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From the Editor Four years ago when my husband and I visited the area with a mind toward moving here, I was struck with the potential for development and the local enthusiasm for bringing that potential to fruition. One of my great pleasures as managing editor of TPI’s magazines is that I have a front row seat in watching it happen – month-by-month and issue-by-issue. It is impressive, I think, that the growth is not linear; over the years, there has been growth in business, recreation, tourism and more. For example, the first article I ever wrote for a TPI magazine was a freelance Business Matters story for Lake Martin Living. Almost every issue since then has featured a business story. In four years, these pages have told of some 40 new or growing businesses or business developments in the area. This month’s business feature by Mia Osborn showcases Madison House on page 12. Sisters Robin Holcombe and Vicki Lux paired up with Annette Tate to open a home décor venture with a twist of vintage chic. With a focus on up-cycled furniture with broad appeal in today’s market, they feed a growing appetite for this popular style and help to build the local economy. Ann Rye’s is one of the great minds among those that have directed the recent growth. As Alexander City Chamber of Commerce director and CEO, Rye put a fresh spin on the business of fun when she proposed the concept of the Sun Festival, which draws crowds from across the nation for nearly 60 summer events over eight days, including a concert with a big name performer. Rye will be leaving Alabama in the near future, so we tip our hats to her on page 36, as we congratulate her on being named the Business Person of the Year. In the last four years, recreation has grown in the area, as well. We’ve covered stories about the new Harold Banks Canoe Trail, baseball and soccer fields, and in this issue, we’re excited to bring you news of more recreational growth on the Pinhoti Trail in Coosa County. Turn to the story on page 26 to learn about the effort to declare the Pinhoti as an official leg of the Appalachian Trail that stretches all the way to Maine and offers a great outdoors adventure to residents and visitors. This is an exciting time to be part of the Lake Martin Living community, and I count myself fortunate to be here every day.
Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 Lake Martin Living
Lake Martin Living Editor & Publisher Kenneth Boone Managing Editor Betsy Iler Assistant Magazine Editor Mia Osborn Contributors Dave Jennings Luke Robinson Fletcher Scott Susan Foy Fred Muenzmay Cliff Williams Mitch Sneed David Granger Robert Hudson Karen Jennings & Kay Thomas Magazine Distribution Manager David Kendrick Creative Services Audra Spears Darlene Johnson Hallie Holloway Marketing/Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Kim Morse Emily Guill Debbie DeWildt Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 www.lakemartinmagazine.com Reader Advisory Board W.L. “Buddy” King Fred Dobbs Ann Goree Donna Burkett Reggie Dean Feel free to contact members of our Reader Advisory Board. Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and submissions are welcome. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, letters, pictures and requests, to: Editor, Lake Martin Living, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 256-2344281. A limited number of free copies are available at local businesses and subscriptions are $25 annually.
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IN EVERY ISSUE 9. AROUND THE AREA 12. BUSINESS MATTERS Madison House 16. HAPPY GARDEN 18. FROM THE TEE 20. OUTDOOR LIFE 38. MONEY MATTERS 39. MEDICAL NEWS 41. OH SNAP! 46. LAKE REGION EVENTS 54. THE LAST WORD
FEATURES 10. MISS OUTLOOK 2016 M eet the winners of this year's annual pageant 26. A PATH FOR MORE TOURISM H iker Callie Thornton strives to bring eco-tourism to Coosa County
20 A black and tan hound with a GPS collar trees prey during a night hunt.
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32. LOCAL CHAMPIONS L ocal insiders share first-person stories of Alabama's 2016 National Championship win 36. ANN RYE A lexander City's business person of the year looks to the future
ON THE COVER Pageant winners Mackenzie Willoughby and Amanda Lee Hall hike Coosa County's Pinhoti Trail. The Pinhoti is undergoing reconstruction to make it more appealing to cyclists, hikers and eco-tourists from all over the U.S.
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AROUND THE AREA
Jana Kramer to headline Sun Festival
Jana Kramer
Actress and country music star Jana Kramer, former star of the television show One Tree Hill, will headline the 4th Annual Sun Festival concert at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex Saturday, July 30. “We are very excited about having her as our headliner for Sun Festival this year,” said Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ann Rye. “She is an amazing talent, and we know she will be a big hit when she takes the stage here on July 30.” Kramer, who is currently touring to promote her second studio CD, Thirty One, has rapidly made a name for herself on the country music scene. She ended her high-profile run on The CW's One Tree Hill to focus on
her singing, songwriting and onstage performance. Her platinum debut single, Why Ya Wanna, rocketed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2012, and her self-titled debut album hit No. 5. In 2013, the Academy of Country Music honored her with its Top New Female Artist Award. “I’ve been through a lot in my life, and I feel like country music saved me in a lot of ways,” Kramer said on her website. Sun Festival tickets are now available online at www. alexandercitychamber.com or at the Chamber of Commerce office. ~ Mitch Sneed
Crash victim returns to Horseshoe Bend School Second grade student Gracie Deason returned to Horseshoe Bend School on Jan. 22. Gracie has been at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for over a month, following a Dec. 14 car accident. She will be home schooled until mid-February when she returns to the school fulltime. Gracie's classmates also prepared a treat for their friend. When Gracie finally entered the classroom, all the students yelled “surprise!” as they threw confetti. “I am glad to be here,” Gracie said. ~ Cliff Williams
Community celebrates MLK On Jan. 19, Alexander City residents gathered at the Cooper Community Center to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with speeches from 2005 BRHS graduate Vy Moon and Rev. Chadley Richardson of Montgomery. Afterwards, many took to the streets for a parade with floats, banners, cars and a band. Brothers from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., helped people register to vote. ~ Cliff Williams Lake Martin Living 9
Miss Outlook 2016 STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
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ince winning the title of Miss Outlook 2016 in January’s 43rd annual Miss Outlook pageant, 16-year-old Amanda Lee Hall has been living on a cloud. “I’m very excited,” she said. “It was honestly one of the best pageant experiences I’ve ever had.” Hall has seen her share of pageant experiences. She has been involved in the pageant world since the age of 10, partly thanks to the encouragement of her big sister, April.
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“My sister did pageants Here They Come when she was growing up,” The winners of the 2016 Miss Outlook Pageant. Hall explained. “Once I From left: Mackenzie got old enough, she started Willoughby, Amanda Lee Hall, Raylee Moore helping me. That was our and Kayden Morgan. thing.” Maybe because of Hall’s close connection with her sister, she views pageants as a way to make new friends rather than as a competition.
“My favorite part of the pageant process is getting to meet all the different girls I wouldn’t meet otherwise,” she said. Those girls include fellow pageant prizewinners like Petite Miss Outlook Kayden Morgan, Little Miss Outlook Raylee Moore and Junior Miss Outlook Mackenzie Willoughby. The sisterhood of the pageant may have been the most rewarding part for Hall, but the prizes are great, too. The rewards for winning a Miss Outlook title include beauty treatments and gift cards for local boutiques, such as Little Black Dress in downtown Alexander City. Hall, who is a junior at Dadeville High School, especially values the full two-year scholarship to Central Alabama Community College. She is currently preparing to graduate and trying to decide on a major. She’s drawn to both pediatrics and elementary education; anything that helps her reach her dream of working with kids. Wherever her professional life takes her, Hall said she doesn’t want to leave her fellow Miss Outlook contestants behind. “You get attached to girls backstage and you try to stay in touch,” she said. Hall said she would encourage other girls to try pageants in the future. “I’d tell them to just stay confident in themselves,” she said. “Don’t let other people’s opinions change them.” Junior Miss Outlook Mackenzie Willoughby agrees. “Confidence is key,” said the 14-year-old Willoughby, who is an 8th grader at Horseshoe Bend. “It doesn’t matter about winning. Just have fun and be yourself.” Willoughby has been participating in the Miss Outlook Pageant since age 4, and she now looks forward to the event as a chance to catch up with friends in the pageant circle. Willoughby and Hall brought some of their awardwinning confidence to Lake Martin Living’s cover photo shoot. The pair trekked down a stretch of the Pinhoti Trail to illustrate the hiking opportunities available in Coosa County. Modeling together was easy for the two pageant queens, since they have been sharing spotlights for years. “Amanda and I have always been in pageants together,” Willoughby explained. “She’s crowned me and I’ve crowned her.”
