While Alexander City’s Cecily Lee vacationed at Lake Martin during college, she never dreamed she would one day meet a guy from here and move to the lake. “In 1999, my parents purchased a home on Lake Martin, and we would spend our weekends on the lake. I grew up on the water and would go up and down on a wakeboard or skis. Now that we have children, that’s where we relax and spend quality time with our family,” the Birmingham native said. Lee keeps active off the lake as well. She stays in shape and manages life’s stress with regular exercise, running and working out with a Boot Camp class twice a week. “It is hard to think about anything stressful in Boot Camp, because you are working so hard that you really can’t think at all,” she laughed. Not only did Lee follow her parents’ lead on enjoying all that Lake Martin has to offer, but she also followed in her father’s professional footsteps. The 35-year-old mother of two has been a nursing home administrator since she graduated the University of Alabama 13 years ago. For the last nine years, she has been administrator at Alexander City’s Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation. “I love it,” Lee said. “My dad is a nursing home administrator, and I grew up very familiar. I ran the halls as a youngster. I have always loved the environment and the residents. It’s the right fit for me. I have one younger brother who also does the same thing, so it’s in the family.” Lee is responsible for day-to-day operations of the skilled nursing facility, including compliance with regulations, patient care and managing the facility’s 80-plus employees. But the interaction with residents and their families is her favorite aspect of the position, she said. “A really good thing about a small town The 35-year-old like this is that families are very involved,” mother of two says civic opportunities in she explained. “I have an opportunity to the lake community get to know the families, and that’s so make it an attractive important. place to live “And I love the company I work for. Crowne Health Care owns 15 nursing homes and 10 assisted living facilities in Alabama. They’ve always had an excellent reputation, so when they offered this position to me, I jumped at the opportunity. It was the perfect opportunity to leave Birmingham and start a family in a small town.” Lee and her husband, Craig, a business consultant at Allegiance Staffing, have two boys: JANUARY 2016
LAKE 35
5-year-old Graham and 3-year-old Haig. In their off time, the Lees enjoy teaching their boys to love the lake as much as they do. “We get out on the boat and ride. We love Chimney Rock and Goat Island, and one of our favorite activities is to go by boat to Willow Point,” she said. They also take in festivities at Russell Crossroads, a favorite event being Christmas at the Crossroads on the day after Thanksgiving. The next day’s Iron Bowl contest, however, finds them cheering different football teams, as Craig is an Auburn fan, and Lee supports her alma mater. Another aspect of small town life that Lee embraces is the opportunity for civic work. “I love that in our small town there are lots of opportunities to get involved through churches, the Young Professionals and the Chamber of Commerce. If you want to be involved, there are always things to do,” she said. “I am on the Kiwanis board, and our goal is to serve children. That is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing that you are making a difference.”
Lee moved to the area nine years ago to direct day-to-day operations at Brown's Nursing and Rehabilitation
36 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Laura and Brian Dix found a quiet cove on Lake Martin to spend some time with their children Will and George on a Godfrey Pontoon Boat SanPan 2500 UL from Russell Marine
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 37
Cecily and Craig Lee get away together on a Sea Doo Wake Pro 215 from Russell Marine
38 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Cecily Lee settles into the luxurious comfort of a Four Winns 2016 Horizon 290 at Harbor Pointe Marina
Alyssa Middlebrooks, Taylor Jones, Shelbie McDougall and Matt Wickham stop to visit the residents of Lake Martin's Goat Island
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 39
After living in Atlanta, Guill enjoys the slower pace of life at the lake
40 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Kate Lipscomb and Brook Rauccio escape to the lake in a 2016 Reinhardt Lexus RX with an all new striking body style and advanced 3.5 liter V-6 and stunning interior that brings style into sharp focus; includes the luxury package
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 41
42 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Carol and Randy Lee Sr. take an afternoon boat ride with son Craig and daughter-in-law Cecily in a Sea Ray 350SLX from Russell Marine
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 43
Emily Guill Emily Guill is a recent addition to the Tallapoosa Publishers family. The 26-year-old took a break from her job as Marketing Coordinator to pose for our swimsuit issue and discuss what brought her to Lake Martin. Guill was raised in McDonough, Georgia. She graduated Union Grove High School and Mercer University in Macon. She majored in psychology and criminal justice and began working as a paralegal in Atlanta. She first heard about Lake Martin through her boyfriend, Will Abner, when he got a job as bar manager at When Emily Guill SpringHouse Restaurant. She had never visited Lake Martin been to a lake before she visited Lake for the first time, she fell in love Martin, and it was love at first sight. with the lake Guill said what she likes most about her new job is that she’s thrown into new social situations. “I’m not good at being confined to an office and not having a creative outlet,” Guill said. “Here, I get to go out and meet people.” She’s a member of the Lake Martin Young Professionals and believes the group plays an important part in drawing new talent to the community. “Young families and young people would be interested in moving here if they knew that other people were moving here. There’s a lot of stuff going on. You just have to find people,” she said. Although work and social life keep her busy, Guill said that the pace of her life here is still more relaxed than it was in Atlanta. She’s enjoying the freedom of lakeside life – including adopting a puppy from a local shelter, something she wouldn’t have been able to do in her former residence. “Life is a lot slower here. That’s how I want to spend my adult life,” said Guill. “I don’t want to go fast. I just want to be able to enjoy what I’m doing, and right now I do.”
