LAKE MARTIN, ALABAMA
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Stories of people, places and activities that make the Lake Martin Region special
2019 Progress Edition PRICELESS
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Where Home is Worth a Thousand Words Ownership at The Ridge comes with an array of extras—The Ridge Club, a 10-acre recreation complex; miles of trails, as well as nature and waterfront parks; and the state-of-the-art Ridge Marina—all designed to connect you with family, friends, nature, and always, the lake.
R U S S E L L L A N D S O N L AK E MA RT I N. C OM | PRICELESS
256 . 215 . 7 011 | L A K E MAR T I N, A L A BAM A FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ FROM THE PUBLISHER] Many small communities struggle to identify the things that make them unique and special, but that is not the case in Alexander City and the Lake Martin area. Quite the opposite is true here, as we have featured in this edition only a few of the many people, places, organizations, businesses and activities that add so much value to this community. From our City leaders and the dedicated employees who take such pride in their work to the initiatives of the chamber of commerce, the progress of our community college, our downtown Steve Baker merchants, our many faith-based ministries and the network of organizations that support activities on Lake Martin, the quality of life here is so exceptional that it simply cannot be calculated. But we did try. This year’s progress edition is themed “Priceless,” and in it, we applaud efforts that strive to make our community a better place to live, work and play. We hope this issue sheds light on projects and people you may not have realized are making such an extraordinary effort, including some community features that aren’t often in the limelight. Martin Dam is one of these. As much as the dam is a part of our daily lives, most of us rarely think about it or stop to appreciate all that it makes possible in our community. Having recently toured the dam, I can tell you that it represents a magnificent feat, and I hope that our article on page 60 gives you a greater appreciation for the contributions it makes to our economy and lifestyle. Central Alabama Community College is another. Behind its quiet façade and serene campus pond, CACC buzzes with opportunities for students through industry-integrated curriculum and academic strength. Driving past, you might never know that Tesla Corporation engineers drop into CACC classrooms to discuss state-of-the-art technology with automotive students; nursing students practice care skills in simulation labs for hours on end before they enter clinical instruction settings; and our own local college is one of six nationwide to be named a leader by the Achieving the Dream Network. Learn more about our own Central Alabama Community College on page 10. And there’s more – much more. I hope you will enjoy finding the value in our community through this publication, celebrating our community and its progress. And I hope you will help us call attention to the many others that we could not feature here. I challenge you to use our newspaper and magazine social media outlets, write letters to our editors to help us publicly applaud other people, places, activities, business and organizations that are working for good in our community.
- STAFF CHAIRMAN - Kenneth Boone PUBLISHER - Steve Baker NEWSPAPER MANAGING EDITOR - Jimmy Wigfield MANAGING EDITOR - Betsy Iler ASSISTANT MAGAZINE EDITOR - Amy Passaretti ART DIRECTOR - Audra Spears ADVERTISING DIRECTOR - Tippy Hunter DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION - Erin Burton BUSINESS MANAGER - Angela Mullins ALEXANDER CITY WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER - Cliff Williams DESIGN EDITOR - Santana Wood SPORTS EDITOR - Lizi Arbogast PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lee Champion PRODUCTION ARTIST - Shelley McNeal PRODUCTION ARTIST - Darlene Johnson ADVERTISING MANAGER - Katie Wesson ADVERTISING SALES - Jessica Ware ADVERTISING SALES - Julie Harbin ADVERTISING SALES - Jolie Waters NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES - Doug Patterson DIGITAL MARKETING - Kat Raiford OFFICE CLERK - Linda Ewing WETUMPKA ADVERTISING MANAGER - Marilyn Hawkins ADVERTISING SALES - Bizzy Baker WRITER - Donald Campbell SPORTS WRITER - Caleb Turrentine OFFICE CLERK - Donna Parker TALLASSEE WRITER - Carmen Rodgers ADVERTISING SALES - Shannon Filyaw CONTRIBUTORS Carmen Rodgers Lonna Upton Zelenka Boyd Ann Wade Photography
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 alexcityoutlook.com | thewetumpkaherald.com | tallasseetribune.com
Steve Baker, Publisher
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living, Elmore County Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2018 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
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Always
MOVING FORWARD
➠ ➠ ➠ Alexander City Alexander City is on the move & the momentum is contagious, but don’t just take our word for it. We are the “South’s Best Kept Secret”. A community that celebrates its history while embracing a vision for the future. From our thriving Downtown, to the HWY 280 retail corridor, to the peaceful shores of beautiful Lake Martin, Alexander City has everything. Come see for yourself.
Downtown Dining to Lakefront Living & Everything in Between.
alexandercityonline.com | 256-329-5708
Visit. Enjoy. REPEAT.
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[ CONTENTS]
Letter from Publisher...................................4 Staff........................................................4 Central Alabama Community College .............. 10
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Gateway Scholarship ................................. 17 Dr. Susan Burrows .................................... 18 A Heart for Kids ....................................... 20 Classic Education ..................................... 22 Investment Starts Early .............................. 25 Water School........................................... 28 Lakeside farm feeds body & soul................... 32 Extension................................................ 36 Trent Carboni .......................................... 37 Chamber event leads women forward.............. 38 By the Numbers........................................ 41 Lake Life ............................................... 42 Sandra Fuller .......................................... 46 Downtown Main Street ............................... 48 Coming Soon .......................................... 52 Business Done Right.................................. 58 Martin Dam ............................................ 60 Volunteer Fire Departments ......................... 67
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Jim Nabors.............................................. 68 Lake Martin ............................................ 72 Prized Parks ........................................... 82
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Ministry makes a difference ......................... 85 Arts District ............................................ 86 Fabulous Festivals .................................... 88 The AMP ................................................ 92 Russell Crossroads ................................... 96 Feed the Fun ..........................................102 Respite for Caregivers...............................105 Russell Medical adds TCU..........................106 Healthcare Options Offer Value.....................108 Leaders in Service ...................................110 Cancer Care’s Home Team..........................112 Business Card Directory.............................114 Our Advertisers .......................................116 ON THE COVER:
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Martin Dam began to generate power on Dec. 31, 1926, and has generated so much more in its 93 years of operation, including recreation that drives the local economy. Photo by Kenneth Boone
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“Providing Quality ElEctrical construction sincE 1961”
Bill’s Electric ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS (256) 234-4555 1814 Airport Blvd Alexander Cit y, AL 35010 We value your membership.We value you.
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256.496.0495
ALEXANDER CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT Emergencies: 911 Department: 256.397.1023
Freedom starts here. More than a ag. More than a pledge. We salute all the brave men and women who make it more.
1 Court Square • Alexander City, AL
Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative 800.332.8732 • LaFayette, AL www.trec.coop
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We’re building on our century-long commitment to
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In 1920, Alabama Power established the New Industries Division, believed to be the first utility-based economic development department in the U.S. Today, we continue to be a partner in helping move Alabama’s economy forward. We work with state and local allies to recruit automotive, aerospace, information technology and other industries to Alabama to bring jobs to our communities, support training for our workforce and champion innovators that will help energize our state. In fact, we’ve been named one of the nation’s top 10 utilities in economic development.* Making our state a great place to work and live is one more way we’re helping elevate Alabama. Learn more at AlabamaPower.com.
© 2019 Alabama Power Company
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*2016, Site Selection magazine.
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
Forging the future of local industry, healthcare and business STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS
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Central Alabama Community College
Isaiah Dixon enrolled in CACC’s 20-week welding certification program to gain skills he needs to build a career PRICELESS
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS] revolves around the medical and manufacturing fields, said CACC President Dr. Susan Burrow.