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Madison House estorations STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
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adison House Restorations on Cherokee Road opened fewer than six months ago, but for siblings Vickie Lux and Robin Holcombe, the business has been a lifetime in the making. “Robin and I have been painting furniture about 35 years,” said Lux. The pair comes from a creative family. Their mother ran Shabby & Chic, an antique store once situated on Main Street in Alexander City. Growing up in Kellyton, the sisters loved finding affordable ways to recreate the images they found in fashion and decorating magazines. “Just because you can’t necessarily afford something doesn’t mean you don’t want it,” Lux said. “There are ways you can figure out, if you’ve got enough tenacity. That’s what got us started.” The sisters began reconstructing furniture for fun; and then, they opened booths at Longleaf Antique Mall to showcase their designs. That is when they met Annette Tate, a Benjamin Russell High School English teacher with a passion for buying and selling furniture. When she met Lux and Holcombe, she was managing her own website called Annie’s Antiques. The pair bought some furniture from Tate; soon after, she contacted them to help her paint some pieces she was going to sell online. Their business relationship soon blossomed into friendship. 12 Lake Martin Living
As their inventory grew, they Setting the Stage began renting the former Alexander The main room of Madison House is full City Flower Boutique building of pieces that the on Cherokee Road to house their owners rescued and works-in-progress. In summer lovingly restored. 2015, the three decided they would be better off selling their furniture through their own business. “Annette went down there and put ‘opening soon’ on the billboard. From that day on, people kept coming up to ask ‘when are y’all opening?’” said Holcombe. And so Madison House was born. The owners have come a long way from redoing found furniture as a hobby, but the
BUSINESS MATTERS artistry of the restoration process is still the focus of their business. At Madison House, every restoration begins with a piece of furniture. Lux, Holcombe and Tate comb thrift stores, classifieds and online ads to find quality pieces of wood furniture with good lines. “We like things with curves and a point of interest,” Tate explained. The three trust their instincts to find pieces with potential, but they also keep an eye on decorating trends to make sure they are bringing in furniture that will excite their audience. “If you’re not careful, you’re not going to appeal to the younger generation,” said Holcombe.
Most Madison House customers are young couples furnishing their first homes or people building on the lake. Either way, they are looking for furniture that’s a little different from the usual items for sale in large furniture stores. The three decide on a strategy for painting and otherwise restoring every piece they find. Most pieces at Madison House are given a French finish, in which several coats are layered over each other to create a slightly distressed look. Other steps include replacing the feet or arms on a piece of furniture, re-upholstering, changing drawer pulls and adding wood appliques. Each project can take anywhere from a few days to a month, depending on the amount of work to be done. The before and after section of the Madison House website Lake Martin Living 13
attests to the amount of work that goes into each and every dramatic reconstruction. All three of the Madison House women are involved in all aspects of reconstructions, but each has a favorite aspect of the business that speaks to her own personal strengths. Lux does a lot of the building while Tate specializes in sales. Holcombe said her favorite part is tackling the artistic challenge presented by each new piece of furniture. “I love the transformation,” she said. “To totally recreate a piece and say, look at it now!” Once each of the Madison House team is happy with a piece, it is put on display in their store, which is a project in itself. The building required a lot of attention and care before the ladies of Madison House felt it was ready to be the backdrop for their creative endeavors. “This place was horrendous,” said Lux. “It was yellow and green with tile floors.” The three completely restored the former florist shop, finishing the walls in French country style and adding homey accents, including lamps, candle sticks and picture frames, all of which have been restored in their own small ways. As a finishing touch, most accent pieces are painted to pale tones, just like the furniture. “Everything we have in here is very neutral,” said Tate. Light, coordinating finishes on the merchandise means that each piece will work in many different homes; however, if a customer comes into Madison House with an unrestored piece of furniture, the trio will be happy to paint it any color of the rainbow according to the client’s specifications. To fill out the store space and add even more interest for clients, Madison House works with several local artisans to sell their wares in-store. Currently, Madison House is partnered with Southern Star Farm for natural alpaca fiber rugs, blankets and scarves; Wood Stuff for handmade wooden trays and serving platters; Mama’s Secrets for sweets; Mama Loves Bamboo for candles; and Jewelry Designs by Rhonda for oneof-a-kind glass and gemstone jewelry. In addition to furniture and accessories, Madison House offers styling for weddings and other events. Lux and Holcombe fell into this line of work after they were asked to help decorate a friend’s wedding. Thanks to rave reviews, several more events followed. Now, the Madison House trio offer venue selection, cake 14 Lake Martin Living
Finishing Touches design, party favors and In addition to furniture, Madison other services to brides House features a mix of and anyone looking to accessories and handcrafted make their special day all items from local artists. the more special. They even cover floral arrangements, for which they use a walk-in cooler left behind from the building’s days as a florist shop. Between day jobs, the store and event planning, the ladies of Madison House have busy schedules. But they are thankful to have turned a hobby into a profitable business and most of all, to be working among friends. Madison House is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Madison House website at http://www.madisonhouserestorations.com/.
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Spring Garden To-Do List Helping gardeners know what to plant and when
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his month, I thought I'd offer some advice to help ease you into planting season. Buying: This is the season for home germination. Some plants lend themselves to home germination better than others, so be sure to pick the right ones. Surefire vegetables for home germination include basil, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, chives, leeks, lettuce, onions, peppers and tomatoes. Some reliable annual flowers are alyssum, cosmos, marigolds and zinnias. Perennials include Shasta daisies, columbines and hollyhocks. February is also the time to shop local nurseries for
asparagus roots, strawberry plants and fruit trees. Sowing: I built the garden calendar in this article to help you figure out when to plant what seeds. This month is the time to begin sowing the seeds of leaf lettuces, collards and other greens outdoors; for a continuous harvest, repeat sowings every two weeks. February is also the time to sow seeds of herbs, such as dill and parsley. Sow seeds of annual flowers – Fred Muenzmay delphiniums, snapdragons, Shirley poppies and larkspur are good choices – directly in flowerbeds, or anywhere you want flowers for cutting or as a background for other plants. Look for larkspur blooms by mid-spring and poppies in May and June. Indoors, start seeds of perennials or slow-growing annuals, like coleus and geraniums, beneath lights. Sow beets, carrots, radishes, cress, bok choy and garden peas directly in the garden; cover the planting rows with dark compost to warm the soil. Start seeds of broccoli at the end of the month. Maintenance: Prune your roses around Valentine's Day. Clean up the debris and use it as mulch to top dress the shrubs. No roses? Now is the perfect time to plant some. February is traditionally the time to prune fruit trees. But
Happy Garden
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clip with caution: not all trees need pruning, and sometimes pruning too much is worse than not pruning at all. There was a helpful article about this written by Shane Harris, coordinator of the Tallapoosa County extension office, for the January 9-10 issue of the Alexander City Outlook. It is well worth reading if you think you want to prune. If you've had trouble with foliar and fruit diseases, spray the plants with either a copper or lime and sulfur based solution when their buds are pink. When cold temperatures are predicted, protect transplants of onions, cabbage, broccoli and chard with a row cover of newspaper or commercial frost cloth. On mild days, remove winter weeds, such as wild onions and chickweed. Top dress lawns and garden beds with compost or loose fresh soil and cover root crops still in the ground with an extra layer of mulch. Near the end of the month, feed all your plants, weed any asparagus and strawberries and renew thinning mulches. I hope these tips help you have a great garden this year. Stay healthy, eat well and be active. ~ Fred Muenzmay of Eagles Roost Herb Farms is a Master Gardener who has been in the business of growing organic herbs, vegetables and blueberries for regional and local farmer’s markets for 17 years. Contact him at fmuenzmay@earthlink.net.
Five-Tomato Planter If space is limited, try growing your tomatoes in a composting double ring. We use this ring planting style at Eagles Roost Farms. This method – which works just as well for cucumbers – was originally published in Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine in March 1974. It has since been modified for planting zone conditions.
Equipment & Supplies n7 -foot length of heavy wire fencing, about 6 feet high n3 -foot length of small-mesh hardware cloth, about 30 inches high n Wire or cord n Wire cutters
Instructions (makes one planter) Roll the hardware cloth into a tube about 11 inches in circumference and secure with wire or other cord. Bury one end of this tube about 6 inches deep in the middle of your fertilized plot and fill to the brim with compost. If you didn't compost in advance, fill the tube with cut grass, leaves, coffee grinds, fruit peels and vegetable waste. If you don't want to use any compost, fill with peat moss and add an evenly numbered fertilizer – such as 12/12/12 – to the moss once a week. Roll the heavy wire fencing into a tube about 27 inches in circumference and secure. Place the tube over the compost basket and firmly anchor it in the soil. For stability, cut a few pieces of wire 8 inches in length and bend each piece into a 'V' shape. Use these as pins to stick the fencing into the
ground like tent pegs. Plant five tomato seedlings around the outside of the outermost circle. As the seedlings grow, tie them to the outer circle. Water the plants and compost daily. You can make watering hands-off by placing a slowrunning garden hose on top of the compost basket. About 80 days after setting out the seedlings, you will be able to gather at least 2 pounds of sunripened tomatoes, depending on the variety of your plants. Continue regular watering and refilling of the compost basket as its contents settle and wash down through the mesh. By the middle of October, you should have a yield of 70-plus pounds. This style of planting can't be beat!