44 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Emily takes a stroll along the waterfront at Jim Scott's garden
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 45
46 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Guill likes to relax lakeside after a hectic day at the office
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 47
Jacob and Lindsay Meacham take a tour of the lake in a Key West 239 FS (Family Series) from Russell Marine
48 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Libby and Robb Crumpton take their sons, Harris, Miller and Clay, for a thrilling ride on a Nautique All New 2016 G23 from Russell Marine
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 49
Team building activities at The Lodge and tossing a football are among Matt Wickham's favorite things to do at the lake
50 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 51
Matt Wickham In his second year as a Central Alabama Community College ambassador, Matt Wickham of Millbrook looks forward to transferring to Auburn or AUM to study nursing. The 2014 Stanhope Elmore graduate would like to become a traveling nurse and take jobs all across the country from New York to San Francisco. “I’d like to see what else is out Wickham will there,” Wickham said. transfer to Auburn or AUM this year The 19-year-old son of Laura to study nursing Lawrence and Kim Wickham is the youngest of three children. His older brother is in the Air Force, but it was his sister’s experience in the health care profession that pointed him in that direction. “I could see from talking to her that it’s a good career,” he said. Wickham played baseball in high school and enjoys skiing and tubing, as well as wakeboarding, when he’s at the lake. He’s also enjoyed being a CACC ambassador. “My favorite thing is going to the Lodge for team building activities,” he said. “There’s an obstacle course, and you have to come up with strategies to work through it. You have to know how to communicate with people and develop leadership.” The ambassador experience, he said, will continue to make a difference in his education, his work life and beyond.
52 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
CACC ambassadors Wickham and McDougall horse around at the lake
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 53
Dana and Matt Rickman take a Cobalt R5 Water Sports Series from Singleton Marine Group out for an afternoon on the lake
54 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 55
Taron Franklin hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps and take a job as a flight attendant
56 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
G
Taron Franklin
21-year-old Taron Franklin grew up in Wetumpka and attended Central Alabama Community College after graduating Elmore County High School. A new addition to the CACC ambassador program, Franklin is looking forward to starting her duties in sophomore year. “I’m so excited,” she said. Franklin hasn’t settled on a major yet but is leaning towards psychology or communications. She wants to take her time so she can choose the best course of study to help her land her dream job as a flight attendant with Delta or Southwest Airlines. Franklin feels a career with an airline would fit her outgoing personality and love of travel. She would also be carrying on a family tradition. “My mom was a flight attendant for 25 years. I just love travelling, seeing new places and meeting new people,” said Franklin. In the meantime, Franklin works as a 911 dispatcher. She recently took on a second job modeling for Atlanta-based modeling agency Red Models. Franklin said that modeling is as much a hobby as it is work. “I’ve been doing it in my spare time. It’s so much fun!” Taron is the daughter of Bill and Jane Franklin. She has a twin brother named Truman. If she Franklin is working her way could have any superpower, it through college as a 911 dispatcher and a model with would be the ability to teleport. an Atlanta-based agency “That way, I’d never have to be stuck in traffic,” she laughed. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 57
Chimney Rock is a favorite lake destination for CACC's Taron Franklin
58 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
The spacious and comfortable Landau 2500 Signature pontoon boat with a 250 Suzuki motor has plenty of room for a day of cruising at the lake with friends
And when the sunset is too beautiful to abandon until the sun's last ray is gone, the Signature's easy-to-see mood lighting will help you get home safely after a great day at the lake
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 59
Tripp, Tess, Eric and Stacey McKinley take in the view from a new Malibu Wakesetter from Singleton Marine Group
60 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 61
A
Alyssa Middlebrooks
Alyssa Middlebrooks of Eclectic has known mission work would be important in her life since she was 10 years old. “My grandparents took me on my first mission trip, and I knew then: I want to do this,” said the 20-year-old graduate of Elmore County High School. While she has a heart for working with children and loves the idea of opening an orphanage overseas, she also looks forward to making a career in broadcast journalism. “I’ve always enjoyed writing, and writing introduced me to journalism. I will be doing an internship with Fox News, because broadcast journalism is what I’d like to do,” Middlebrooks said. The daughter of Clint and Alicia Middlebrooks works at First Community Bank in Tallassee and last year taught Sunday school for the 2-year-olds at Santuck Baptist Church, in addition to her responsibilities as a Central Alabama Community College ambassador. “I absolutely love kids,” she said. She transferred to AUM last fall but holds dear the Middlebrooks relationships she formed treasures the as a student at CACC. time she is able to spend “I’ve made lifelong at the lake friends. Invest in relationships,” she advised. 62 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Alyssa Middlebrooks majors in broadcast journalism at AUM
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 63
Alyssa Middlebrooks finds the perfect perch on a rock above Martin Dam
64 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
The Landau Atlantis 230 pontoon boat with a 150 Yamaha motor offers traditional, luxury seating for a more comfortable ride on the water.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 65
The Daniel, Rickman and McKinley families take off in a new Axis A24 from Singleton Marine Group
Former CACC ambassador Brooke McKenzie prefers a quiet beach to jumping from Lake Martin's Chimney Rock
66 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 67
Check out these new products and more while supplies last. Faucet Covers on SALE for
1.59
$
LAKE MARTIN BUILDING SUPPLY
2695 Dadeville Road
68 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
256.234.5500
Alexander City, AL
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 69
Welcomes Phillip Cantrell to our team!