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To be successful in any job – in every job – you have to be able to think, problem solve and innovate.” ~ Dr. Susan Burrow
C
entral Alabama Community College provides state-ofthe-art higher education and workforce training opportunities in the Lake Martin area. Over the past couple of years, CACC has invested millions of dollars in equipment and added programs to its Alexander City campus to enhance student success and create job-skills education for growing industries and technology fields still in development. The most prominent of these innovations
Healthcare Curriculum “A big part of what we’ve been able to accomplish speaks to the importance of healthcare in our community,” Burrow said. “We have had medical curriculum on campus here, really, since the beginning. We now have a fully available registered nursing program on the Alexander City campus, and with the support of the City, Russell Medical and Workforce Innovation grant funds, we have established a very high-tech nursing simulation lab.” The lab gives nursing students access to interactive mannequins that are capable of simulating most health scenarios, from code to acute medical problems they will see in nursing practice, she explained. The new computerized simulation lab allows students to encounter situations they may not experience until they are in their own nursing practices in controlled, safe
learning environments. One mannequin has already been installed and is in use at the college; a second has been purchased and is being installed this year. This state-ofthe-art simulation lab is a great addition to the growing nursing program that prepares students for real-life nursing practice. With the design of the new simulation lab, the college could easily manage three mannequins, Burrow said. Mannequins can cost as much as $100,000 each with technology and accessories. Also included in the purchase of the new mannequins is education in-service for faculty that helps to ensure high quality nursing education for each student. In addition, a new medical assisting technology program offers students a pathway for multiple medical career starts and advancement avenues. Medical assistant jobs are one of the fastest growing in healthcare, and salaries in this field are expected to rise. Set to rollout next fall, the program is expected to accommodate up
The milling machine works so quickly that a cooling solution must be applied during operation
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to 10 students in its inaugural semester. “Graduates of this program could work as certified nursing assistants and phlebotomy assistants in freestanding medical offices, clinics or hospitals. This program could provide stepping stones to a variety of medical career paths,” Burrow said. While the full Associate in Applied Science for medical assistant technology degree is a two-year program, students have several options to complete certifications along the way, as the program is designed to allow students the option of obtaining degrees or earn new certifications to advance their careers. “The program has been designed with multiple entrance and exit points, depending on a student’s career goals,” Burrow said. The program was developed through close work with Russell Medical, which provided support throughout the grant process and helped in obtaining equipment.
Manufacturing Program Growth Important progress also has been made in the manufacturing disciplines at CACC, Burrow said. “We have strengthened our relationships with local business and industry through the Appalachian Regional Commission, which provided matching grant funds for a $1 million project to build a new classroom,” she explained. “The grants have helped us to expand programs and purchase equipment.” In addition to the classroom construction, a donation from Tesla Corporation has helped the college bring in high-tech equipment and interactive teaching technology through a technology education relationship established in 2016. Though the arrangement expires soon, three Tesla engineers have served as adjunct faculty at CACC. “It’s remarkable. These Tesla engineers have been able to drop right into our classroom as students were working,” Burrow said. “Manufacturing has changed so much with the internet. We are now preparing students for jobs that don’t even exist yet. We want our students PRICELESS
Jason Wingard, a fifth semester nursing student, demonstrates a wound-packing technique for second semester student Kalee Holman
to be trained and up to date with the latest skills as technology continues to evolve. So, in turn, what we are teaching students to do is to evaluate and solve problems. “To be successful in any job – in every job – you have to be able to think, problem solve and innovate.” Growth in this sector of education has been so promising that CACC created a deanship for Workforce Development and recently hired Dr. Doug Flor to fill the position. Next year, Burrow said, industry education will get another boost, as CACC has worked in partnership with Russell Marine to build a program for marine technology. “This is the first program of its kind in the state,” she explained. “We have worked with boat manufacturers and marine suppliers throughout the Southeast; we’ve developed curriculum with boating industry leaders sitting at the table with us. We are about to send the curriculum for accredita-
tion acceptance. “Connections are immeasurably valuable. We are preparing workers for jobs in our community to meet economy demands. Building partnerships with business and industry grows and sustains our communities. We have found that if we are committed and responsive to business and industry, they are willing to participate. They recognize that they are investing in their own futures.”
Academic Transfer Program Academics are interwoven with many other fields in today’s education environment, Burrow said. While more than 100 students are enrolled in the manufacturing programs – automotive, electronics, welding and machine shop – a large segment of CACC’s 1,700-student enrollment is in the pre-professional science transfer program for future education, primarily in engineering and medical fields. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
A Dadeville High School graduate, Lachristian Pennyamon hopes to earn several certifications at CACC to increase his job options at graduation
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CACC IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY n Direct employee spending: $3.7 million nC ollege spending: More than $3 million n Student spending: $24.5 million
“The physics, calculus and chemistry enrollment here is extraordinarily healthy. That is a testament to the quality of students who are coming here. We are getting a lot of talented students,” she said. The school draws students from as far away as 50 miles. This proximity to the community offers students an affordable start to quality college education, Burrow said. With a healthy studentteacher ratio, students have the opportunity to begin college with a solid academic foundation in core subject areas. And, she added, students contribute to the economic vitality of the community as well, purchasing gasoline, eating at local restaurants and shopping in local stores when they come to town for classes.
Athletics In the meantime, the CACC athletic programs continue to grow, Burrow said. “Our athletes in tennis, golf, softball and baseball are highly successful. These programs offer students opportunities to excel,” she said. In 2013, the CACC Trojans won its first national championship in baseball and the school’s sixth national championship in golf, and Men’s PRICELESS
Golf Coach Dave Jennings said his team is shooting for the seventh. “This group of young men has something special in their sights to win another national championship tournament for the community and CACC,” Jennings said. The women’s softball team last year finished the season as a runnerup in the ACCC tournament, which qualified the team for District I Championship play. After winning District I, the team played at the NJCAA National Tournament in St. George, Utah. “Even though we didn’t finish as the national champion, any time your season ends in St. George, you had a great year,” said the team’s Coach Greg Shivers. The women’s tennis team also qualified for the national tournament last year after winning the state and region championships. As CACC continues to build programs and relationships with industry leaders, prepare students for university transfer programs and help local workers advance in their fields, the community could reasonably expect to reap the benefits of the education offered here, in the center of town, now and in the years to come.
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Environmental Education
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LAKE MARTIN RESOURCE ASSOCIATION To join visit www.lmra.info FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
Gateway Scholarship STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
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n 2015, Alexander City native Jacob Meacham came home to support the community that had supported him with a college education 13 years before his return. Now the vice president of business development at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Meacham graduated Benjamin Russell High School in 2004 and was among the first to be offered the Gateway Foundation scholarship. “It was a tremendous opportunity that set me up for long-term education,” Meacham said. Meacham took advantage of a new program at the time that provided two years of free college education at Central Alabama Community College. The program, founded by a Leadership Lake Martin class, was funded through a five-year designation of Wind Creek State Park’s lodging tax. The scholarship pays full tuition for up to 64 credit hours for local high school graduates with at least average academic records. The program now is funded through donations, the City of Alexander City and a utility bill contribution option. The Gateway Foundation grant was designed to motivate students to pursue higher-level education and workforce training that could help existing businesses expand and attract new industry. The nonprofit foundation is administered by the Chamber of Commerce and overseen by a board of directors. “I didn’t realize at the time the commitment from the business community, but later, seeing that investment made me feel more connected to the area. It made me want to come back here,” Meacham said. Meacham took core classes at CACC before transferring to the University of Alabama as a communications major. When he finished college, he worked for the university but jumped at the chance to return to his hometown when the chamber created the business development position. “It’s a game changer for students who think they don’t have an opporPRICELESS
tunity to go to college or learn a trade because of the money,” explained Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ed Collari. “To get that opportunity for free changes the course of people’s lives and the history of families. “In the fall quarter of 2018, we cut a check to the college for $105,000 in tuition for 58 Gateway Foundation scholarship students.” Any student who graduates from BRHS or an eligible church-affiliated and accredited private school in the Alexander City school district is eligible. To enter the CACC technical program, the student must have a 2.25 grade point average – a C average. Gateway entry into the academic program at CACC requires a C+ average – a 2.75 GPA. Within two years, the student could earn an associate degree and certification in a number of trades, including computer science, drafting and design technology, nursing, welding, automotive manufacturing/industrial automation (robotics), industrial electronics technology and more. Close to half of the students that have taken advantage of the program have earned a certificate, associate degree, bachelor degree or some combination of the three, but even students that didn’t finish the program could realize financial gain from the program. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor 2017 statistics, the median weekly earnings for a person with some college but no degree is $62 more than a person with a high school diploma but no college credit. The recipient of an associate’s degree typically earns $60 more per week than a person with at least some college credit but no degree; the lifetime earnings for a Gateway scholarship student could be substantial. “In addition to the financial savings of a free college education, there are a lot of advantages to going to CACC on the Gateway scholarship,” Meacham added. “For me, it made the transition from high school to college easier.