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Golfing Gear This year’s gadgets and gizmos to grow your game
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s promised in last month’s article, I’m going to share Putters, and he is super excited about what this putter has done for his game. Jones has an elbow issue at the moment, with you a few interesting and exciting things that but once that is healed, expect to see him at the top of the were introduced at this January’s PGA Merchandise leaderboard on the Champions Tour. Next month, I will Show in Orlando. Unfortunately, my opinions aren’t going highlight Cure Putters and share with you some of their to be as vast or in depth as what the Golf Channel or the large golfing trade magazines serve up, as my research staff is features and benefits. CACC golf ’s ball of choice is Bridgestone. Last year, limited to one – me. they introduced a ball that I honestly believed could not be In my yearly visit to the PGA show, I am able to catch up improved upon, but they did. Between the new cover and with a large load of old friends in the industry who I have core, Bridgestone has been able to create a golf known, or known of, since the 1970s. I’ve ball that allows for more feel around the greens, also made friends with many younger folks in more spin with iron shots and less spin with a the industry over the years. So many people driver. at so many golf companies have helped our I am well pleased to see that they did not college’s golf program over the years, and the change their dimple pattern, as the present design PGA show is a tremendous opportunity for me does not allow wind to effect the ball in flight as to thank those benevolent people in person. it does with all of the other balls in the industry. Needless to say, I am eternally grateful for their Yesterday, I played a round of golf with my team thoughtfulness and generosity. and used the new Bridgestone RX line of balls. The first day of the PGA Show is Demo Another great feature is that the Bridgestone Day. This event is held at the Orange County cover does not wear out as quickly as the covers National Golf Club’s driving range, which is of most other brands. That’s a great thing for shaped in a circle with a diameter of more than Dave Jennings nutty golfers like me who just refuse to play with 400 yards on the inside of its tees. Let’s just say a scuffed up golf ball. I was able to spin balls on it is massive. the green in short shots and watched a couple On Demo Day, attendees are allowed to drives stay airborne a bit longer than usual. You’ve got to try hit any club the manufacturers are introducing at the PGA these when they hit the pro shops. Show. There are also three short game areas with a number Skechers Go-Golf shoes made a huge impact with their of putting greens, which allow people to try new putters, hit inauguration last year. They have introduced a number chips, pitches and wedges. As I have not played a great deal over the past few months, of other eye appealing, comfortable and tremendous I did not hit many shots this time, but I sure watched a lot of performance shoes for 2016. Skechers is scaring the socks off the big boys in the golf shoe game because their shoes are so other players do so. Thankfully, the weather was wonderful much less expensive. Watch this company expand over the this year. next few years in golf. Vendors at Demo Day mainly consist of manufacturers Bushnell has a new and upgraded GPS device called the and distributors of golf clubs, shafts, rangefinders, golf NEO. Bushnell’s non-GPS rangefinders are the best in the spikes, grips, and golf training aids. Along with vendors, industry, so it was no surprise that the NEO proved to be attendees are sure to spot a player or two that they may extremely accurate and easy to use on the course. Yesterday, recognize from the PGA Tour throughout the week. Most when I played with the team, I tested the NEO against my of these tour players are representing the companies with Bushnell Jolt. At Willow Point, our pin sheets display a + which they are under contract. This year, I met and spoke with US Open Champion Steve (plus) or – (minus) number from the center of the greens. Each time I tested the NEO from the fairway, it registered Jones on one of the putting greens. Jones is now with Cure
From the Tee
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the exact yardage that my Jolt did when using the pin sheet. I was very impressed. The great thing about the NEO is that it also displays distances to the front and back of the greens, as well as to the center. These units can be bought in the neighborhood of $130 at most golf retailers. Obviously, I got one! As we live in a hi-tech age, you cannot ignore the benefits of such instructional tools as Trackman and the Putt Lab. Any player with a fairly consistent swing will be fitted for golf clubs more precisely if using these devices. These tools don’t come cheap. For example, Trackman starts in the neighborhood of $25,000 and goes up from there; however, there are companies that make similar units to give golf pros the necessary numbers they need to properly fit their customers with correct shafts and clubs. Willow Point’s Matt Sheppard has owned one of these devices for years and has done a great job of properly fitting his clientele. I found a company that has developed a relatively inexpensive product that is very comparable to the Putt Lab. The product is Blast Golf. It’s going to take me a while to discover all of its features, but I had to get one. Blast Golf ’s product was developed to assist golfers with tempo and timing, especially in putting, but they will also help improve wedge play and full swings. When you watch very good tour players, notice how their putting strokes always seems to have the same pace and rhythm. Then watch most amateurs, whose takeaway stroke is fast one time and slow the next. Amateurs also have little consistency in the time they spend over the ball before putting. Blast Golf monitors these timing and tempo issues,
New School
The new SNSR putter from Golf Pride is just one of many new products unveiled at this year's PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.
as well as how much the putter opens and closes through the stroke. It reports if you have added or decreased the loft at impact, and it even will inform you if your hands came in more upright or flat. Through Bluetooth, Blast Golf pairs with your phone or tablet and gives you immediate feedback, as well as maintaining a history for you, which you can keep or delete. Here’s the most amazing thing: the retail price is only $150. I had to have one! My friends at Golf Pride Grip have introduced a new putter grip that I bet will become many players’ favorite. It is called the SNSR. This grip, which is scheduled to hit markets in April, felt awesome in my hands. I can’t wait to install one on my putter soon. When they become available, give one a try. Golf is amazingly global these days; this became more apparent to me at this year’s PGA Show. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many different languages spoken in one place. Although the golf world has not fully recovered from the economic downturn, I am hopeful for its future. From junior golfers to manufacturers to the new superstars on the PGA Tour, golf continues to grow. It remains a very positive arena in which to raise your children. I am also encouraged to have seen so many items this year that were designed, manufactured and/or assembled in the United States. Let’s bring it all back to the USA! See you on the tee! ~ Dave Jennings is the men's golf coach at Central Alabama Community College. Lake Martin Living 19
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Hunting with hounds GPS tracking collars change nights afield
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Outdoor Life
Coon hunters are a well-organized bunch, very hen I think back on my experiences careful about breeding their hunting dogs through as a hunter, there is one sound that generations of puppies. As a result, many of their comes up over and over: the bawling of dogs have champion pedigrees. There are several a hound. The sound of a hunting dog on the scent dog breeding registries, but the United Kennel Club has always stirred up strong emotions and fond (UKC) seems to be the preferred registry for most memories in me. I don’t often hear it anymore, but working dogs, including coonhounds. when I do, it has the power to take me back to my Coonhound breeds include American black and childhood. tan, American leopard, American English, blueticks, My first experience hunting with dogs came redbones, plotts and the treeing walker. All of these when my Uncle Dan took me rabbit hunting with except the plott hound have their origins with the his beagles. When I was old enough, I carried on English foxhound. Foxhounds are known for having the tradition. Of course, dog hunting was much certain ideal qualities, such as speed or being hotmore common then. Back in the 1960s and 70s, no nosed (quick to pick up a fresh track). These traits pickup truck was complete without a dog box in the were mixed with bloodlines from other breeds to bed and a shotgun hanging in the window. If you create those characteristics in the coon hound breeds were lucky enough to have a four wheel drive truck, Fletcher Scott we know today. you qualified as a serious hunter. Take the treeing walker, for example. These Where I hunt today, deer hunting with dogs has hounds originated with English foxhounds brought to America long been illegal. These kinds of hunts can only occur when in the early days of the nation. President George Washington, hunters have access to large tracts of land and permits from the an avid fox hunter, worked with Thomas Walker of Virginia Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. to import foxhounds from England in 1742 and 1770. The Regulations vary from county to county, so it is advisable to contact your local conservation officers to determine legalities of pair developed the English foxhound into a new breed, called the Virginia hound. Virginia hounds were later used as a dog deer hunting where you live. springboard for several other breeds, including the walker Coon hunts are another way to use dogs in hunting. This involves dogs chasing a nocturnal animal, which is then trapped hound, which was first bred by George Washington Maupin and John W. Walker of Kentucky. by being treed or running into a burrow. Coon hunting is a very Later in the 19th century, something of a mystery took old tradition in the United States. On the Trail
Opposite: Black and tan hounds bark at a treed raccoon; Left: Equipment for modern dog hunting includes an LED nightlight, transmitting collar, and GPS receiver.