The Best Just Keep Getting Better® AMANDA SCROGGINS cell 256.749.6634
amanda@amandascroggins.com www.amandascroggins.com
PHILLIP CANTRELL cell 334.224.9687
pcantrell49@gmail.com
5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL • Office: 256-329-LAKE (5253)
70 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 71
Memoirs of a Water Monitor Site 8 sampler finds beauty and peace in testing ritual
T
serve the quality of our lake and, more imporwenty years ago, I got a little black box tantly, our drinking water. We truly need to keep a filled with chemicals, test tubes and watch out for the next threat. instructions. Then, I was a newly certified So once a month, I started testing the quality of water monitor, having successfully completed the water from my dock in StillWaters. Over the the training program offered by Dr. Bill Deutsch years, I’ve had more than a few slack periods and through Auburn University’s Alabama Water skipped my testing due to lack of time or poor Watch program. memory. But I’ve never waivered in my belief We’d been living on the lake for two years, and that the work done by Lake Watch water monitors for many more, I had been committed to environis important and valuable. mental causes. Taking a short course and walking LAKE WATCH Over the past three decades, we’ve collectively down to the lake once a month to test the water BY KATHRYN BRAUND established chemical baselines that measure what seemed like the least I could do to help the planet, healthy water should be, and we’ve built an incredible database and the Lake Watch of Lake Martin folks were delighted to of testing results for sites all over Lake Martin. welcome me into the fold as a water quality monitor. They At one board meeting a long time ago, we discussed quickly set me up with a test site: in my own backyard. the cost and trouble of repeated testing that frequently That’s how I became “Site 8” on the lake. yielded basically the same results. We’ve done it, some said. Dick and Mary Ann Bronson, Woodfin Martin, Virginia Shouldn’t that be enough? Pietrzykowski and a host of others began the Lake Watch The answer is no. Lake Martin organization as a response to serious issues – Who knows when some biohazard will shift the pH as the textile dye and other pollutants being discharged through an first indicator of serious trouble? What happens if, over time, Alexander City wastewater treatment plant directly into the we note small shifts in alkalinity or hardness? What can the lake. dissolved oxygen content of sites tell scientists about the health By the time I arrived, their determined activism had taken care of the most serious issues, but like them, I firmly believed of our lake? My own turbidity measurements clearly showed the effect that the citizen watchdog approach was the best way to pre-
Kathryn Braund takes pleasure in the relaxing practice of taking water samples at sunset
72 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
of developer activities on the lake. The results of decades of data is a solid foundation that is needed to identify – and to fight – threats to the health of the cleanest lake in Alabama and the state’s one and only Treasured Alabama Lake. Over the years, we’ve collected a mass of data that could be more valuable than gold come the next lawsuit. And so, each month, we water monitors grab our little black boxes of chemicals and test tubes and collect samples. It isn’t hard to do. The tests are simple and don’t take much time. In fact, through the years, in my most hectic moments when I have to squeeze my little trip to the dock into a packed schedule, I often reflect that some of the most peaceful moments I’ve had on the lake are the brief but intensely satisfying moments when I’m doing my testing. It has become a ritual and a way to pay back the water for the beauty and pleasure it has provided to me and to so many others. When I dawdle and watch the sunlight dance on the water, I can spend an hour doing my testing. When I’m pressed for time and determined, a half hour will accomplish the same thing. It takes less than 10 minutes to upload the data to the computer database maintained by Auburn University’s Water Watch professionals. My observations become part of a statewide peek into the health of our collective water system. Data may be seen through the Alabama Water Watch website at www.alabamawaterwatch.org/water-data/. Reports and other data on Lake Martin can be found at lakewatch.org. Some of my Lake Watch peers are trained in bacteriological testing. They are pretty popular when E. coli outbreaks threaten, and the first line of defense is needed in cleaning up swimming and fishing holes. Some of the most dedicated water monitors can also do biological assessments of streams, counting the snails, clams and the myriad water creatures scooped up from healthy streams and water bodies. They are also teachers, inspiring the next generation in stewardship and respect for the water. Taken together, our efforts insure that Lake Martin will remain a Treasured Alabama Lake. Clean water isn’t something to take for granted. In most of the world, clean water that won’t make you sick and that is plentiful enough for agriculture and recreation isn’t a given. We are fortunate at Lake Martin. Tallapoosa County was recently named as the “most beautiful county” in Alabama, thanks largely to that fantastic amenity we simply call “the lake.” Our lake is not only beautiful; it also is clean and safe to swim in, and you can eat the fish that you catch. Please help keep it that way. Support the efforts of our local water quality monitors. Better yet, sign up and become an AWW monitor yourself. You’ll learn a great deal and have a lot of fun, and you’ll be doing something good for your environment at the same time. Water monitoring is fun and easy! To find out how to become certified, contact info@lakewatch.org. Lake Watch covers all costs for training and equipping volunteers. The value of your contribution: Priceless! Kathryn Braund is president of Lake Watch Lake Martin. For information about Lake Watch, visit lakewatch.org. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 73
Looking for the perfect Lake Martin Area home?
Contact us today.
TRILLIUM
TIMBER C COVE OVE
4 BR, 3.5 BA • $892,500
WILLOW POINT
5 BR, 3 BA • $639,900
LARGE PRESTIGIOUS LAKE LOT • $429,000
HWY 280
COMMERCIAL • $175,000
FIRST FIRS ST S STREET, TREET ECLEC ECLECTIC C CTIC C
WINDERMERE
4 BR, 3 BA • $549,000
5 BR, 3.5 BA • $449,000
DOBBS O S ROAD O
MONROE STREET
3 BR, 2 BA • $172,500
AMANDA SCROGGINS amanda@amandascroggins.com w ww. am a n d as c ro g g i n s . c o m 2 5 6 -7 4 9 -6 6 3 4
2 BR, 2 BA • $79,500
SAMANTHA SPURLIN sam@samanthaspurlin.com www.s amant has purlin.c o m 256-786-0650
office 256.329.LAKE (5253) • 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
FORD
Have a safe and prosperous 2016 from your friends at Tallapoosa Ford.