Jacob Meacham
“I really didn’t have the level of maturity to move off and be on my own when I graduated high school, so at CACC, I was able to ease into it. I had fewer student loans, and there were other benefits – such as room and board – to doing that first year at home. “And once I transferred to Alabama, I didn’t notice any drop-off in the quality of education from CACC. The instruction level meets the standard, and there are really good teachers at CACC. That one-on-one level of instruction made learning the material easier, and I learned how to learn better.” Central Alabama Community College Associate Dean of Institutional Planning, Assessment and Evaluation Cindy Entrekin contributed information for this article. To make a contribution to the Gateway to Education Scholarship Assistance Program, visit www.alexcitychamber.com/gateway-to-education or send a check to Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, 175 Aliant Parkway, Alexander City AL 35010. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ PEOPLE ]
Dr. Susan Burrow
Supporting our future economy STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
S
ix years ago, on what seemed at the time a wing and a prayer, Dr. Susan Burrow was named interim president at Central Alabama Community College. Her arrival was a turning point for the community, as well as the college. “Chancellor Mark Heinrich contacted me and indicated he had a college that was in need of transitional leadership rather quickly,” Burrow recalled. “He notified me on a Monday afternoon, and I became interim president at CACC on Tuesday. And I am thrilled that I did.” The college had just transitioned to a new, more advanced software system and was faced with some very challenging hurdles, Burrow said. As a result, financial reporting was inconsistent, and Burrow’s charge was to correct those issues while continuing to keep the college moving in a positive, progressive direction. “Overcoming those challenges was a major feat,” said Burrow, who two years later officially became the president. “Throughout all of that transition time, we were focused on student success outcomes, and we have made significant improvements in that area.” Burrow and the college faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to strengthen programming and to promote student success and college completion. The strategy and hard work applied then are reaping 18
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Dr. Susan Burrow
rewards today. Just recently, Burrow was notified that CACC was selected as a 2019 Leader College for the Achieving the Dream Network, an honor based on program strength and use of data and student success. CACC was one of only six community colleges in the nation to receive this recognition. “The community college experience forever changes so many lives,” said Burrow, a Haleyville, Alabama, native whose previous familiarity with the Lake Martin area was part of her decision to take the opportunity when it was offered in 2013. “I was familiar with the college
and with the area through experience with Phi Theta Kappa, an academic fraternity at the community college level. I coordinated that program statewide for several years at Children’s Harbor. I knew a little bit about the lake area and was aware of the Russell Corporation legacy and how that transformed the community when the economic impact of losing that employer came about. I had been at Bevill State Community College – also located in a very much textile-driven economy in Northwest Alabama – so I had experience with some similar impacts in that area,” she said. Under Burrow’s leadership, CACC faculty have focused on student success at several strategic levels, including transfer programs and curriculum development for new skills certifications. The college also has nurtured relationships with industry leaders who want to hire local graduates who are already trained and knowledgeable with onthe-job technology. In this way and many others, CACC supports the future of the local economy. “Personally, it’s been a very challenging but rewarding experience to see the significant progress we’ve made at the college and the great strides in student success. I am proud of the forward progress, and I plan to continue to work in higher education, hopefully here at CACC,” she said. PRICELESS
• Updated Pro Shop • Junior Golf Program • Annual Tournaments • Weekly Matches
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
A Heart for Kids
Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Lankford is passionate about the children’s futures STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
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ost days, Keith Lankford rides the bus to school. There would be nothing unusual about that if he were a student, but Dr. Lankford is the new superintendent of Alexander City Schools. Just after the New Year, he began his tenure here, not only pouring over budgets and cloistered in meetings but also getting on school busses and traveling the routes on cold, winter mornings. “I want to see where the kids live. I think it’s important, as soon as possible, to get connected to the kids and the community,” said Lankford. He talks to the kids on the bus, getting to know them; getting them to trust him. It’s important that they do, he said, because he has a goal in mind for them, and they will have to work hard to achieve it. That goal is to become life ready. “I want them to know they’ve got to have perseverance and grit to overcome obstacles and be prepared, and that it’s worth the work to get there,” he said. “I want every kid to have multiple options and opportunities when they walk across that stage for their diplomas. Not just an option or one or two options – multiple options. I want them to be equipped to choose a path and not allow their circumstances to choose one for them.” Lankford is passionate about that goal; he has a heart for the kids, especially the at-risk kids. “I know what it’s like for at-risk kids. I know how they feel and what they go through; what they want; how easily they can become discouraged. I know what it’s like to be an at-risk kid because I was an at-risk kid,” he said. “When I finished high school, I had no options – no job, no money, no direction and no future. I struggled to find 20
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my way. “Today, I run into old classmates, and they do a double-take – ‘You have a doctorate?’ they say. ‘In education? ‘You are leading a school system?’” he laughed. His life lacked focus, Lankford said, until his girlfriend broke up with him. “She said she couldn’t be with me. I was bringing her down, and she couldn’t let that happen.” So with God’s help, Lankford said, he grew up, made something of himself and married her. To get where he is today, the man who now directs the opportunity path for Alexander City’s youth joined the military, where he coached outreach kids and discovered his passion for working with children and education. Now in his 21st year as an educator, Lankford started as a teacher; then, he became an assistant principal; principal; and deputy superintendent. Alexander City is his second superintendent position. Through it all, he’s remained connected to the kids and the communities in which he has served, as his passion for creating opportunities for the kids drives everything he does. “I am a member of Kiwanis because of that connection; they work to help children,” he said. “I’ve built houses with Habitat for Humanity, and when I was a principal in Jefferson County, I developed a program we called STIC – Students Tutoring in Churches.” At Kermit Johnson Elementary in Pinson, 70 percent of the students lived at or below the poverty level. “Kids who lived in remote areas of the county were coming up behind, but their parents couldn’t get them to the school for after-school and weekend tutoring programs. We had to get the tutoring close to the kids and needed to
get them connected to the community,” he explained. “STIC is about the community coming together to be a community.” The ecumenical program includes 14 churches in that community, where children can get the tutoring help they need to succeed in school, as well as take part in other activities that help them to develop confidence and make positive connections. This program was replicated in his last school system, in Sheffield, and was successful in improving literacy rates among struggling students. Lankford wants to make that kind of difference in Alexander City, and it starts, he said, on the school bus. “I want kids to see me and know they can do this, too,” he said. “It starts with relationships. Relationships are huge for me at every level. Riding the bus is about creating relationships with the kids.” This passion for creating opportunities for children is one Lankford shares with Cathy, his wife of 28 years, he said. Cathy has stayed in her position as a high school guidance counselor near Sheffield for now but will be moving south this summer. The couple has two children: Their son, Colten, 25, graduated Auburn University and now studies cellular molecular biology at the University of Iowa; and daughter, Kara, 23, is in dental school at UAB. As Lankford settles into the superintendent’s position, he also is making connections in the community, meeting others who share his passion and care about building opportunities for kids. He welcomes those conversations, he said, but on many days, he might not be in the office until 3 p.m.; instead, look for him on a school bus. PRICELESS
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I want every kid to have multiple options and opportunities when they walk across that stage for their diplomas. Not just an option or one or two options – multiple options. Dr. Keith Lankford PRICELESS
By riding school busses and letting kids get to know him, Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Lankford hopes to encourage them toward successful futures FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS] Director Chris Adkins (center)and his teachers educate using a classical education format
Classic Education STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY PASSARETTI
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or students interested in a faithbased education, Veritas Classical School in Alexander City is in the middle of its first year and open for enrollment. Director Chris Adkins said this model of education typically places students at a higher level of learning. “It’s been proven that with classical education, students out-perform in college readiness and SAT scores. There is a 5-point ACT increase on average for Christian classic versus traditional
Students attend class four days a week, with optional enrichment opportunities on Friday
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learning,” said Adkins. The school is open to grades kindergarten through 12th and is a branch of a 20-year-old Georgia-based school. There are 16 Veritas campuses around the country. Housed in the Family Center of First Baptist Church of Alexander City, the Veritas curriculum focuses heavily on the humanities, and the daily class structure differs from that of traditional education. On Mondays and Tuesdays of each week, students study traditional subjects, including math, science, fine arts and labs. Wednesdays offer integrated humanities, along with chapel. Teachers open up class teatime to parents on Wednesdays, as well. Thursdays are considered a supplemental day for humanities discussion groups or additional assistance. Teachers use Fridays as self-designed creative expression days for students. Fridays also are the best day for field trips, service activities and working on projects, said Adkins. “The flexibility of the instructional delivery plays a role in students’ poise, manners and wisdom, as well,” Adkins added. The hybrid-approach increases stu-
dent-interaction and engagement, and the humanities methods are diverse and age appropriate, he said. “It’s not just about the subjects. It allows students to learn conducive to a college-style environment,” said Adkins. “It’s a four-day academic week with a one-day optional enrichment.” Parents of students have the option to enroll their children in just the humanities aspect of the program, and homeschooled children could take advantage of selected elements for reduced tuition. For more information, visit VeritasAlabama.com or the Facebook page for Veritas Lake Martin. VALUE
n N umber of students enrolled: 73 n Number of teachers: 9 n T uition: $3,250 annually, plus fees, books and uniforms n Number of Veritas campuses: 16 n A verage ACT score for a classical school student: 25-26
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PRECIOUS MEMORIES GIFTS & MORE
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
Investment starts early STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS
P
arents of pre-school aged children in Tallapoosa County have many options to ensure that the area’s most valued resource – our children – are ready for school. Local daycare centers stress experiential learning through play, music and art. All of the centers offer trained staff and curriculum to prepare children for kindergarten. The Early Learning Center at the First Baptist Church is dedicated to providing a solid foundation by offering children an opportunity to learn through play in a positive environment. The center enrolls children from 6 weeks up to and 5 years old. They also offer a summer camp and afterschool care, as well as care during school breaks. “The Early Learning Center adds great value to Alexander City because we are a local faith and family-oriented child care option and also offer a pre-K program with a Christian-based curriculum. We have a dedicated staff and an excellent program,” said Andi Moseley, Early Learning Center director. Another church-based option in Alexander City is Jacob’s Ladder Creative Learning Center at the First United Methodist Church. The center offers care in a Christian environment
Students at Jacob’s Ladder in Alexander City learn early to honor and respect their community PRICELESS
Students at Harbor Learning Academy participating in the Annual Cancer Walk
for infants through pre-kindergarteners and after-school care. Jacob’s Ladder believes young people play an essential role in the growth and development of the future of our community. “Jacob’s Ladder strives to work together with our families and community to instill values that will grow with our littles ones. Our preschoolers and kindergartners visit area businesses, sing to residents in assisted living/ nursing homes, learn about helping others in the community through food drives, shopping for families in need at Christmas and delivering Meals on Wheels each week,” said director Kim McAlister. Head Start, another preschool option in Alexander City, offers three federally-funded preschool classes, as well as state-funded pre-kindergarten classes for any child in Tallapoosa County who qualifies. As in the public schools, the pre-K classes are governed by the Alabama Department of Education, and children are selected to fill the coveted spots by lottery. “We had the first pre-K class in Alexander City and were one of the first in the state. We have three classes now and are proud to pre-
pare children from all demographics for their K-12 education,” said pre-K teacher Kathryn Reams. The Woody Woodpecker Learning Center, opened in 1997 by Contessa and Marcus Woody, provides care for infants through preschoolers and afterschool care for children through age 12. The center focuses on combining the education parents want and the play children want with hands-on learning and a philosophy that children learn outside, as well as inside the classroom. “Our teachers are trained to think outside of the box. They make learning fun with a variety of activities. This helps us reach our goal of making sure our preschoolers are writing, reading and spelling when they enter kindergarten. And we love that our children are excited to come,” said director Contessa Woody. Whether publicly funded, faithbased or privately owned, options for childcare and preschool in Alexander City combine caring, trained staffs with curriculum and activities designed to prepare children – our greatest treasure – to enter school already on track for success, which is the most important investment the community could make.