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place. A dog from Ready to Run Ryan, McKenzie and Tennessee was used as Ronnie Moseley and an outcross, or a dog Ronnie Brown prepare meant to introduce to let their dogs go. new characteristics into an existing bloodline. This dog forever changed the characteristics of the walker hounds, but there is very little information about him because he was stolen. All we know is that the dog was named Tennessee Lead and was chosen for his outstanding abilities, such as game sense, plenty of drive, speed, and a clear, short mouth. From this cross, the treeing walker was produced. The history of the treeing walker is similar to that of most coonhound breeds, including the bluetick and the English coonhound. The presence of the English coonhound in America goes back a long way. The first mention of these hounds in North America was found in the diaries of one of Hernando Desoto’s men. Unfortunately, he recorded that Desoto’s hounds were used to hunt native people rather than animals. Because of its ancestry from these hounds, the English Hounds had several color variations. First registered by the UKC in 1905, this hound was called the English fox and coonhound. These were eventually separated according to their respective quarries to create the American foxhound and the English coonhound. Today, most English coonhounds can be a variety of colors, with some being blueticked; however, the majority is redticked. Ronnie Brown is a long time coon hunter in Tallapoosa County. Brown is from the Hackneyville community and owns a pack of black and tan coonhounds. The black and tan hounds were the first coonhounds added to the UKC registry in 1900. Their ancestry can be traced back to Talbot and St. Hubert hounds from France. Black and tans also have some bloodhound ancestry. They are big boned, with long ears and a cold nose. “I’ve always hunted black and tan dogs,” said Brown. “They respond well to my training routine. On my finished dogs, I don’t allow any loose mouth, running of trash or fighting. In fact, all of my dogs are leash trained and behave like pets.” Brown began coon hunting around 1960. He is a former member of the East Alabama Night Hunters, a group started by the late Robert Graves. “I used to hunt in competitive night hunts. We hunted all over the state,” Brown said. Brown takes a lot of pride in his dogs and has 22 Lake Martin Living
Lake Martin Living 23
trained them to be excellent at treeing. His prized dog is named Thumper. I recently had the privilege of seeing Thumper in action when I went on a coon hunt with Brown, James Lambert, Ronnie Moseley and his son Ryan. Also along with us were Ronnie’s grandkids, Lee and Rebecca Norell, as well as Ryan’s daughter, 8-year-old McKenzie Moseley. It was the first night of the New Year. Before we set out, the first order of business was fitting each hound with a GPS collar and checking the reception on the Garmin GPS receivers. “These devices have revolutionized coon hunting. You can track your dog anywhere they go, including knowing when they are treed,” Brown explained. “I can’t imagine coon hunting like we used to do. I’m glad those days are over.” After we loaded up the dogs, we traveled a short distance to the property owned by Brown and Moseley’s hunting club. The four dogs hunting this night were Thumper, handled by Brown; Rachel, handled by Lambert; Gunner, handled by Ryan Moseley; and Max, handled by Ronnie Moseley. After we arrived, the dogs were leashed and freed from their boxes. All four were lined up in a row. On command, they were unleashed. Off they ran through the dark woods, using only their noses to find a fresh track. In a matter of minutes, Thumper let out a trailing bark. All the dogs jumped on the track, and the chase was on. After several minutes, the sound of the dogs began to fade as they ran through the hills and valleys up Broken Arrow Creek. Shortly, no barking could be heard. I began to get a little anxious about where the dogs were going. I looked to the handlers and found they were all staring at their GPS screens. It reminded me of a group of teenagers locked onto their cell phones. Finally, Brown said, “Thumper is 929 yards away; Gunner is 927; Rachel is 948; and Max is 934 yards out.” Looking at the screen, you could tell all the dogs were on the same track. This meant they were all together. A few minutes later, all of the dogs stopped running and gathered at the same spot, indicating that they had treed their prey. In order to get better reception, we traveled a short distance to the crest of a hill and listened and watched again. Now I could detect the faint sounds of treed hounds. “I believe they may be split treed,” Brown stated. 24 Lake Martin Living
The Future of Tracking
The Garmin GPS trackers used by Ronnie Brown show the name of each dog and its location.
This meant that the dogs were treed on two different trees near each other. The group decided to split up, with Ryan Moseley and Lee Norell riding the Polaris ATV through the dark woods to approach the dogs from the north side of the creek. The rest of us loaded into the trucks and tried to approach the dogs from the south. We drove as far as we could into the woods. When we got out we could clearly hear the dogs tree barking as hard as they could. You can distinguish between trail and tree barks because they are different. For instance, a dog may bark incessantly while on the trail, but only let out long bawls when treed. Once treed, the dogs will usually bark until the hunters arrive to pull them off. When we arrived, the barking hounds were treed up a large poplar. Ryan Moseley, who came in from the other side, shone the spotlight in the coon’s eyes. It was hiding in a nest lodged in the fork of the tree about 50 feet up. Brown had been right about the split tree. While Thumper, Rachel and Gunner were circling the big poplar, Max was barking up another tree a few yards away. Little McKenzie Moseley, barely taller than the dogs, walked right into their midst, patting the tree and encouraging the dogs to place their paws on the trunk and bark. I could tell she had done this before. After the dogs had been given the opportunity to display their talents, it was decided that the coon would be left for another hunt. They were leashed by their handlers and went obediently back to the truck. In a testament to Brown’s training, the dogs never made a sound once they were back by their handlers’ sides. As we drove out of the woods, I noticed that the hunt had only lasted about an hour. I can remember holding several all night vigils, waiting in a cold pickup, for the coon dogs to return. It didn’t take much of this to turn me completely against night hunting. But hunting with GPS technology was a treat indeed! Like Brown noted earlier, the old coon hunting days are gone, and I’m glad they are. Before I left the group to head home, Brown extended an invitation to come back and hunt again. I expect I will. After all, I still love the sounds of hunting hounds. ~ Fletcher Scott is a retired science teacher who enjoys nature photography.
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26 Lake Martin Living
A path for more tourism Callie Thornton hopes to extend the Appalachian Trail to Central Alabama STORY BY MIA OSBORN PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
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oosa County is home to many natural resources and attractions, but the area has had trouble spreading the word about all there is to see and do. Fortunately, the county also has human resources to help them, like Callie Thornton. Thornton acts as clerk for the town of Rockford and President of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society (AHTS). In recent years, she has become a one-woman army of aid and services for outdoor adventurers who find themselves in Coosa County. Thornton, a lifetime resident of Central Alabama, has loved fishing and hiking in state parks since childhood; however, she didn’t start backpacking until she met her husband, Craig, at the age of 18. “He got me really into camping; not just camping at state parks, but out in the middle of the woods,” she explained. “It’s just grown from there.” For five years, Thornton has channeled her love of nature into projects meant to maintain Coosa County’s wildlife resources and share them with the rest of the world. First, she supports making Coosa County’s Pinhoti National Recreational Trail a legal extension of the Appalachian Trail. This change would put Coosa County on the map for eco-tourists while fulfilling the original plans Lake Martin Living 27
for the Appalachian Trail. Flagg Mountain, where the Pinhoti Trail begins, is the southernmost mountain in the Appalachian mountain range. When the Appalachian Trail was designed, it was meant to end on Flagg Mountain, but construction stopped in northern Georgia and was never resumed. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts from Alabama and Georgia pushed for decades for the connection of the Appalachian and Pinhoti Trails. The connection was finished in 2015; now, the same advocates are supporting the campaign to recognize the Pinhoti as part of the Appalachian Trail. Thornton believes it will be some time before the official name change is made. “It’s gonna take legislation to change the Pinhoti to the Appalachian Trail, but Flagg Mountain is the last of the Appalachian mountains,” she said. Angel Cooper, a member of AHTS, agrees. “I don’t think Georgia wants it, but I, for one, would love to see the trails unified,” she said. Thornton and Cooper recently met Off the Beaten Trail with other hiking enthusiasts for a work Previous: MacKenzie Willoughby and Amanda Hall on the Pinhoti day to maintain and Trail; Above: As president of the improve existing AHTS, Thornton understands the needs of hikers. trails. Thornton is Photo submitted by Callie Thornton currently coordinating and assisting with the construction of an eight-mile section of the Pinhoti. Rather than extending the trail further, Thornton and helpers will reroute a portion of the trail that currently 28 Lake Martin Living
forces hikers to walk along the roadside, often through ditches and standing water. “It gets you back in the woods instead of having to walk on the road. It’s going to have some very good views on it as well,” said Thornton. In addition to being scenic, the rerouted Pinhoti will traverse three new water sources, making it all the more useful for long-term trekkers. Flagging for construction of the rerouted trail started in January. Thornton hopes the trail will be finished by the end of 2017, despite the fact that the project is understaffed. “We don’t have enough people right now, and we build by hand,” she said. The trail’s progress is hampered in part by the narrow work window: it needs to be warm enough for workers, but too cold for snakes. “We don’t build in snake season. The snakes in Coosa County can get really big,” Thornton explained. Another vital step to Coosa County’s eco-tourism success is to make sure people know about it and are able to visit with ease. Thornton has already started this process by opening the region’s first hiker hostel. Thornton, who is hiking the Appalachian Trail in sections, knows firsthand the importance of having a safe place to take a break between days of grueling hiking. “I realized after I stayed in a hostel that the need is immediate here,” she said. “There are several hostels on the Appalachian Trail, but there’s not one on the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama or Georgia. There’s nowhere to stay, to get a bath, nothing.”