1551 Hwy 280, Alexander City, AL 256.234.3432 www.tallapoosaford.com 74 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Hold off the headache N
Time is the only cure for a hangover. Coffee, ow that the holidays are behind us, let’s specifically caffeine in any form, is another diuretdo a quick review of some of the tips ic that robs water from the brain, causing it to from the past year. Not interested in what shrink and pull away from the skull and resulting wine goes with turkey or the difference between in more headache. brut and extra dry Champagne? What do you To minimize the ill effects, eat before you start mean you never want to see another Cabernet drinking, stay hydrated with water and/or fruit Sauvignon? Sounds like you’re still nursing a juice and have a snack to settle your stomach hangover. New Year’s Eve was a lo-o-o-ng day for when the point arrives. some of us. At the onset, replace fluids, especially the Common symptoms of a hangover include electrolytes, which replenish some of the salt and headache – often raging – dry mouth, gastrointespotassium that was lost, and if necessary, take a tinal distress and nausea. Other signs of overindulpain reliever, which may cause stomach irritation gence that may exist simultaneously are dizziness, FROM THE CELLAR or liver damage, so do that in moderation. Yeah, fatigue, anxiety, sweating and excitability. BY HENRY FOY moderation. Most people know that. What actually causes a Looking ahead, 2016 could be interesting. hangover, besides the obvious excess consumption There’s talk of Sunday alcohol sales in Tallapoosa County, and of ethanol, is not well understood. it’s an election year; change is in the air. Ethanol? Yes, the intoxicating agent in liquors, wine and We’ll continue searching for great wines and throw in a little beer, also called grain alcohol and ethyl alcohol, is the same beer. We'll explore the world of Saki and Sherry and investigate one that causes problems in small engines, specifically outunfamiliar regions and producers. door power equipment. The process for manufacturing the For example, here are a couple of new brews that have most widely used recreational drug in the world and the EPA approved fuel additive is essentially the same: grains, fruits and come into our market from Small Town Brewery of La Crosse, Wisconsin, population 52,000 and home of University of vegetables are fermented and distilled for further refining. Wisconsin-La Crosse. The goal there is to make specialty beers In your lawn mower, weed eater and chainsaw, the ethanolthat “utilize unique ingredients with an unmistakable taste of blended fuels burn significantly hotter than regular gasoline, nostalgia.” These are the people who make Not Your Father’s creating the potential for small engines to overheat. Ethanol Root Beer and Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale. makes these fuels corrosive, and they absorb airborne moisture The 5.9 percent ABV root beer is described as ale flavored more readily, which in humid areas like Alabama can make with spices. It is bold, sweet, smooth and spicy. One of our ignition very difficult. Ethanol-free fuel is the best way to go early tasters called it “dangerously good.” for your outdoor tools and even some of your toys. That would Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale is also 5.9 percent alcohol and eliminate one headache. is described as ale brewed with ginger. The taste profile is crisp, The hangover headache can also be minimized. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing the production of urine, floral, grassy and fruity-spiced. It is quite possibly the best ginger ale you will ever drink. because the kidneys and liver require more water to dilute the I like a good ginger beer, which is usually non-alcoholic; toxins imbibed. The frequent urination that follows is not just beer, wine or spirits; it is also the additional water that the body this is not ginger beer but beer (ale) brewed with ginger. One is redistributed from other organs, including the brain. That’s why fermented, and the other is essentially a carbonated beverage of water, sugar and ginger. the head hurts. By the way, I personally never cared for or indulged in root Dehydration is thought to be a primary factor in what causes beer but give both of these craft beers high marks. They are a hangover, but alcohol also irritates the stomach lining, causwell balanced and full of flavor, unlike many of the heavy-oning abdominal pain and nausea. It causes blood sugar to drop, the-hops craft and high gravity beers that first hit the market. resulting in fatigue, balance issues and general weakness, and Note that when the Alabama legislature raised the alcohol blood vessels to expand, leading to more headaches. limit to allow high gravity beer in this state, the world did not The severity of these symptoms would be greater when come to an end. The King of Beers is still King in these parts, drinking on an empty stomach, smoking while drinking and despite strong – really strong – growth in the craft beer sector. drinking darker colored beverages. The compounds that add That means there will be a lot of crazy new beers coming into color and flavor to alcohol are likely to contribute to a hangthe market, and we’ll be watching. over. These chemicals are called congeners. Congeners are toxic compounds created during fermentation Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine, Café 128, and distillation. Darker beverages, such as whiskies, brandies Gallery 128 at 128 Calhoun Street. He can be reached at and red wines, have more congeners than lighter alternatives, 256.212.WINE, on Facebook and at emporium128@bellsouth. including gin, vodka or white wine. More expensive alcohol net. generally contains fewer congeners due to the higher level of refinement and a more rigorous distillation process. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 75
FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
FABULOUS FINDS
19 Foxglove Lane, Alexander City • $117,500 Foxglove Lane in River Oaks. Flat lake lot with deep water! First Realty Call Bill Whatley 256-234-5163 • 1-800-471-LAKE www.LakeMartinHomes.net
49 Dabbs Circle • $349,000 Cozy A-Frame cabin on beautiful Lake Martin...3BD/2BA situated on a deep water cove. Lovely sunroom overlooking the lake and a rock fireplace to enjoy. Has security system, storage bldg., beautiful landscaping and carport. Enjoy the lake from lg. dock w/boatlift and seawall. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
63 Wind Trace, Alexander City • $449,000 YOUR MONEY COULDN’T BUY MORE...in this 5Br/3.5Ba home located in the upscale neighborhood of Windermere West! Open Fam Rm w/18ft ceilings,FP, hardwood floors, lots of windows open to deck. Eat-in kit w/huge pantry, formal DR w/tray ceiling & crown molding. Master BR on main w/fp & lg bath w/ separate tub & shower. 3BR, 1BA upstairs, 2BR&/or study, 1BA & 2nd family rm downstairs. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com
684 Long Pine Road, Eclectic • $892,500 This Incredible Lake Home is in a class by itself... features lovely arched, french entrance doors. Main level is uniquely designed w/two family rooms w/stone FPs; soaring ceilings, plantation shutters, gorgeous pine floors, beautiful crown molding, great open gourmet kit. w/SS appliances, granite, lovely light fixtures. Master Suite on main features 2-tier tray ceiling, gorgeous view of the lake. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
57 Lakeview Point Alexander City • $319,000 Super home, Great price on Lake Martin! Lots of room, city convenience, located in Raintree! Private, quiet cove. Low maintenance brick, w/natural landscape, nice view and yr. round water. Main level has 3BD/2BA, high angled ceiling in open FR/DR, nice kit/BR combo, laundry, hardwood floors, new storm windows throughout. Basement level completely finished w/ 2BD/1BA, 2nd FR, office, extra storage, tile, two-car garage, boardwalk to lake, seawall w/walk around boardwalk. A must see! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com
1914 Dobbs, Alexander City • $172,500 If you’re in the market for a lovely, well-built and wellmaintained brick home, we have just what you need! Located in the established neighborhood of Dobbs Subdivision, 3BD/2BA, w/oversized bedrooms, lg. closets, solid wood doors, new recessed lighting in kit. and FR, storm windows, lg. laundry and abundant cabinets in kit. Formal LR/DR, cedar lined closets. Fenced in back yard w/ spacious vaulted stone patio and built-in bcue pit. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
76 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Lake Martin 3.0
What market change will the new license bring?