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[ EDUCATION & SPORTS]
Water School School children learn about water’s important role through a hands-on outdoor classroom STORY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
“
I have had the opportunity to work with other districts at their water festivals and some of them are great, but none compares to what we do here.”
For many of the students, the Water Festival offers their first up-close and personal experience with Lake Martin wildlife
~ Mandi Milford
P
erhaps one of the most outstanding outdoor education programs in the Lake Martin area, the spring water festival cultivates future conservation by teaching area fourth-grade students about Earth’s most valuable resource. Now in its seventh year, this annual event has provided a model for water festivals around the state, as well. “I have had the opportunity to work with other districts at their water festivals, and some of them are great, but none compares to what we do here,” said Tallapoosa County Conservation District Administrative Coordinator Mandi Milford, who this year will take on the administration of this program that runs like a well-oiled machine. “We have twice the number of activities at our festival, so kids are learning more about our water,” Milford added. The programs are taught by volunteers from conservation and waterquality organizations, and the event is underwritten by sponsors, so the children can attend for free. “We even cover the cost of their T-shirts and pay the travel for the bus28
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ses, so the kids don’t have to pay anything to attend,” Milford said. And the program really works. “Kids who came to the water festival several years ago still wear their T-shirts. They still know the water cycle and other things they learned, and the younger kids count the years through elementary school until it’s their turn to go,” she said. Held at Wind Creek State Park, the festival is the first of its kind to be presented in an outdoor setting, which makes a tremendous difference in students’ interests, Milford said.
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“We do a scavenger hunt to teach them the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable trash and to remind them to always pick up after themselves in the outdoors,” she explained. “We teach them kayak safety. We teach them about aquifers. Some of these kids live in rural settings and know what a well is, but many of them live in town and don’t realize that there is water under the ground; they don’t understand that what we put on our lawns has an effect on the water.” Another aspect of the program
includes a water cycle model, and the students make bracelets to remind them that water is a non-renewable resource. They also learn about the wildlife in the lake and have an opportunity to handle and kiss a fish, Milford said. “They learn that some of our food comes from the lake, so it’s important to keep it clean,” she said. “And we do a ‘Drop in the Bucket’ program that really hits home to them that only a very small amount of water is available for our use, and the amount of water that we have is all there is. We can’t make more water,” Milford explained. Local agencies and more than 60 volunteers ferry supplies and teach the lessons at the annual event, which hosts hundreds of school children each year. “It’s a great chance to stress the importance to this generation of how important Lake Martin is to this region and how having a clean water source is good for this county,” said Tallapoosa County Extension Agent Shane Harris. The water festival was a project started in conjunction with the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership. When the partnership disbanded last year, Milford volunteered to coordinate this year’s effort. “It’s an important program,” Milford said. “And it’s easier to teach it to kids when they are younger, to instill these things in their minds so that, when they are adults, they will still be taking care of the environment and still be aware. They love this, and they remember it. It stays with them.” Sponsors and participating organizations for the event have included Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Alabama Power Company, Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners Association, the Lake Martin Lions Club, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the City of Alexander City, Russell Lands On Lake Martin, Tallapoosa County Extension Service, Auburn Fisheries, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Tallapoosa County Conservation District, Alabama State Parks, Exelon Energy, local attorney Larkin Radney and Chief of Staff to Alabama State Speaker of the House, Mark Tuggle. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ MISCELLANEOUS ASSETS ]
Lakeside farm feeds body and soul New Water teaches life skills through partnership with Girls Ranch STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY PASSARETTI
W
hen devastating tornadoes roared across Lake Martin in April of 2011, they left a magnitude of damage in their wake. One of the wooded areas along the shoreline that was completely wiped out is where New Water Farms now thrives. The 10 board members at New Water saw the decimated 22-acre waterfront as land befitting the vision of a disciple-training center and a perfect spot for its mission. By repurposing the land, they added value to an otherwise wasted area and turned it into a facility for ministry, production and farming. “They always like to say they took something broken and made it beautiful,” said Sidney Hancock, former farm manager at New Water Farms. Originally, New Water partnered with the Legacy School of Discipleship, which hosts collegeaged students, as it was in construction of its own building. Now, the New Water facility is available for faith retreats and various art demonstrations, raising awareness of the property. The farm was an after-thought to the facility, which started as a building with bunkrooms, bathrooms and a commercial kitchen to host groups and God-minded events. “The farm and its additional product ventures were solutions to sustaining the ministry,” said Hancock. All the produce cultivated on site 32
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Fresh preserves help to finance ministries and outreach at Lake Martin’s New Water Farm
VALUE n E mployees hired from the Girls Ranch Summer 2018: 5 nT otal local jobs provided in 2018: 11 nP ounds of produce donated to Girls Ranch in 2018: 1000+ LOCAL BUSINESSES CARRYING NEW WATER PRODUCTS
The 22-acre farm offers a pastoral setting for life skills lessons
nD adeville: Jim’s Pharmacy, Pearson’s Place, Mix It Up! nA lexander City: Makers Market on Main, Coffee Corner, Catherine’s Market nA uburn: Wrapsody nH oover: Wrapsody nB irmingham: Piggly Wiggly (5), Leaf & Petal LOCAL EVENTS n n n n n n n n n n n n
DHS prom DHS class reunion V olunteer Days/Tutorials Pheasant Shoot Event Century Cycling Event A uburn Community Church Women’s Conference T he Fearless Om’s Finding Home Yoga Retreat W eddings/Receptions Samford RUF Retreat E3 Missions Retreat MOHS at the Lake Retreat Prime Management Gala
Number of products available in 2018: 5
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Tending fruit trees and vegetable gardens for their own table at Girls’ Ranch helps residents learn to take responsibility and pride in providing for themselves
The lakeside chapel is a popular venue for destination weddings
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is grown from seed. There are no transplants to the land that is mostly clay soil that constantly needs to be amended and fertilizers added. The fruits grown at New Water Farms include blackberries, blueberries, apples, pears, figs, Muscadine grapes and Asian persimmons. The vegetables are seasonal. From these products, the farm staff and volunteers create small batches of high-quality preserves, jams, jellies, coffee and honey on site – no third-party handlers are involved. “We want to put our best foot forward because our products are our best marketing tool,” explained Hancock. “Some are even becoming year-round items.” Revenue from the sale of farm products is the largest income category that sustains the facility. Some items are sold at wholesale to local businesses that carry them for retail. “When they carry our products, they benefit, too. So that’s an additional value,” said Hancock. Customers could find New Water Farms products at Jim’s Pharmacy; Pearson’s Place Flowers; Alexander City and Dadeville chambers of commerce; Wrapsody; Catherine’s Market; and Coffee Corner. In addition, online orders can be placed at mkt.com/newwater. Last summer, New Water arranged
for Auburn University interns from the horticulture department to help with the farm work and gain handson experience. The farm also hired five girls from the Tallapoosa County Girls’ Ranch and built a donation garden for the nonprofit organization that provides a safe home for troubled children. “Everything the girls learned to plant and harvest, they took home for themselves,” said Hancock. “It’s teaching them how to feed themselves and donating a service.” To cut down on waste, New Water Farms partnered with Girls Ranch Director Jimmy Harmon to determine what to plant based on the girls’ needs and tastes. The donation garden is maintained year-round to supply the Girls’ Ranch with fresh produce. This partnership has increased community involvement and opened the farm up to more volunteers. “We are working hard to build our volunteer base. We have a quarterly volunteer day where work needs to be done both indoors and outdoors,” said Hancock. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, from picking berries to organizing tools, painting, helping in the kitchen, general cleaning and more. New Water Farms also is working to encourage teachers to plan school field trips to the farm, so children could learn about agriculture and the organization’s mission. Events and catering are the third piece of the value puzzle. Partnered with Auburn Conference Center, New Water Farms hosts weddings booked through its system. “We started to use our own produce for catering as well,” said Hancock. While the facility is still young and has many moving parts, Hancock said, most of the funding comes from events and products. “We’re still trying to pin down the most beneficial need right now of the facility. We’re still a bit in the growing-pains phase,” she added. New Water Farms is located at 460 Civitan Rd. in Dadeville. Visit newwater.com for more information.