Thornton started Coosa’s Hiker Hostel through donations raised via the fundraising website, Go Fund Me. It opened in January 2015 and has done a brisk business ever since. Thornton has seen visitors come from as far away as the Cayman Islands and Canada, as well as many states. “Some people we’ve seen are starting in Key West and going all the way to Maine. Those people start coming through in February,” she said. Right now, the hostel consists of one 35-foot travel trailer with enough space to sleep 12 people. But if demand continues to be high, Thornton wants to build cabins or even a barn-sized bunkhouse to shelter her visitors. That might happen sooner rather than later, as during peak season, the hostel hosts hikers every night. Even though the Pinhoti has not been officially recognized, there are still plenty of Appalachian Trail hikers who want to start their journey in Coosa County or even further south, regardless of the name on the trail. The Pinhoti is also a part of the Eastern Continental Trail, which spans from Key West, Florida, to Belle Isle, Canada. Many followers of the Eastern Continental Trail also find themselves in Coosa County. Thornton provides these hikers, bikers, and other ecotourists with a safe place to sleep and shower, but there are some necessities that she can’t offer. A place to buy food, for example. In January 2016, Coosa’s Hiker Hostel welcomed Massachusetts couple Mike Webb and Kelly Trim, the first of the Alabama-to-Maine trekkers. Webb and Trim stayed at Coosa’s Hiker Hostel for three days but had trouble finding food, due to a lack of restaurants and stores within walking distance. “They either had to eat their supplies up or eat with me,” Thornton explained. “So they ate with me – breakfast, lunch and dinner – because there’s nothing else here.” This need for services goes beyond food into transportation and medicine. Thornton has been trying to address these problems by starting Coosa County’s only hiking trail shuttle service. The service was designed to carry hikers from the hostel to local trailheads and back. But more often than not, the shuttle has been used as an emergency vehicle. “The majority of my shuttles are rescues,” Thornton explained. “One hiker became very dehydrated, and was Take a Hike The Pinhoti Trail is an having an anxiety attack. My important part of mom’s a nurse, so I took her the route for hikers with me to help them.” who want to walk the full length of Thornton has found her the Appalachian certifications in CPR and Mountains, but it is not wilderness first aid very helpful an official part of the in running the hostel and Appalachian Trail.
shuttle service, but she looks forward to having improved access to emergency services in the future. To garner better services for the growing eco-tourism industry in Coosa County, Thornton in February will represent the area in an Appalachian Gateway Communities Regional Workshop. These workshops were created by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Conservation Fund, in order to help gateways — areas bordering Appalachian national and state forests and parks — to develop and showcase their natural resources. “Our main goal is to capitalize on natural resource tourism and economic development,” said Thornton. “We have all these trails and the word’s not really getting out.” At the workshop, teams will develop a strategy to draw new visitors to enjoy Coosa County’s natural resources while also conserving those resources for generations to come. Fortunately, that’s a subject Thornton has already considered. “For me, it’s about helping the hikers,” she said. To volunteer or to get more information, contact Thornton at cthikr@gmail.com.
Lake Martin Living 29
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Local Champions:
Anfernee Jennings
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This month, Lake Martin Living celebrates locals who helped make the University of Alabama's National Championship win against Clemson all the more sweet.
people back home, surrounding cities and people from around ince the first time he suited up as a child, Anfernee the state.” Jennings dreamed of being a part of a championship. While he did not see action in the championship game, And on a January night in Arizona, that dream became a Jennings was part of the practice team that helped to prepare reality. and condition players for the big game, and he appreciated the As a member of the 2015-2016 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, the true freshman and former Dadeville Tiger was opportunity to be part of Coach Nick Saban’s sixth national championship team. on hand for the Tide’s 45-40 win over the “To me, it was an honor. I know for a lot Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football of other guys it is also a big honor to play for Playoff Title Game at University of Phoenix Coach Saban,” Jennings said. “Coach Saban Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. is one of the greatest coaches to ever coach For Jennings, the moment could barely the game of football. So, it’s definitely just an be summed up in words and was simply honor to be coached by him.” unreal. Part of playing for Nick Saban, Jennings “It was an unbelievable experience. I said, is the process of preparing for each had just been working my entire life to be game. The work the Tide puts into practices, a part of a championship team,” Jennings instills confidence in the team, he Said. said. “When I came here everybody had “We had such great leaders on our the same ambition as me, and I knew it was team. When we went into games, we went just a process before I even came here. It in not just thinking that we were going to was definitely unbelievable. I’ve never had a win, but knowing that we were going to greater feeling than just knowing that we’re win,” Jennings said. “We worked so hard the best at what we’re doing. That’s just a in practice that when the time came for great feeling.” the game, we knew we had put in so many A 2015 graduate from Dadeville High On the Championship Trail repetitions at practice that we knew we just School, Jennings ended his high school Opposite: Jennings celebrates on had to execute in the game.” career as the Alabama Sports Writers the field. Above: A UA freshman, While a back injury limited his Association Class 4A Lineman of the Year. Jennings graduated DHS with an Alabama Sports Writers participation in early-season practices During that final season, he recorded 156 Association award. this past year, Jennings said he is focused tackles, 12 sacks and 62 quarterback hurries. on making his mark on the field. With Jennings was also rated a four-star workouts under way, he said he is looking to show that he prospect by ESPN before signing a scholarship with the belongs on the field with one of the nation’s greatest football University of Alabama last spring. programs. Coming from a small town nestled between Alexander City “We’ve already started working out and everything, so I just and Dadeville, Jennings said he is truly blessed to be a part of approach each workout and every day trying to dominate. I try the Crimson Tide. “I’m originally from Jackson’s Gap, so I’m just a small country to dominate every workout, and I just want this to be my year,” Jennings said. “I know I had a little unfortunate injury last year boy. Very few people make it and do what I have done over this that kept me out, but I want to bounce back and show them past year,” Jennings said with a laugh. “Not many people who have those opportunities, so I just thank God every day to allow that I could have contributed last year. Even though I know the process here and I know my role, I just want to prove that I’m me to play with a bunch of great guys at a great university. It’s not an overnight sensation, and I deserve to be here.” the opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve had great support from the 32 Lake Martin Living
STORY BY ROBERT HUDSON & PHOTOS BY CRIMSON TIDE PHOTOS/UA ATHLETICS
Lake Martin Living 33
Local Champions:
Jenny Lamberth STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JENNY LAMBERTH
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the lobby with pizza and champagne. Lamberth recalls the party lexander City’s Jenny Lamberth, a University of Alabama Capstone Woman, was part of the celebration as the perfect end to the day. “I’m grateful for the whole opportunity,” she said. “To go to in Phoenix when the Crimson Tide won the National the National Championship was just the trip of a lifetime.” Championship. A graduate of Benjamin Russell High School, Lamberth said there are many reasons to be grateful for the 21-year-old is currently a senior at the UA,. her position as a university ambassador. The Capstone Men Lamberth came to the university because of the reputation and Women have been the face of Alabama's public relations of its business school, but while enrolled as a marketing major, program since 1962. The group was first called the Crimson she discovered a love of law. Now she is busy applying to law schools, and hopes to spend her post-graduate years specializing Girls, but began accepting men in 1976. Today, Capstone Men and Women represent many different in corporate or international law. hometowns across the United States, as well as many different Lamberth serves the university as a Capstone Woman, a majors, but they all come together to represent the University of university ambassador. Alabama. “I’ve done Capstone Men and As part of their representative Women for the last three years, duties, the Capstone Men and and it really has shaped my college Women host daily campus tours for experience,” said Lamberth. prospective students and visitors, and Crimson Men and Women offer support at alumni and trustee who are seniors get front row seats functions. They also host events for for bowl games. In her senior the president and his party. These year, Lamberth attended the include the