T
rent their properties out right now, but not that he wait is over. We knew it was coming. many when you compare us to the beach, etc. That was made clear back in April of 2015, Why? but until we got the real copy of the FERC I think it is because of the relative novelty of license in our (digital) hands, we did not dare the Lake Martin home ownership support indusstrut too much. Now we know the reality – for try. I don’t think this is an actual term, so I will the next 30 years, as long as the Lord God sends try to define what I am saying. enough rain, Lake Martin will only drop 7 feet in As uptown as Lake Martin has become in the the winter as opposed to 10. Plus, we will have a last 15 years, we are still in our infancy of comchance to keep the tub full until Oct. 15 instead of panies that help one own a home, condo or lot pulling the plug after Labor Day. LAKE PROPERTY here. Remember that about 80 percent of waterWe at Lake Martin can now settle back and BY JOHN COLEY front homeowners are not living here full time. In confidently plan how the next 30 years will be. 30 other second home markets, like the beach or the mountains, years! That’s practically a generation. I think the best way to consider this new license is to think about its long-term effects there are plenty of companies that will do more than just come by and cut your grass. There are entire businesses dedicated to – effects that will come to bloom and blossom over a generation. As I have written previously, the new rule curve will only concierge services, such as checking on your home’s condition serve to improve Lake Martin and therefore our entire commu- every couple of weeks, or helping you light your hot water heater’s pilot light, or filling your kitchen full of groceries so nity and economy. This help, I think, seems pretty obvious to you don’t have to shop before you come. Sure, these services anyone that scans the new license. might cost a bit, but for many people it will ease some of the As I review the new FERC license, the first thing to grab my attention was a mention of those previous. The original one worries of owning a second home that’s three hours from their primary residence. for Martin Dam started in 1923 and lasted 50 years. The next When something is easier to own, it creates more demand. period was a 40-year license that started in 1973. So we are More demand helps prices. Higher purchase prices mean more starting only our third license. Martin Dam 3.0. When you put people will also want to rent from you. It’s easier to rent your it like that, it makes the lake seem pretty young, but in reality, home when you have a concierge company that can help you radical change has come here since the start of our last license winterize it when you need to, or change a bulb, or replace a in 1973. sofa. Looking at the big picture, I would say that the biggest Will concierge companies totally change Lake Martin and change agent since 1973 was the development of private propusher in a significant number of Lake Martin investors? Who erty. Prior to 1973, there weren’t many places on Lake Martin where you could own your own lot and home. Think about it – knows what will happen. But I do think that as Lake Martin becomes more popular in the next 30 years, we certainly will Russell Lands, the lake’s largest private landowner and develsee more of them. And, I think that Lake Martin’s competitiveoper, had only recently started Willow Point, its first venture. ness versus other second home markets will be largely deterAlabama Power, the other big landowner, had sold very few, mined by support industries and the like. Just as the rise of the if any, lots. In the 1970s, if you had a cabin on Lake Martin, homeowner was a huge influence on the second license period, most likely it was the short-term rental of an Old Testament Russell Cabin or you owned your home but leased the lot from the rise of the investor could well be a big factor in the third. And by the way, for those that might be worried about over Alabama Power. When you’re a renter, or at least a quasi-renter, there is little development ruining Lake Martin, take heart. There are oodles of restrictions that the new license puts on Alabama Power. or no economic incentive to improve it. Even if the power company were not committed to responsible As ownership spread in the 1980s and 1990s, so did the by stewardship of Lake Martin (which it is), the new license is products of ownership – stores, phone lines, garbage service very specific about the use of about every inch of our waterand Internet. In the 2000s, it just kept going to include issues front. like environmental advocacy. Do you care as much about the Whether you are a renter, owner, investor, worker, boater or water quality of a place that you rent casually? Or do you just a fan of Lake Martin, the next 30 years will be fun. Lord really start paying attention when you are an owner? willing, I can’t wait to see how it will unfold! What new factor will play a big role in the next 30 years? It is hard for me to say. If I were forced to guess I would say John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice it will be the rise of the Lake Martin investor. An investor can Realty. He is also the author of the blog Lake Martin Voice at be someone that rents the property 100 percent of the time, or LakeMartinVoice.com. maybe a minority of the time. Yes, there are some owners that JANUARY 2016
LAKE 77
Take a wellness approach to 2016
W