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[ MISCELLANEOUS ASSETS ]
Extension
Trent Carboni instructs fourth graders in kayaking techniques
STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
Still fresh and relevant after 157 years
“
Our focus at this time of year is on the school curriculum. We have a different program for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades with material that is grade level appropriate and aligns what the kids are studying in class.” ~ Trent Carboni
I
nstructions for the latest pruning and gardening techniques are available through the same 157-yearold local organization that also offers beekeeping education, teaches kids to kayak, hosts cooking classes and sponsors programs in forestry and wildlife management. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, founded in 1862, is still the leading authority on these programs and more in Tallapoosa County, and it’s growing. Last year, the local office added a fulltime agent position that is dedicated to 36
FEBRUARY _ 2019
youth and 4-H programs. Trent Carboni joined the local Extension System office four years ago as an intern and since then has helped to create programs that supplement classroom curriculum in all of Tallapoosa County’s schools, including the new Veritas Classical School. During the school year, Carboni brings air-propelled rockets to sixth-grade classrooms and helps fourth-graders with cooking competitions. “Our focus at this time of year is on the school curriculum. We have a different program for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades with material that is grade level appropriate and aligns what the kids are studying,” Carboni explained. For example, when the sixth grade curriculum covers the math and science behind propulsion, Extension coordinators bring their stomp rocket to school. They set it up in the schoolyard and let the kids stomp on the launch button to see their studies in action. Carboni helps students learn to bake, and he guides their participation in cooking contests at each level. Winners at the homeroom level go on to a countywide competition, where winners progress through regional, state and national tiers. In the summer, he teaches kids to fish and takes them to Great Outdoors Camp. He helps to lead the Junior 4-H
forestry team and this year will lead a STEM camp that will encourage kids to explore robotics, rockets, drones, aerospace and more. But Carboni has no intention of stopping there. He’d like to add a livestock judging team and a horse club, as well as an archery team. “With the archery range at Wind Creek State Park, I’d like to have a team that would compete. Archery is becoming a thing again, and I think kids are interested right now,” he said. “The Extension System was founded to make education accessible,” said Tallapoosa County Extension System Coordinator Shane Harris. “We make information available and help people make educated decisions.” We’re another one of the entities that it’s hard to put a dollar value, especially with the youth – you don’t know the value of the influence you’ve had until much later. With the commercial programs, we can see how we’ve been able to help with cattle or other business programs because we save them money. With other programs, like the traditional horticulture programs – pruning, gardening – we provide the education and make the information available, but it’s hard to measure the value of that. It’s quality of life.” It’s a focus that has worked for 157 years and counting. PRICELESS
[ PEOPLE ]
Trent Carboni STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO COURTESY OF TRENT CARBONI
L
ocal smalltown kid graduates high school and goes off to college. In his senior year, he serves an internship with a local organization back home and after college is hired by that same organization as a part time assistant and later as a fulltime agent. That’s investment in the community. Trent Carboni majored in agricultural communications at Auburn University and now is a 4-H Foundation regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Tallapoosa County. While he grew up doing all the activities he teaches to local school children today, he said the learning curve for turning that into a job has been steep. “It’s the keeping it organized.
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The keeping up with programs that we do and when we’re doing which ones and keeping track of the materials and curriculum. It can get really crazy sometimes,” said Carboni, a 25-year-old native of Reeltown. “It is a high stress job. There’s a lot to do, but I love it. “I love seeing kids that have never been in a kayak before – or on a creek or to the lake – experiencing something new. It’s good to get them off the phones for a while; see them learn to fish; doing something different. There’s a big need for that. What I do is fun. I want to do more for 4-H and the Extension System.” Said Carboni, “I think I might be in my dream job.”
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Chamber event leads women forward in business Annual luncheon encourages big dreams STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
“
The average woman works 98 hours per week. She gets up in the morning and goes to work; she cares for the kids, the dogs, her home. She does volunteer work in her community and her church, but in the back of her mind, she has a dream of doing more.” ~ Kim Dunn
T
he biggest event for the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce celebrates, motivates and inspires women in business to pursue their personal and professional dreams. “Lead Forward sells out every year,” said Kim Dunn, director of marketing and special events for the local chamber, “and it’s easy to sell sponsorships for this event.” Some 400 women, along with a handful of men, fill the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center ballroom at Central Alabama Community College each spring for a luncheon featuring a dynamic speaker that has overcome the odds and obstacles to be successful, Dunn said. The program started six years ago and is the chamber’s most profitable event of the year, as it addresses the real concerns of women in the community. 38
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Barbara Sokol (left) introduces 2018 Woman of the Year Lila Graves
“The average woman works 98 hours per week. She gets up in the morning and goes to work; she cares for the kids, the dogs, her home. She does volunteer work in her community and her church, but in the back of her mind, she has a dream of doing more,” Dunn explained. “Women want to be more than status quo. “This event is meant to motivate and empower women to fulfill those dreams, to encourage them to keep dreaming, keep caring, keep hoping and trying.” Speakers at the Lead Forward event have included Stephanie A. Bryan, the first female to ever be elected to the position of Council
Chair for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Stacy Brown, founder of the wildly popular Chicken Salad Chick restaurant franchise; and Patricia Barnes, the real life Sister Schubert, whose famous yeast rolls are stocked in grocery stores across the country. “We’ve been very fortunate to find women speakers from Alabama who are willing to come and share their stories. We don’t pay them anything for speaking, but the audience buys tickets for the door prizes that are raffled at the event, and all of the money from the door prizes goes to the charity of the speaker’s choice,” Dunn said. “And every year, we hear stories of what a great event this is. Women come up to us and say, ‘Wow! Thank you!’ It’s really all about moving the city forward, which is part of our mission statement.” The event is sponsored annually by Valley Bank, said Senior Vice President and Retail Divisional Executive Mark Spencer. “Our company has made a huge commitment to support and foster women in business, and Lead Forward is the perfect opportunity do that. The event works in tandem with our mission statement,” Spencer said. “It is one of our goals to provide networking and educational opportunities for women.” The event includes a business expo in the technology center lobby, as well as the announcement of the county’s Woman of the Year Award. This year’s event will be held March 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Lake Martin Innovation Center and Chamber of Commerce. PRICELESS
Horseshoe Bend School
Tallapoosa County
Dadeville Elementary Dadeville High Edward Bell Career Technical Center Reeltown School
Board of Education
J o s e p h C. W i n d l e Superintendent of Education
Board Members
Matilda HaMilton District 1
Martin JoHnson District 2
MicHael carter District 3
carla talton District 4
dr. Betty carol GraHaM District 5
679 East Columbus Street, Dadeville , AL 36853 Phone: 256-825-0746 Fax: 256-825-8244 PRICELESS
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Giving people and businesses the power to succeed Alexander City 4643 Highway 280 Alexander City, AL 35010 Phone: (256) 329-7400
Valley.com 40
Dadeville 391 North Broadnax Street Dadeville, AL 36853 Phone: (256) 215-7300
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ] ServiceProviding Industries account for