pregame ceremonies Cotton Bowl in Dallas, as well as at the President’s Mansion, as well the National Championship in as working the president’s box Arizona, which was a trip she will and tailgate parties at the games never forget. themselves. The Capstone Men and “Sometimes we’ll work the Women arrived in Phoenix a few president’s box during the football days before the game and got the game so the president’s guests can chance to take in the sights before have a little perspective on the student the championship. experience while they’re visiting,” she “We tried to explore a little said. of Arizona,” said Lamberth. Working with the university’s most “We went hiking one day on honored guests means Capstone Men Camelback Mountain. It was a and Women often get the chance very intense hike, but it was really to meet famous Crimson Tide fans amazing to be out there in the School Spirit from all over the world. Lamberth fresh air.” Previous: Jenny Lamberth (second from left) remembers meeting Derek Jeter, As the game neared, Crimson with sister Rosie and parents Sally and Brooks Tide pride could be seen on the UA campus; Above: Lamberth (second longtime shortstop for the New York row center) celebrates with fellow senior Yankees, at a game she spent working everywhere at the hotel that ambassadors at the National Championshp. in the president’s box. Lamberth and her companions “In those cases, you have to really shared with the team. play it cool,” she said. “The spirit in the hotel was incredible because the families of Lamberth said her favorite aspect of the position isn’t all the football players were there, and all these fans. The whole socializing with illustrious guests; it’s helping regular potential hotel was decked out Alabama,” she said. new students envision their future at the university. Many famous former players also showed up to support the “I love letting the prospective students know all of the team, including Amari Cooper and Mark Ingram. opportunities we have here,” she said. Lamberth and her fellow seniors didn’t serve at the game in Lamberth will miss being a Capstone Woman when she an official capacity, but they did support the Crimson Tide on and off the field. After the game was over, the Capstone Men and graduates this year. But the Lamberth family is not done with the University of Alabama just yet. Jenny’s younger sister, Rosie, Women stayed at the University of Phoenix stadium to watch recently became a Capstone Woman, and Katie, the girls’ older the players accept their trophy. sister, also was a Capstone Woman at UA. “We were right there on the front row watching all of it. We “All of us feel very humbled to represent the university,” said heard Coach Saban’s incredible speech.” Lamberth. “We get to interact with so many incredible people.” Then they headed back to the hotel to welcome the team in Lake Martin Living 35
A Legacy of Progress Ann Rye on the bright future of Alexander City STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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lthough she will soon be moving out of Alabama, Ann Rye has created a legacy that will continue to grow. In her three years as President and CEO of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Rye put in place numerous programs, such as the “Our Future is Now” campaign and the upcoming business incubator. These programs not only revitalized Alexander City; they also paved the way for future growth. “We’re really just setting up opportunities. The kids being born right now will reap the benefits of Living Legacy As out-going president what we do today,” she and CEO of the said. Alexander City Chamber According to of Commerce, Ann Rye sees tourism as an Chamber of Commerce important part of the board Chairman area's economic future. Kenneth Boone, one of the most impressive parts of Rye’s tenure was the speed with which she brought about change. “It’s truly astounding what she’s accomplished in a short period of time,” Boone said. “She saw the potential of this community and helped us work
36 Lake Martin Living
together to reach that potential.” One of Rye’s favorite undertakings has been the creation of the Sun Festival, which will ring in its third year this July. “I think it united people,” she said. “It got people out of their houses. And each year, it grows.” Rye uses her small hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee, as an example of the effect that social events like festivals can have on the local economy. “The Kingsport Fun Fest started out smaller than Sun Festival. Now it draws 300,000 visitors,” she said. She predicts that tourism will become an ever-increasing source of revenue for the area. “I see our lake becoming more popular. I see a conference center there, so there will be more chances for people to enjoy the lake without buying property,” she added. Overall, Rye looks forward to a bright future for Alexander City, and said she will continue to visit and check on the area’s progress. “We’re still in the early stages of telling our story,” she said. Lake Martin Living salutes Rye for her role in setting up Alexander City for many happy chapters to come.
Lake Martin Living 37
When will markets stabilize?
J
MONEY MATTERS
anuary may prove to be the worst month for the markets in eight years. The S&P 500 just corrected for the second time in five months, and some investors think the upwardtrending bull market may be ending. Bull markets do end, and the current one is nearly seven years old, the third longest in history. If a bear market is truly on the horizon, it may not last very long – the 12 bear Karen Jennings markets recorded since the end of World War II have averaged 367 days in duration. How far would the markets have to fall for a bear market to begin? Should the S&P close at 1,708 or below, you would have an official bear market on Wall Street – a 20 percent fall of that index from its most recent peak. While the S&P, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite have all corrected this month, the damage to the small caps has been worse. The Russell 2000 is now in a bear market, off more than 20 percent from its June 2015 high. On Jan. 20, the MSCI All-Country World index went bear, joining the Nikkei 225, TSX Composite, Hang Seng, and Shanghai Composite. Where is the bottom? We may not be there just yet. For the market to stabilize or rebound, institutional investors must accept, or at least distract themselves from, three realities that have been hard for them to stomach. 1. Oil prices may remain under $50 all year. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal asked 12 investment banks to project the average crude oil price across 2016. Their consensus? West Texas Intermediate crude will average $48 in 2016; Brent crude will average $50. Oil price forecasts are frequently off the mark, however, and if the oil glut persists, prices may take months to regain those levels. Saudi Arabia and Russia are not cutting back output, as they want to retain market share. With embargoes being lifted, Iran is set to export more oil. U.S. daily oil output has fallen by only 500,000 barrels since April. 2. China’s manufacturing sector may never again grow as it once did. Its leaders are overseeing a gradual shift from a robust, manufacturing-centered economy to a still-booming economy built on services and personal consumption expenditures. The nation’s growth rate has vacillated between 4 percent and 15 percent since 1980, but for most of that time it has topped 8 percent. In 2015, the Chinese economy grew only 6.9 percent by official estimates (which some observers question). The 38 Lake Martin Living
International Monetary Fund forecasts growth of just 6.3 percent for China in 2016 and 6.0 percent in 2017. Stock and commodity markets react quickly to any sputtering of China’s economic engine. 3. The Q4 earnings season looks to be soft. A strong dollar, the slumping commodities sector and the pullback in U.S. markets have all hurt expectations. A note from Morgan Kay Thomas Stanley struck a reasonably positive chord at mid-month, however, stating that “a lowered bar for earnings should be cleared” and that decent Q4 results could act as “a catalyst to calm fears.” What developments could help turn things around this quarter? OPEC could cut oil output; Chinese indicators could beat forecasts; and corporate earnings could surprise to the up side. If these seem like longshots to you, they also do to economists. Still, other factors could emerge. Central banks could take further action. Since China’s 6.9 percent 2015 GDP came in below projections, its leaders could authorize a stimulus. The European Central Bank could increase the scope of its bond buying, and the Federal Reserve could hold off on tightening further in the first half of the year. If this month’s Fed policy statement notes that Fed officials are taking extra scrutiny in light of recent events, it could be reassuring. Any statement that could be taken as “second thoughts” about raising interest rates would not be reassuring. U.S. GDP could prove better than expected. The Atlanta Fed thinks the economy grew 0.6 percent in Q4, and Barclays believes Q4 GDP will come in at 0.3 percent; if the number approaches 1 percent, it could mean something for investors. Moving forward, if the economy expands at least 2.5 percent in Q1 and Q2 (which it very well might), it would say something about our resilience, and markets could take the cue. Other domestic indicators could also affirm our comparative economic health. While the drama on Wall Street is high right now, investors would do well not to fall prey to emotion. As Jack Bogle told CNBC on Jan. 20, “In the short run, listen to the economy; don’t listen to the market. These moves in the market are like a tale told by an idiot: full of sound and fury, signaling nothing.” ~ Karen S. Jennings and Kay J. Thomas may be reached at 256-329-0003 or kjennings@aicinvest.com or kthomas@ aicinvest.com.