and progress. Ask yourself these important hen you hear someone say they questions for the following nine areas of are “living a healthy lifestyle” or wellness. “living a good life” or “living life First, what is your current level (between to its fullest,” what does that actually mean? 1-10)? Second, what is stopping you from It could mean that everything is perfect, or a improving? Third, what is your short-term person is doing well in social, health, wealth goal? What is your long-term goal? And or spiritual aspects of life. It could mean that what can you do throughout the day or week a person is spending lots of time with family to improve? and friends, enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Physical Wellness is the foundation to A healthy person usually chooses not to achieving overall wellness. Physical wellness smoke, maintains a healthy weight, eats a encompasses fitness, nutrition and self-care. good diet, thinks positively, feels relaxed, HEALTHY LIVING Do you have a regular exercise routine? exercises regularly and exhibits good solid BY JULIE HUDSON Do you incorporate a variety of healthy food relationships, benefitting from a good balmost days? Do you hydrate with plenty of ance in life. water? Do you set enough time aside to take care of yourThe World Health Organization defines health as a self? Do you have a set time to relax and reenergize? Are complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, you getting enough sleep to allow your body to rejuvenot just simply the absence of disease. Healthy living nate? means a person is taking the steps or actions necessary to Emotional wellness is the state of being calm or achieve optimal health. It’s about taking responsibility for stressed. Ask yourself if you have dysfunctions taking and making smart health decisions for now and for the over your life? Do you experience joy and contentment future. in your life? Do you have negatives that overwhelm you, It does not mean you have to be intense; rather, the term refers to your ability to progress while maintaining a such as anger or resentment? Social wellness means you foster relationships well. sense of balance, order and harmony through change and Do you have good relationships with family and friends? challenges. Healthy living is not about having it all, but Mental wellness means you are mentally stable. What instead having the right combination of simple things that are you addicted to? Do you take any antidepressants? work well together for your lifestyle. Nutrition and physical fitness play very important roles in Research has shown that you must believe and feel a stable mental wellness state. deep down that this vision you have for your future can Spiritual wellness is a way to calm the mind. Do you actually happen now. It is imperative to recognize how to pray or meditate in the morning, during the day or before achieve a sense of fulfillment, joy and contentment. you go to sleep? Living life to its fullest is about making the most out Financial wellness means evaluating your financial of your life, the situation you live in and your world. It situation. Are you looking for ways to improve your is about making the most of what you have, doing whatever you can to improve your situation and develop into a financial situation on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Intellectual wellness indicates you are willing to learn. well-balanced, well-rounded and loving person. Are you learning something new and inspiring every day? A healthy lifestyle can be achieved by making small Occupational wellness affects what you do on a daily adjustments in one or all of the nine areas of wellness. basis. How can you improve what you do? What do you It begins by making small, positive decisions within you and then turning those decisions into actions. These small really want to do with yourself? Environmental wellness is an assessment of your surpositive decisions, along with small, positive changes, roundings. How is your environment at home, school, make for big results that will improve your life every day work and during leisure time? Is the environment very and make an impact toward your future. bad, bad, okay, good, very good or excellent? Patience and persistence is a must. I like the example Update your answers to these questions on a reguof laying one brick at a time to build the castle of your lar basis. Remember it is up to you whether or not you dreams. Be the architect and the builder of your lifestyle. improve your lifestyle. Investing in yourself does not If you are excited at the thought of improving your mean you are selfish; it actually means quite the opposite. lifestyle, start by working on the nine areas of wellness. As we begin 2016 together, I would like to say Happy Evaluate how you are doing in each of the areas; make changes in the areas that you feel are necessary; and then, New Year to everyone, and I wish you a year filled with Healthy Living! review your outcome. Begin by identifying the steps and be creative in your Julie Hudson is a dietician at the Lake Martin Wellness strategy to take action. Set aside a journal to help you track your thoughts regarding your current situation, goals Center in Dadeville. 78 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
Sunchoke and Brussels Sprouts Pasta Ingredients
1 pound fresh sunchokes, peeled and rough chopped 2 cups milk 10 Brussels sprouts, trimmed 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 cloves smashed garlic 1 pound spaghetti Small chunk of Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place sunchokes, milk and garlic in a heavy bottomed pot and bring to a simmer. Cook until a toothpick can easily be removed from sunchoke. Place contents of pot along with heavy cream in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth; if mixture won’t blend add a little more milk. Once smooth and the consistency of a thick soup, cool and reserve. Blanch Brussels sprouts in boiling salted water until
tender (30-45 seconds); then place in ice water. Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a large saucepan, heat sunchoke purée over medium high heat; then add Brussels sprouts and pasta. Toss everything well; season with salt and pepper to taste. If sauce seems a little thick add a few tablespoons of milk. Place in serving bowl and microplane a generous amount of fresh Parmesan over the top; drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of fresh black pepper. 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 and a threetime James Beard Foundation nominee.