Cost of living is
14.8%
67.9%
lower than national average
of all jobs
Average Median Age
43
On average, Males earn
1.36% more than females
40,844 TotalCounty Population
$42,181
3,708
Manufacturing Jobs
80.8%
TOP 5 JOBS - Team Assemblers - Registered Nurses - Truck Drivers - Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses - Home Health Aides
Homeownership Rate Higher than the national average of 63.6%
Workers Living and Working in Tallapoosa County
10,925
of residents are U.S. citizens compared to national average of 93%
TALLAPOOSA COUNTYJOBS
18,503 County Labor Force
$
Primary Care Physicians
107,000 Median Property Value
39
<$800 average property tax
Unemployment Rate
6.1%
99%
BY THE NUMBERS:
of Tallapoosa Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25 and over population have a high school diploma
71.9%
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Median Household Income
51%
Civilian labor force 16 years+
26.3% of CACC graduates are registered nurses
Average Monthly Wage
2,388
$
23.7 Minutes Average Employee Commute Time
FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Lake Life STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & JUSTIN CLAYTON
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Neighborhood living doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any better than an outside sitting area overlooking the Lake PRICELESS
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One of the area’s newest developments, White Oak Landing will be located within city limits and close to amenities
W
hether seeking to buy or remodel an existing home or to design and build a dream home from the ground up, the true value of a home on Lake Martin can’t be measured in dollars. Its worth is perhaps most evident in the laughs of children riding a tube behind the boat or the quiet moments spent sipping wine on a porch at sunset. The value of a Lake Martin home is in the lifestyle to which it provides access. Located at all compass points along the more than 800 miles of shoreline, each area promotes its own sense of community with a great opportunity to know the neighbors, to form friendships and to spend time with family. From an oldlake feel with dirt roads and gravel to sidewalks and streetlights, the area of the lake defines the perfect family get-away, private retreat – or a little of both. Russell Lands On Lake Martin, which has developed 15 communities on the shores of Lake Martin, opened The Ridge in 2002. The Ridge, South Ridge Harbor and Russell Cabins at The Ridge are located at the heart of Lake Martin along The Ridge Peninsula. This collection of neighborhoods features new homes, re-sales and home sites. The position of the development on the lake allows for both sunset and sunrise lots. Residents enjoy having The Ridge Marina close by, and dining, shopping and entertain44
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ment options are just around the corner at Russell Crossroads. The surrounding Russell Forest comprises 25,000 acres of lush hardwoods and pines, intermittent streams, native wildlife and more than 100 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The Ridge Club is a 10-acre recreational center located within the neighborhood, featuring a beautiful clubhouse that includes swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center and a children’s play park. A cabana at the neighborhood Beach Park rounds out the family-centered amenities that are available to homeowners in any of The Ridge neighborhoods. Also Russell Lands properties, Willow Glynn and The Willows are located along Pitchford Hollow, where the lake meets forest in a beautiful, peaceful cove. On the northwest side of the lake, these neighborhoods are only 1 mile from the gate of the prestigious Willow Point Golf and Country Club. Both are gated communities featuring homes at the water’s edge; yet, they are tucked into the forest that surrounds the neighborhoods. Willow Glynn includes both waterfront and water-access lots, and The Willows just opened in 2018 with 27 new waterfront lots. By boat, homeowners have easy access to Kowaliga Marina, Smith’s Marina and Parker Creek. Glynmere, another Russell Lands
neighborhood near Willow Point, offers residents a common area that includes a pavilion/cabana, pool and beach, as well as designated dock slips and maintenance-free landscaping. Near Real Island, Cedar Point is a neighborhood developed through a partnership between the development team and Russell Lands. With 24 lots on a peninsula, allowing for spectacular water views, the cottage designs at Cedar Point include wide porches, water toy storage and docks. Just a quick trip around the corner takes hungry boaters to Kowaliga Restaurant, a family-friendly restaurant that is famous for its fish tacos, fried catfish and hush puppies, as well as its Kowaliga Indian statue – a popular selfie station that is aligned with Hank Williams’ hit record by the same name. Also under development by the Cedar Point team, White Oak Landing, located inside Alexander City’s city limits, is just 1 mile off of Highway 280 near the River Bridge on the lake’s east side. White Oak Landing boasts four-lane travel to Birmingham in 75 minutes, Auburn in 35 minutes and Atlanta in only two hours. White Oak Landing will have city services, plus matchless proximity to restaurants, shopping and medical care. The neighborhood is a 44-lot planned community with a large number of home designs from which to PRICELESS
choose, allowing neighbors to meet and greet; and yet, ensuring privacy and the picturesque natural surroundings. The first turnkey homes will be available this year. Additional Russell Lands’ neighborhoods in city limits include Raintree and River Oaks. Kennebec, one of the newest neighborhoods on Lake Martin, is located on the southern end of the lake with The Ridge Marina, Harbor Point Marina and Chuck’s close by. Most of Kennebec’s lots are flat to gently sloping and fully wooded with mature hardwoods and pines. At more than an acre in size, on average, each lot offers about 300 feet of waterfront. Located adjacent to a dedicated land preserve with 74 acres of natural, undeveloped land for hiking, biking and birding trails, Kennebec is a new gated community within one hour of Auburn and Montgomery. In addition to the protected foliage and great views, residents of this unique community will be just around the corner from Chimney Rock, and Chuck’s Pizzeria will be an easy boat ride for lunch, happy hour and dinner. The Kennebec property is part of Alabama Power Company land holdings but is available for private purchase. The development’s first homeowners will begin construction this year. Further south on the eastern side of Lake Martin, StillWaters is a commuPRICELESS
nity of more than 1,000 single-family homes, condominiums and villas, with additional vacant lots available. Swimming pools, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, fishing ponds, a community park, a community building and security gates are part of the StillWaters owner’s package. A restaurant, marina and golf course on the property are open to the public and to residents. Social groups abound, including quilting, yachting, golfing, bridge, board games and bid whist. Forty-two new homes have been built in StillWaters in the last two years, and a new development, The Hideaway, will break ground this year. One of the newest developments in the StillWaters family, the subdivision will include 34 waterfront or water view lots, each with a boat slip, and residents will share a community swimming pool. A new townhome development, Villas on the Green, includes 10 single-story townhouses, perfect for retirement, currently under construction. Built in a wooded setting and located in the middle of StillWaters, the villas will be convenient to all amenities. Although not a formal neighborhood, the Parker Creek area on the northwest side of the lake in Coosa County was settled early in Lake Martin’s residential history and is a
mix of old fishing cabins and newer homes. Winding country roads, some paved and others dirt, lead homeowners to small cabins, as well as milliondollar homes. This area of the lake is served by Parker Creek Marina and The Landing at Parker Creek, an outdoor dining experience featuring Executive Chef Torrey Hall’s Southern cuisine with a Hawaiian spin. The restaurant accommodates lake customers with 30 boat slips, dining and bar service and popular lawn games with occasional tournaments. Another well-established community on Little Kowaliga Bay, Real Island finds its focal point at Real Island Marina, one of the oldest marinas on Lake Martin. Located in Elmore County, Real Island also has the country feel of dirt and gravel, as well as paved roads. Cabins that have been on the lake since the 1930s appeal to home seekers as much as the milliondollar homes that spring up when those cabins become the starting point for remodels and new construction. The lake lifestyle is a casual one that is popular for retirement, family retreats, weekend escapes and vacation rentals, and – with so many lake area and neighborhood options – the perfect place to buy or build a home that adds immeasurable value to life.