Caring for wounds and hearts
T
Medical News
his month, Russell Medical Center congratulates Dr. Vic Hamilton, the recentlyappointed Medical Director for the RMC Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center. Dr. Hamilton’s medical career has spanned 41 years. Hamilton joined the Russell Medical Center staff in 1975 as a board-certified obstetriciangynecologist. He delivered more than 4,500 babies before closing his private Susan Foy practice in 2015. Hamilton worked at the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center part-time until last fall, when he became the center’s full-time physician. “I honestly believe the door has been opened to me at the wound care center,” Hamilton said. “This is where I feel called.” The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center has served patients in the area since 2011. The center offers traditional wound care services, as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT treatments are delivered in a special oxygen chamber that exposes the patient’s body to 100 percent oxygen at higher than normal air pressure, which can speed the healing process. Hamilton said his early medical training in the U.S. Navy and his many years of surgical experience as an ob-gyn prepared him well for this medical pathway, as did his intense training in wound care. “Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.7 million people in the United States each year,” he explained. “Some people don’t even realize they have a wound due to a host of conditions such as neuropathy, bad vein valves in the legs and diabetes, which is so prevalent in our area. “The statistics are staggering. For example, of the 15,000 people living in Alexander City, 4,000 are diabetic. Of that diabetic population, 1,000 of these patients will develop a diabetic foot ulcer, and approximately 150 of those with a diabetic foot ulcer will require an amputation. People don’t realize that the five year survival rate of an amputee is 50 percent, so it is vitally important that patients seek treatment in order to
A Lifetime of Experience
Vic Hamilton, a beloved local doctor for more than 40 years, recently was named director at the RMC Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center.
stave off amputation.” Other conditions treated by Hamilton and his capable staff at the wound care center include pressure and non-pressure ulcers, bedsores and burns. “We see a fair number of toxic spider bites,” he said, “and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can significantly help save tissue.” The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine building is located at 55 Alison Drive in Alexander City. Hamilton encourages patients who have a non-healing wound to call the wound care center at 256-215-7450 for an appointment. You do not have to have a physician referral to come to the wound care center. February is also National Heart Health Month. Russell Medical Center reminds you that early detection of heart disease saves lives. During the month of February, three important heart screenings are offered at special rates. If you or someone you love has known risk factors for heart disease such as family history, obesity, stressed lifestyle or a history of smoking or diabetes, consider these potentially life-saving screenings. The calcium-score heart scan ($90), stroke prevention carotid artery ultrasound ($75) and echocardiogram ($125) may be scheduled by calling 329-7386. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 256-329-7826. Results will be sent to your primary care physician and one of our cardiologists. Take a moment for your heart. Get screened today! ~ Susan Foy is Marketing Director at Russell Medical Center. Lake Martin Living 39
THIS IS COMMUNITY. THIS IS YOUR MUSEUM. THIS IS AUBURN.
JCSM.AUBURN.EDU 40 Lake Martin Living
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Lake Martin Young Professionals' Polar Plunge January 23, 2016 Kowaliga Restaurant 1. Mindy Fisher and Michelle West 2. Richie Henry, George Hardy, Tiffani Henry and Christi Richardson 3. Reagan Kane and Stephanie and Cayle Pounds 4. Jonathan Bloom 5. Andy Anderson and Lacey Howell 6. Blair Dunn and George and Nancy Ammons
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Mardi Gras Charity Auction January 22, 2016 St. James Church, Alexander City 1. Lee and Banks Sheppard 2. Mary Lyman Boone, Martha Tucker, Kenneth Boone and Ann Rye 3.Bill and Martha Chapman and Larry Mcanally 4. Sarah Clegg and Sonny Bozeman 5. Debra Self and Toni Adams 6. Jerone Jackson, Andrea Peacock and Scears Barnes
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National Championship Viewing January 11, 2015 Playhouse Cinemas, Alexander City 1. Nick, Brian, Allyson and Drew Barnes 2. Eric and Cody Dolar and Addy McConnell 3. Cody Cash, Cade Baker and Nolan Fuller
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4. Quinnetta, Darius and Adrian Crayton
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Gloria Boleware Hair & Fashion Show January 10, 2016 Passion Church, Alexander City 1. Nisha Thomas 2. Miss Dadeville Raven Tolbert, Gloria Boleware 3. McKay Kelley and Amari Russell 4. Porsha Tatum 5. Taminko Kelley 6. Sheila Heard, Stephanie Russell and Laura Jones 7. Joyce E. Brooks and Leola Torrance 8. Caleb, Angela and Carrington Lewis
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43rd Annual Miss Outlook Pageant January 23, 2015 Benjamin Russell High School 1. Emily Pimberton and Brooke Baird 2. Betty Farley, Anita Reese, Aline Ware and ZoĂŤ Davis 3. Sarah Beth Griffin, Baylee and Hayden Atkins and Becca Howard 4. Derick and Wesley Robinson 5. Brady Price 6. Stephanie, Haleigh and Lauryn Gregg 7. Nancy Dennis and Tess and Sarena McKinley
Lake Martin Living 45
THE LAKE REGION
Calendar FEATURED EVENT Memory Keepers
Singersongwriter Anne E. DeChant and writer Frye Gaillard combine talents to explore the roots of country music in this month's Watermelon Wine program.
Alex City Arts celebrates the poetry of Southern music
T
he Alexander City Arts Council invites everyone to Emporium Wine in Alexander City on Thursday, Feb. 25 to join in an evening of song and poetry. Watermelon Wine will be hosted by a pair of Southern storytellers who have combined their creativity into a celebration of regional music. Frye Gaillard is the writer-in-residence at the University of South Alabama. He has written and edited more than 20 books in his decades-spanning career as a reporter. Anne E. DeChant is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose songs often explore themes of social justice. Three of the songs on DeChant's new album, The Sun Coming In, were co-written by Gaillard. 46 Lake Martin Living
Together, the pair have formed a two-person actthat they have performed across the Southeast. “It will be a variety of readings and music and interactions between Anne and Frye,� explained Beverly Thomas, board member with the Alexander City Arts Council. The show is named after a book Gaillard wrote 25 years ago, which explored the roots of country music. Emporium Wine is located on 128 Calhoun Street in downtown Alexander City. Entrance will be $15 for adults and $5 for students. The show will start at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Emporium Wine at 256-212-9463.
LAKE REGION EVENTS Feb. 19-20
Alabama Bass Trail Fishing Tournament
Get hooked with the first stop of the Alabama Bass Trail 2016 Southern Division Tournament Series. Preregistration and the mandatory tournament meeting begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College. Contestants will launch at safe daylight from Wind Creek State Park, where the weigh-in also will take place. Visit www.alabamabasstrail.org or www. alexandercitychamber.com for details.
Feb. 20
Pancake Breakfast
The Alexander City Kiwanis Club is hosting its annual pancake breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Benjamin Russell High School lunchroom. The breakfast is all you can eat and will feature Conecuh sausage. Tickets are $6 each and are available at the door.
Feb. 22
Horizons Unlimited
Julie Williams will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Feb. 25
Nat King Cole Presentation
The Adelia M. Russell Library in Alexander City will host speaker Daphne Simpkins from the Alabama Humanities Forum in the main room of the library at 2 p.m. Simpkins is an Alabama native and an author of fiction and non-fiction books. She will speak about Alabama jazz legend Nat King Cole.
Feb. 27
7th Annual Russell Forest Run
Register at www.active.com or www. russellforestrun.com for the 5K or 10K
race options that benefit 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.
March 7
Horizons Unlimited
Susan Webb will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
March 8
Live Music of the Old South
Preserving the rich history of Southern Appalachian music and cultural history of the Deep South, the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1921 of Tallassee will perform at 7 p.m. at the Tallassee High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students. For information, call Mona Mills at 334-201-4892.
March 11
Lead Forward
Sister Schubert Barnes will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Lead Forward luncheon and business expo at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at CACC in Alexander City. The expo will be displayed in the lobby from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the ballroom. Tickets are $20 each and are available at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. Call 256- 234-4361 for details.
March 15
Spring Break Movies
Mamie’s Place Children’s Library will hold a kid’s movie day with features starting at 10 a.m. and 2 pm. Call 256234-4644 for more information.
Season-Long Events Art Association of Central Alabama
Meet at 10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Lake Martin Area United Way. 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.
Storytime at Mamie’s
Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Electronics Recycling
The City of Alexander City Public Works Department will host an electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in conjunction with the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership. There is a $10 fee per television. Call Sabrina Wood at 334429-8832 or Amanda Thomas at 256409-2020.
Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit
The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display at the Alexander City Board of Education building all year long. The BOE is located at 375 Lee Street.
Memory Makers Quilt Guild
Meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Jr. Sportplex campus. Participants come and go from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5 p.m., followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.