CHEF’S TABLE
BY ROB MCDANIEL
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 79
Technology: New sonar a big advantage to fishermen
A
t a trade show a couple of years ago, someone asked me what I thought was the biggest advancement in our age of fishing. I contemplated the great improvements that I have seen in my short time on the water: rods, reels, hardbaits, soft plastics, fishing line/lines, boats, motors, anchors, apparel – the list could certainly go on. My eventual answer was “electronics.” We anglers use this term or “graphs” to refer to the instruments mounted on our boats that resemble small televisions. They are essentially computers that give us 80 LAKE
real data about what’s going on in the water column and on the bottom beneath and around our boats at any moment. These instruments used to be called “depth finders,” or “fish finders,” but they are so much more than that now, and there is a real race taking place among manufacturers of these devices to meet the growing demands of the angling community. As a result, more tools are available to us for fish location than ever before. According to some quick online research, the
JANUARY 2016
I use side-view sonar primarily to identify variword “sonar” originated an acronym for SOound ous types of cover along the bottom. With side-view Navigation And Ranging. The technique uses sound sonar, rocks look like rocks; trees look like trees; signals and echoes to detect objects on or under the logs look like logs. Unfortunately, though, fish don’t surface of the water. always look just like fish, but with a trained eye, Most of the electronics tools that I use to identify fish or objects in the water incorporate sonar in some you will be able to identify fish to the side of the boat and occasionally get a good idea of form or fashion. I won’t attempt the just how many are there. You can also see task of defining how each one works. changes in depth, like a ledge or a hump. That’s mainly because I’m still learning It wasn’t long after side-view sonar that myself about the technical aspects of we saw the introduction of down-view sonar. I will tell you how I use the difsonar. Initially, down-view sonar may ferent versions of sonar to help me find seem pretty much the same as traditional and catch fish. After all, that’s what we 2D sonar. The best way to describe downare after when we purchase any of these view sonar is that it gives you a more high-dollar fish finders. defined picture of what’s beneath the boat. The first and the most common is It seems to me to do a better job at sepwhat we often refer to as “2D” or “twoarating targets, so you can see fish posidimensional” traditional sonar. This is tioned in a brush pile or tightly grouped the version where you will often see on one side or another of a rock pile. fish appear as arches on the screen. BIG CATCHES One negative I’ve noticed with downTraditional sonar looks directly BY GREG VINSON view versus traditional sonar is that it is beneath the boat. It’s best used for not as helpful if you are moving at a speed identifying fish and baitfish or lookgreater than a fast idle. Treat down-view as a way to ing at changes in depth. You can also tell when you really pick an area apart once you’ve identified some are over bottom-oriented objects, like brush, rocks, potential through traditional sonar. weeds or stumps, but it can be difficult to discern The latest revolution in sonar that I have seen was exactly what the object is. introduced by Garmin. I don’t know the specific Traditional sonar is great for determining at what term, but they call their version Panoptix. My experidepth the fish and baitfish are, and it can be very ence with it is limited right now, but I have already useful for vertical presentations, like jigging spoons seen enough to comprehend the potential of what or drop shotting. this feature can do. Mapping is a very critical aspect of electronics Essentially, it is like traditional sonar, or so it today as well. When GPS mapping is used in concert appears until a fish swims out in front of the boat. with traditional sonar, you can literally pull up to This feature looks out in front of the boat, and it a spot that matches your pattern. If you are lookupdates so quickly that the movements of the fish, ing for certain types of points – long, short, deep or shallow – you can look on the map. Chances are that or any other object – such as your bait – are in real time. The end result is a picture on the graph that particular point will be laid out almost exactly as it looks a lot like a radar view. appeared on your map. The Panoptix feature has grid lines that show you This same approach can be applied to other how far away the fish is and how deep it is. The first aspects of a fishery, such as humps, pockets, creeks, banks and just about any other feature you can imag- time I got to try it, I saw a fish on my screen cruising over 25 feet of water. I pitched a jigging spoon ine. You can find and fish sections of the lake that are steeper by looking for contour lines that are close out the distance that it appeared to be from the boat and let it sink. together. Or you can find areas that are flatter by Bang! I caught that fish. I haven’t begun to see looking for contour lines that are more spread out. If you have caught fish in an area before, you can mark what I can really do with this new technology, but I can tell you I am very excited after that experience. it by creating a waypoint; then, you will always be Electronics manufacturers seem to make great able to return to that exact spot. strides each and every year as they battle for the latAs two-dimensional graphing was to the flasher, est and greatest graphs. In the end, the beneficiary so was the introduction of side-imaging sonar. The is the angler who can learn to incorporate this new beauty of side imaging is that you are now able to technology into the game. look at a large swath of the bottom to the left and the right of the boat, and the objects appear threeGreg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on dimensional. the Bassmaster Elite Series and PAA tours. He lives You can designate distances up to 300 feet or in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. more. The ability to look at an area nearly two football fields wide across the bottom can narrow your search very quickly. JANUARY 2016
LAKE 81
82 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
3 Feet
Pro Tips From Lee Williams It seems to me that the closer to the hole you get the harder golf can be. I’m not sure why this is, but for a lot of golfers, this is reality. A large portion are deathly afraid of the 3- to 4-foot putt. There are a few suggestions I want to make that will change your attitude toward these short putts. The number one thing I see with golfers who struggle on short putts is they are looking for where the ball is going before they have even struck the ball. Instead, look for the blades of grass underneath the ball. A great drill to do on the putting green is get a permanent marker and make a black dot on the green 3 feet from the hole. Place your ball on top of the black dot and when you putt, watch for the black dot. Once you see the dot, count to two. This will give your ball a much higher opportunity to go in. Next up is speed. Golfers who have missed a lot of these putts become scared. Being afraid brings on hesitation. They become afraid to hit the ball hard enough and instead make tentative strokes because they are nervous of the comeback putt. If you are afraid of the comeback putt, you have already put missing in your brain. Instead, you should be focused on making the first putt. To do that, you must make a confident stroke, after which the ball dives into the hole, as opposed to peaking in the hole. If you can keep you head down and your mind focused on making the first putt by using a confident stroke, you will look forward to those short putts. Good Luck! Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing golf 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.
U.S. holds top spots as golf returns to the Olympics this year Four U.S. men and three U.S. women could well be among the first to play golf at the International Olympic Games in more than 100 years when the sport returns to the Summer Games in Brazil this year. Those meeting the International Golf Federation (IGF) eligibility requirements as of Dec. 22 include Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson for the men's team and Stacey Lewis, Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr for the women's team. To make the team, these golfers will have to retain their positions among the top 15 players in the world through the first half of 2016. Restricted to a field of 60 players for each competition, the IGF qualification system will use the official world rankings to determine eligibility. The top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible, with a limit of four per country. Nations that do not already have two or more players among the top 15 will be allowed eligibility of up to two players. With Spieth ranked at number one; Watson at number four; and Fowler and Johnson ranked six and eight, respectively, the U.S. is the only country with four men among the top 15. South Korea is the only country with four women among the top 15 in the world rankings, followed by the U.S. with three women in the ranks. Golfers will play 72 holes of individual stroke play in four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days with cumulative scores from round to round. Groups will play in groups of three off the first tee. The Olympic golf event will be played Aug. 11-14 on a 71-par course built 6 miles from Olympic Village at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra. Golf will be included in the Games in 2016 and 2020, after which participation will be re-evaluated an a decision made as to its continuance.