Now under development, Kennebec is conveniently located just around the corner from many of the lake’s most popular recreational areas
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[ PEOPLE ]
Sandra Fuller STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS County Tourism Director Sandra Fuller markets local activities and events to the community, the state and the nation
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andra Fuller wants to change the way we see our county. The new tourism director for Tallapoosa County, Fuller worked with the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance before she went to work in December to swell the local economy by marketing visits to hotels, restaurants, shops, event venues and attractions. Building the tourism department from an Commissioner Steve Robinson’s idea to dollars in the pockets of local merchants is a challenge she’s meeting head-on, but selling Tallapoosa County as a destination begins at home, Fuller said. “When I was with LMAEDA, I heard people brag all the time about our community – but it was people who aren’t from here doing the bragging,” she said. “We don’t realize what a gem we have here, but people who visit here tell others what a great place this is.” Fuller plans to roll out a new website this spring that will brag about all there is to see and do in Tallapoosa County. “We need to look at what we have in this community – and what we need,” she explained. “Right now, we’re seeing what’s out there and 46
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building a website.” The website will include the area’s obvious attractions: Lake Martin and its season of events and activities tops the list; however, Fuller is searching out not only the many sites and landmarks, parks, events and ongoing activities in the area but also businesses and services that support specialized activities, like weddings and geocaching. “We have so many beautiful wedding venues here. People come here to be married because it is a gorgeous place, but there are many businesses that support that industry, too: caterers, florists, decorators. We want to include those and let people know they can find everything they need right here,” Fuller said. Some of those activities are surprising, she added. “I was looking into geocaching, and I thought there might be a few sites around the lake. There are more than you think,” she said. “Jackson’s Gap has 106; 54 in Dadeville. Alexander City has 87. There are a lot of these things around! And people travel to find them.” Geocaching is a treasure hunt in which players use GPS to find a hid-
den object. Once they find a cache, they sign the log inside it, replace it for the next treasure hunter and record their discovery online. “We want to find as many activities as possible to put on the website – as many opportunities as we can find for people to come here; as many activities and fun things to do when they get here as we can come up with,” Fuller said. Another tourism source Fuller will include on the website is the area’s popular topography for filmmaking. “Alabama is the second most popular state in the nation for topography for films,” she said. “The Alabama Film Office fields requests from movie and television producers. When they come here to film, they stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and buy souvenirs to take home with them. “That is one more way to bring people to the community.” Once the website is up and running, adding activities will be part of its ongoing maintenance, and Fuller will shift more of her time into promoting events and bringing events to the area. In the meantime, she is promoting Tallapoosa County to the people of Tallapoosa County. “This is Alabama’s bicentennial, so we’ve arranged to bring the state’s bicentennial traveling exhibit to Dadeville at the end of April,” she said. The exhibit, which will visit the county seat, features eight periods of history that defined Alabama as a state. It includes a series of nine 8-foot by 8-foot kiosks, each with a time period and a theme that exemplifies its impact on the state. Fuller is planning a variety of activities around the exhibit, which will open April 27 at the community center in Dadeville. “I’d like to have people dressed up in different eras and have a historian speak,” she said. “I want people to know what we have here and to be proud of it.” PRICELESS
256-596-3081
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Downtown Main Street STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & KENNETH BOONE
“
Everything from performing arts, restaurants, shops – everything you see makes up downtown and makes this town what it is.” ~ Stacey Jeffcoat
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ain Street Alexander City preserves, promotes and revitalizes the downtown area with the Main Street four-point approach, providing resources to support local businesses and adding value to the community. “Everything from performing arts, restaurants, shops – everything you see makes up downtown and makes this town what it is,” said Stacey Jeffcoat, Main Street’s executive director. The monetary support implemented through various programs adds to the growth and aesthetics of the area. “For every $1 contributed by the Adelia McConnell Russell Foundation, Main Street Alexander City or the shop owners or retailers, have expended $3 in improvements,” said Larkin Radney, Main Street Alexander City president. The Boost Program, which began
at the beginning of 2018, offers $100 to $1,000 to qualifying existing businesses. These funds aid with necessary renovations or purchases of equipment that merchants may need to improve the interiors of their businesses and increase foot traffic. Façade grants are available through Main Street as well, which improve buildings in the historic district. “These grants are a match up to $5,000, which adds to the aesthetics of our charming town,” said Jeffcoat. The Adelia McConnell Russell Foundation has contributed money annually to Main Street, which is used strictly for brick-and-mortar projects – such as the façade grants and Boost Program, as well as landscaping. “We really couldn’t do all we do without the Adelia McConnell Russell Foundation,” said Jeffcoat. “Probably 100 percent of their contributions go back into the community.” PRICELESS
Downtown facades have been restored to reflect the early- to mid-century architecture that was popular when they were built
MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS n n n n
2018 Arts & Entertainment events: 7 Façades upgraded using matching grants: 26 Donations to support façade upgrades: $406,750 Boost Program funds distributed: $5,100 STATEWIDE MAIN STREET ALABAMA FOR 2018
n n n n n
Everything done through Main Street, from streetscapes to decorations, furniture and development, adds value to the community. Downtown is almost at full capacity with only two vacant storefronts, which means money is being poured back into Alexander City through independent owners and entrepreneurs. “We are filling in the missing pieces and now want to support existing merchants by making downtown as attractive as possible,” Jeffcoat added. “From brackets and poles for our flags to furnishing the plaza, replacing trash receptacles and landscaping – all noticeable improvements to our historic district.” The long-standing patrons of local businesses are the ones deserving of applause for the continued success of downtown, Jeffcoat said. “The people of Alexander City are what really make it great,” she PRICELESS
New businesses: 89 New jobs: 274 Public dollars invested: $7,895,430 Private dollars invested: $9,063,849 Volunteer hours invested: 15,022
added. With youth hanging out at Coffee Corner to the century-old staple that is Carlisle’s, the downtown heart of the community is a setting for all ages. Alexander City’s Historic Retail District is also supported by the Arts and Entertainment District, which officially came to fruition in 2016 by ordinance passed by the Alexander City City Council. The Arts and Entertainment District allows residents, organizations and visitors to host events downtown while still supporting existing businesses. “We want to protect our merchants first while having an open mindset
with these events,” said Jeffcoat. Those wishing to hold events downtown, must either be a nonprofit organization or be sponsored by one. Main Street Arts & Entertainment District events have included poker runs, concerts, art walks and more. With city council approval, these events sometimes allow patrons and participants to bring their own beverages and refreshments. In the historic district, which includes Broad, Main, Calhoun, Alabama and Bibb streets, offers a diversity of shops and services are housed in buildings that date back to the town’s early days, creating a quaint shopping experience for resident and visitors.
The new aesthetic offers a quaint shopping and dining experience for residents and visitors FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Coming Soon
STORY BY JIMMY WIGFIELD RENDERING COURTESY OF RUSSELL LANDS & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
“
The building will have a ‘WOW’ factor. It will give you a reason to stop ... I’m hoping it will expand 280 and create retail sales.” ~ Jim Nabors
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lexander City took steps to establish the U.S. Highway 280 corridor as a bastion of economic development while also trying to lure some of the estimated $200 million in annual retail demand by Lake Martin residents. A complement to that effort, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce has crafted a fiveyear strategic plan, Partners in Progress, which is based on interviews withmore than 50 public and private sector leaders. The plan is designed to elicit grow in existing businesses and recruit new retail and commercial employers. The PRICELESS
Development along Alexander City’s 280 corridor is designed to capture interest and revenue from passing traffic
The new Russell Marine superstore on U.S. Highway 280 will make a positive statement and could encourage further retail development
plan calls for a chamber partnership with the local educational systems, successfully marketing Alexander City and engaging its residents. While a lot of the effort is still in the planning stages, the first tangible moves were made in January of this year, when the Alexander City City Council approved a $9 million project to buy 56 acres that were formerly owned by Russell Corporation. The City will convert the abandoned, 85,000-square foot sales office into a new City Hall complex, which will be visible from U.S. Highway 280. PRICELESS
Mayor Jim Nabors said he sees the new city complex as a stimulus for economic development on the corridor, which he knows is seriously needed for more than mere financial reasons. Nabors said that any lingering resentment over the exodus of Russell Corporation jobs needs to end, so Alexander City can move forward. “It’s been a while now,” he said. “It’s time we tighten our belts and move on. That’s what we’re trying to do.” As soon as the City Hall project was approved, Russell Lands On Lake Martin announced it will
invest millions of dollars to convert another abandoned former Russell Corporation building, known as the new No. 1 structure, into a lavish Russell Marine Superstore that could attract Lake Martin customers and stop traffic from speeding through Alexander City. The superstore development represents a $10 million investment in the community by the city, Tallapoosa County and Russell Lands, said Tom Lamberth, the president and chief executive officer of Russell Lands, which owns Russell Marine. As such, it could be the anchor of FEBRUARY _ 2019
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U.S. Highway 280 development. “It’s going to be a destination facility. It will be first-class. If we’re successful, it will send a message to a lot of retailers to come to Alex City,” Lamberth said. The superstore will feature a lifestyle store offering boating accessories and clothes, a dealership to sell reconditioned boats, a rigging facility for new and used boats, and a design center to give customers the ability to design original vessels. Officials hope these first two ventures will attract even more businesses along the 280 corridor. “The building will have a ‘wow’ factor,” Nabors said of the marine superstore. “It will give you a reason to stop. They will have outparcels, but they want the building to be prominent. I’m hoping it will expand 280 and create retail sales. Obviously, you want that along the 280 corridor.” City Hall’s move from downtown to near U.S. Highway 280 unsettled many downtown business owners who feared a loss of traffic and income, but Nabors insisted downtown will be even better in the long term as an entertainment and arts district and said the city would work with downtown merchants to promote them along the
U.S. Highway 280 corridor. Both the new city complex and the Russell Marine Superstore are expected to be completed by 2020, representing a clear vision for what officials want on the main artery that brings people into Alexander City. All city services will be consolidated at the new complex, resulting in more efficiency, which officials hope will not only serve residents well but also will impress potential businesses. Given Russell Marine’s national reputation, its superstore has a chance to be enormously successful. Boating Industry magazine named Russell Marine the best in its class nationally in marketing and the No. 3 marine dealer in North America in 2018. Lamberth said Alexander City and Tallapoosa County are losing a fortune by failing to offer services to Lake Martin customers. “An economic impact study was done just for the residents of Lake Martin, and most are part-time,” Lamberth said. “It was estimated they would generate retail demand of $200 million a year and only a fraction of that is spent locally. Strategically, that’s a huge opportunity. Putting that superstore in gives Russell Marine, the city and
the county a chance to capture some of that lost revenue. And from there, who knows where this will go? If we succeed, it could attract more retail business.” The superstore would encompass 150,000 square feet – 75,000 square feet on the ground floor for rigging and 75,000 upstairs, with 50,000 square feet devoted to selling refurbished boats. The remaining square footage would house the lifestyles store. The rigging operation, which would include the installation of engines, electronics and tops on new and refurbished boats, currently takes up valuable boat storage space at The Ridge Marina, one of Russell Marine’s four marinas on Lake Martin. “We knew some day we’d run out of capacity for storage, and we have to have that,” Lamberth said. “The rigging can be done anywhere. We sell over 500 boats a year, new and used. Most of the time, we take boats in trade, and we were way undersized. To sell boats, we’ve got to offer storage and take trades.” Right now, Nabors wouldn’t trade anything for the momentum he said he feels is building in Alexander City’s economy.