Lake Martin Living 47
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Goldville 280
Goodwater To Sylacauga
Legend
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
63
New Site
Public Boat Ramps 22
280
Churches
21
Camps & Parks
Timbergut Landing
9
Power lines
17
280
16
8
U.S. Highways County Roads
12
Alexander City Flint Hill Church
22
Camp ASCCA
Alex City Boat Ramp
9
Rockford
3
49
128
22
COOSA COUNTY
Horsesh Nation
Jaybird Landing
Wind Creek 63 State Park
Piney Woods Landing
Jacksons Gap
Pleasant Grove Church
11
9
Mt. Zion Church
259
Bethel Church
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church Liberty Church
20
Smith Landing Willow Point
24
Seman
Camp Kiwanis
Church in The Pines Trillium
1 Children’s Harbor Ko
wa
19 10 18 9
Church of the Living Waters
The Ridge
The Amp
2
lig
22 Red Ridge United 49 Methodist Church
Stillwaters
20
Union Landing
aB
ay
Walnut Hill
24
80
Lake Martin Baptist Church
Camp Alamisco
Kowaliga Boat Landing
4
Pleasant Ridge Church
34
5 63 15 6
Equality
55
14
7
57
New Hope Church
231
Dadev
280
Union
90
50
Central
Red Hill
13
63
Union Church
Refuge Church 229
49
Eclectic Santuck Kent
Reeltown
120
14
231
14
23
ELMORE COUNTY Wetumpka
48 Lake Martin Living
14
Tallassee 229
MACO COUNT
Lake Martin Region
Daviston 22
Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
hoe Bend nal Park
ville
ON TY
50
Camp Hill
. Dark Insurance 16 256-234-5026 www.darkinsuranceagency.com 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010
42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 270 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
17 . McDaniels Storage Center 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010
56. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 66. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Waverly 50
Hotels & Lodges
Business & Shopping
34. 21 Cherokee Bend Bed & Breakfast 877-760-7854 5833 Hwy 22 E, Alex City, AL 35010
Churches
95. Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
34. 22 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36853
10 4. Patterson Air 256-825-8600 334-850-3500 8400 Kowaliga Road, Lake Martin
34. 23 Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 334-252-8618 2602 Gilmer Avenue, Tallassee, AL 36078 (12 miles South of Lake Martin)
4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 12 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010
LEE COUNTY
. Lake Martin Mini Mall 19 334-857-3900 7995 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
34. 20 Creekside Lodge & Conference and Event Center 256-307-1440 6993 Hwy. 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
11 4. Hodges Vineyards and Winery 256-896-4036 230 Lee Road 71, Camp Hill, AL 36850
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18 . Kowaliga Whole Health & Pet Care Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
76.Homeplate Cafe 256-825-0583 191 East South St., Dadeville, AL 36853
84 Tallapoosa Ford 256-234-3432 1551 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
280
4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 15 256-794-1333 111 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Restaurants
CHAMBERS COUNTY
4. Russell Building Supply 14 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853
Dock Builders 3. Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 24 Marine Construction Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 13 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
Loachapoka 14
Notasulga 85
If you would like to advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map, for as little as $25 call 256-234-4281.
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Lake Martin Living 49
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your life! Stay connected to all the local news and information going on around you. Whether you’re looking for high school sports scores, the community calendar of events, an obituary, a wedding announcement, or the latest news in the Lake Martin and River Region Areas
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY The Alexander City Outlook The Dadeville Record The Wetumpka Herald The Eclectic Observer
The Tallassee Tribune Lake Magazine Lake Martin Living Elmore County Living
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50 Lake Martin Living
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
Beautiful skin, Beautiful you • Spa Facials • Acne • Anti Aging/Chemical Peels • Full Body Waxing First time customers will receive a FREE eyebrow wax with your spa service.
Templeton Plantation Pet Hotel & Grooming Spa
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
256-212-0409 getcrystalclearskin.com Inside Durbin Chiropractic 1101 Cherokee Road Alex City, Al 35010
Where your pets have a room instead of a cage! By Appointment Only: 256-794-0401
SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
To Advertise in the Business Directory section of Lake Martin Living please contact one of our Sales Representatives @ 256-234-4281 Lake Martin Living 51
DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE OF LAKE MARTIN LIVING! Subscribe today or visit one of our local establishments each month for a free copy. ALEXANDER CITY
Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Que Campus of CACC Carlisle's 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
52 Lake Martin Living
Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant T.C. Russell Airport Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot USAmeribank Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
DADEVILLE
American Motorsports Bay Pine Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce
Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foodland Foshee's Boat Doc Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place PNC Bank Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank
ECLECTIC
Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store
Peoples Bank
EQUALITY
Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star
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 be sure a copy is reserved for you, call David Kendrick at 256-2344281 to start your subscription.
AD INDEX 1st Insurance................................................................... 8
George Hardy, D.M.D................................................... 7
Millstone Nursery.......................................................... 7
A&M Plumbing............................................................... 7
Got Hooked Guide Service......................................30
Music Depot..................................................................51
Alex City Guide Service.............................................52
Harold Cochran, State Farm Insurance......................51
Radney Funeral Home................................................. 5
Alex City Taxi & Shuttle.............................................51
Hinson Galleries.................................................................35
River Bank......................................................................25
Bob Alexander Landscaping...................................37
Holley's Home Furnishings.....................................31
Russell Medical Center..............................................56
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation.............................. 7
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art......................40
Satterfield, Inc............................................................... 5
C&C Wood Products...................................................52
Karen Channell, State Farm Insurance...............................51
Southern Sash................................................................ 8
Coffee Corner.................................................................. 8
Kelley’s Heating & Air.................................................51
Tallassee Community Hospital...............................37
Com-Link, Inc.................................................................. 8
Lagasse Construction Inc.........................................30
Templeton Plantation................................................51
Crystal Clear Skin.........................................................51
LaKay's Flowers & Gifts..............................................19
Thomas Self Storage..................................................37
DAVCO Development................................................51
Lake Martin Community Hospital........................... 3
Ware Jewelers...............................................................55
Designs by Trish............................................................. 7
Lake Martin Dock.................................................11, 51
Wind Creek Casino......................................................15
East Alabama Medical Center.................................30
Lake Martin Mini Mall.................................................. 2
Four Seasons Irrigation.............................................51
Lakeside Concierge....................................................51
Lake Martin Living 53
A Little Friendly Competition
I
The Last Word
Dictionary to verify before placing the tiles. have always considered myself a Yes, this tactic bends the rules, but it is a competitive person. great way to learn new words. For instance, Let me clarify that statement: My here are a few words that will have you competitive nature is directly proportional winning Scrabble matches with your relatives to my ability in the arena in which I am (and looking incredibly nerdy) in no time: competing. 1. Jo: At one time, “jo” was defined as an For example, I once enjoyed being Australian rabbit. It may still be, but now the competitive in basketball, as it was my official definition is “a sweetheart." Though I sport of choice. I took it seriously and even warn you now, if you say to your wife, “I love practiced when the mood struck. Soccer? Not you, Jo,” when her name is, say, Karen, she so much. Even in youth leagues, my attempts may not take it as a term of affection. at “futbol” were akin to a yeti moonwalking Luke Robinson 2. Xu: A monetary unit of Vietnam. As in, in cleats. “Do you have change for a xu? I want to get Now that I am older, contact sports are some BBQ chips from the vending machine.” becoming more and more out of the question. 3. Qi: In Chinese thought, Qi is the unseen force that is Oh, I will occasionally play flag football on Sunday vital to all things. Also, a great way to get rid of a “Q” tile mornings, but I regret the heck out of that decision the following Monday through Thursday. My body resembles without a “U.” 4. ‘Za: Short for ‘pizza’. More importantly, another sign a glob of Play-Doh with bones in it, and my hamstrings that we are some of the laziest people on Earth if we are are more like “strings of ham” due to the copious abbreviating five-letter words. amounts of pork upon which I have gorged. 5. Wo: Synonym for woe. Proof we are even lazier than I am still very competitive when it comes to board I thought; we are now abbreviating three-letter words. games, however. Scrabble is one game in particular that 6. Mm: A sign of satisfaction. It goes well with my next I have been moderately serious about for years. Not “go word: to tournaments” serious – that’s crazy talk – but serious 7. Hm: The definition is literally “hmm.” enough to look up oddball two-letter words that begin 8. Cwm: This one surprised me. Cwm is another with “Q” from time to time. word for a cirque. A cirque is a steep-walled basin on a My blobby exterior is of no consequence when it comes to Scrabble and, luckily, the good people at Hasbro mountain. This is like learning two words in one for me. 9. Igg: To ignore. Okay, even I think this is getting don’t care that I am dangerously close to needing a sports ridiculous. Especially when “OK” doesn’t make the list of bra. two-letter words. One of my uncles and I have had a running Scrabble 10. Myc: A gene that turns a normal cell into a rivalry for years. The matches began when I was around cancerous cell, but you already knew this. Minus 10 12 or 13 and have only intensified since. It is no stretch points if you play this word while humming Michael to say we have spent much more time pining over Jackson’s “PYT.” potentially acceptable Scrabble words than we have So be sure to use these helpful letter groupings the asking about each other’s lives outside of Scrabble, and next time you play against a relative. These words will we are both cool with that. either really impress them or really, really upset them. We don’t play cutthroat Scrabble, meaning we don’t And that’s what family is all about. go directly by the Scrabble rules on the inside of the box cover. For example, we don’t challenge words. If we think ~ Luke Robinson is an Alexander City native who also something is a word (or even if we just pray something writes a weekly column for The Alexander City Outlook. is a word), we have the opponent look in the Scrabble 54 Lake Martin Living
TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE HEUER 01
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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
Lake Martin Living 55
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