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 83
Legend
63
17
21
To Sylacauga
16
10
Public Boat Ramps
22
280
Alexander City
12
Churches 9
Camps & Parks
Camp ASCCA
Flint Hill Church
Power lines U.S. Highways
3
280
11
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
63
19 20
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church New Hope Church
Liberty Church
Willow Point
24
34
5
7
Equality
Kowaliga Boat Landing
55
4
Seman
8
Camp Alamisco
15 The Ridge
1 9
Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis
63
Trillium
18
2
The Amp Ko
wa
lig
aB
ay
80
9
Central
90
Union
ELMORE COUNTY Union Church
Red Hill 63
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
13 Kent
84 LAKE
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor
JANUARY 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 270 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
Jacksons Gap 280
53. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 8300 Parker Creek Marina Rd, Equality, AL 36026
Bethel Church
14
Dadeville
57
280
Camp Hill
Smith Landing
Church of the Living Waters
Stillwaters
144. Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 15 256-794-1333 111 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 164. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com . McDaniels Storage Center 17 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010
Restaurants
18. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
76. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 86. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Business & Shopping 10 4 Tallapoosa Ford 256-234-3432 1551 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49
134. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
62. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Highway 49 South, Dadeville, AL 36853
9 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Pleasant Ridge Church
124. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010
19 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36024
Hotels & Lodging 2. Creekside Lodge & Conference and Event Center 20 256-307-1440 6993 Hwy.49 S, Dadeville, AL 36853 21 Cherokee Bend Bed & Breakfast 877-760-7854 5833 Highway 22 East, Alex City 35010
11 5. Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
20
6
Walnut Hill 50 50
49
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. Reeltown
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 85
Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Alex City Marine Aliant Bank 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 Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place PNC Bank Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34
DADEVILLE American Motorsports Aliant Bank Bay Pine Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foodland Foshee Boat Dock Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community
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
H
OLMAN
“WE’RE
F
LOOR
C
OMPANY
THE PROFESSIONALS”
Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate! Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
residential. commercial. interior. exterior.
Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting
334-651-0033AL/706-225-8070 GA
columbus-auburn.certapro.com 1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294,Auburn,AL36830
334-332-3435 Since 2008
86 LAKE
JANUARY 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
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
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 87
Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 21
Henderson and Coker......................................... 88
Reinhardt Lexus.................................................... 41
Advanced Cardiovascular...................................... 8
Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 69
RE/MAX Around the Lake.................................. 70
Advanced Heating & Air...................................... 89
Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 92
Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8
Alex City Guide Service...................................... 68
Holman Floor......................................................... 86
Russell Marine.........................37-38, 42-43, 48-49
Alex City Marine............................................ 59, 65
James & Co............................................................. 21
Russell Medical Center.......................................... 2
Alex City Taxi & Shuttle...................................... 87
Kenneth Ingram, JR............................................... 89
Satterfield................................................................... ?
Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........74
Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 86
Security Pest Control............................................ 8
Atkinson Home..................................................... 87
Lake Martin Building Supply............................... 68
Seibel's..................................................................... 67
Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 86
Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 19
Singleton Marine Group.......28-29, 33, 54-55, 60-61, 66
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation....................... 34
Lake Martin Dock................................................. 24
Southern Star Alpaca Farm................................... 6
C&T Electric............................................................ 8
Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 89
SportzBlitz.............................................................. 82
CACC.......................... 26-27, 52-53, 56-57, 62-63
Lakeside Concierge.............................................. 86
State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........86
CertaPro Painters................................................. 86
Lakeside Excavation.............................................. 87
State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........87
Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 86
Langley Funeral Home........................................... 6
Tallapoosa Ford..................................................... 74
Com-Link, Inc........................................................... 4
Mark King's Furniture............................................ 3
Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 69
Custom Docks....................................................... 18
Mitchell's Upholstery............................................. 8
Temple Medical Center....................................... 89
DAVCO Development......................................... 87
Music Depot........................................................... 87
TNT Stone............................................................. 21
Designs by Trish....................................................... 5
Odd Jobs................................................................. 71
TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5
Docks Unlimited..................................................... 5
Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......87
United Rentals....................................................... 89
First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8
Painting By Allen.................................................... 87
Walmart.................................................................. 87
First Realty............................................................... 6
Phillip Cantrell, RE/MAX Around the Lake.....70
Ware Jewelers....................................................... 91
George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 68
Radney Funeral Home........................................... 6
Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8
Harbor Pointe Marina.......................................... 39
Rambo Marine....................................................... 18
WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 73
88 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
364 Highway 280 Alexander City, AL 35010
(P) 256-329-1180 (F) 256-329-1173
We Believe in Quality Products
5% Sales Tax Mon. - Fri. 10-5 Sat.9-4 • Sun 1-5 7995 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
334.857.3900 www.LakeMartinMiniMall.com JANUARY 2016
LAKE 89
Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone
"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." ~ Vincent Van Gogh
90 LAKE
JANUARY 2016
TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE HEUER 01
Four world championships and two league MVP awards. Forty-six game winning drives. The longest winning streak in NFL history. Tom Brady is a champion, and champions never crack 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
JANUARY 2016
LAKE 91
Happy New Year Let Holley’s be your Destination 60 Months Interest Free Financing*
*See store for details.
92 LAKE
256.234.4141 Alexander City
JANUARY 2016
334.279.3101 Montgomery