More than 7,000 vehcilces per day pass through Alexander City’s U.S. Highway 280 corridor
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Discover the beauty of Lake Martin. Dadeville, AL ... a small town with big thinkers nestled along the shores of Lake Martin. The future is bright for Dadeville, and the Chamber is committed to powering growth and economic development. ANNUAL EVENTS: Lake Martin Corn Hole Championship Tournament Fall Festival Denim & Diamonds Charity Ball – Nov. 16 Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade – Dec. 9 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Become a Member Today!
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Business Done Right Employee recognition is a priority for local cabinet company STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTO COURTESY OF WELLBORN FOREST
Taking care of employees is a priority at Wellborn Forest
F
or 32 years, Wellborn Forest has been a source of economic production and job creation in Alexander City. Employee recognition incentives are a key to its success, said John Howard, Wellborn Forest human resources director. “Tim Wellborn is a people person, and that trickles down through management. By giving back to our employees, we build a relationship of company loyalty,” said Howard. From impressive giveaways to cash prizes, family-focused events and rewarding good behavior, Wellborn Forest makes every effort to show it cares for its employees, said Howard. In 2017, the company hosted a picnic at Wind Creek State Park for all employees and their families. With nearly 350 people in attendance, Howard said, it was a no-brainer to make it an annual tradition. “It’s a great way to get away and meet the other half of employees’ lives. It’s a good time for everyone, and the employees really look forward 58
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to it,” said Howard. During the holiday season, Wellborn Forest treats the employees to a steak dinner, with baked potatoes and salads, and the best part is management does the cooking. This event includes impressive door prizes for lucky winners, and employees with perfect attendance are awarded with an end-of-the-year bonus of $500. Last year, nearly 30 employees walked away with added cash. In the end, everyone walks away with something. “We give away hams at Christmas and turkeys at Thanksgiving,” said Howard. “It’s nice to sit down at the family table and be able to say, ‘This is what my company provided.’” Tim Wellborn offers an employee suggestion box, and he is the sole recipient of its contents. “We’ve acted on several of these suggestions. It shows that we want feedback, and there is a response and action as a result,” said Howard. Throughout the year, employees
receive feedback and reviews with opportunities to reach additional goals, from safety contests to quality incentives based on return goods. “In the last five years, we have tracked a significant decrease in turnover,” said Howard. “We are trying to keep up morale.” The company holds monthly birthday luncheons, catered by Ms. Templeton, with fried chicken, blackeyed peas and more. Upper management joins these festivities to interact with workers on a more personal level. “This allows one-on-one face time between employees and management. We want them to feel comfortable bringing concerns or questions,” Howard added. “Anybody can buy machinery; anybody can buy wood; anybody can build cabinets. It’s the people behind it all, running it, that make the difference,” said Howard. “That’s what’s important, and we want to take care of them.” PRICELESS
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Awards & Achievements • Becker’s Top 100 Community Hospital • Healthgrades -Outstanding Patient Experience Award • The LeapFrog Group -”A” rating Hospital Safety Score (256)329-7100 PRICELESS
www.russellcares.com
3316 HWY 280 ALEX CITY, AL 35010 FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ]
Martin Dam Our reason for being STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
Built nearly 100 years ago, Martin Dam and its Art Deco powerhouse are a tribute to modern ingenuity and engineering
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ake Martin’s greatest asset is no contest: It could only be the dam that created our Treasured Lake in the mid-1920s. Over these nearly 100 years since its construction, much of Martin Dam slowly has been rebuilt – one repair or update at a time. The generating units also are not original, with many of the components replaced over the years; however, those units continue to hum in the original Art Deco powerhouse, generating electricity and maintaining a water level that is crucial to the area’s lifestyle and economics. Designed and built
by Alabama Power Company, the 17,858-square-foot powerhouse features classic elements of early 1920s architectural style. Its simple exterior box of yellow brick is accented with concrete horizontal bands. Its narrow vertical columns, raised only slightly from the face of outer walls, are subtly topped with stylized concrete corbels, strong but understated for the time. The building, more than 300 feet long and just 58 feet wide, is dwarfed on its perch above the tailrace at the bottom of the 168-foot high, 2,000-foot long dam wall
that slopes steeply but gracefully from Lake Martin on the north side into Yates Lake on the south. Inside the powerhouse, the heavy doors and wide door trims, clad in copper sheets, are the same ones installed 93 years ago when the dam opened. The tall exterior columns are duplicated inside the generator room, rising from the original craftsman tiles that still cover the floor. “This place was built to last,” said Martin Dam Superintendent Billy Bryan. “It’s still something beautiful today, but you know it must have really been special back in the day.” Bryan has 40 years in with
“
We can start, generate and put power on the grid with a quick turnaround, within seconds, before the public even noticing there was a need for it.” ~ Billy Bryan
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A feature unique to Martin Dam, the diversion pool protects the powerhouse from the force of flow
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APC – 30 of them in hydropower and eight of those as superintendent at Martin Dam. He has overseen much of the continuous maintenance and upgrading of the facility, its generator units and network of pipes and lines that turn the power of flowing water into the glow of lamps many miles away. “We are never through working. Nothing we do is ever finished,” he explained. “We never get through inspecting; we never get through repairing. The dam is managed as a forever asset.” Indeed, Martin Dam has outlasted everyone who was part of the plan to build it, and Bryan said it is projected to outlast this generation of journeymen who keep it running. “We have five journeymen here; all of them are triple qualified. They can do multiple jobs, and they need to be triple qualified because there are a lot of things that they need to do. They constantly inspect, repair and rebuild, looking for change,” Bryan explained.
“No change is good. No change means it’s all running smoothly, just like it’s supposed to do.” Though changes in the dam’s operation are to be avoided, visitors to the dam will see several aesthetic changes under way above the water’s surface. On the east bank of the Cherokee Bluffs site where Martin Dam breaches the narrows, a training and reception building and observation platform will be completed later this year, said Bryan. “The lake is a vacation destination, and the dam is a popular place to visit,” he explained. “We frequently see tours from Germany, Puerto Rico and other places.” Numerous changes inside the building have been made in ways that retain the plant’s historic features and décor. Among the most recent upgrades at Martin Dam, Alabama Power Company has made significant investments in security. “We’ve put a big focus on cyber security and physical security. It
doesn’t look like it,” he said from the floor of the dam’s original control room. “The upgrades are in places you don’t see.” The control room still sports the original knobs, dials and switches that were installed when it was built, and the row of 6-inch antique bulbs along the top of the flow panel still light up to indicate which lines are live. The white and black checkerboard floor – the height of fashion in the mid-1920s – still paves the routes to the banks of controls that have registered the workings of the powerhouse for more than 90 years. In addition, the Elmore County S.W.A.T. team conducts annual drills at the dam, and dam personnel work closely with law enforcement on several levels to protect the dam and be emergency-ready. Though there have been technological upgrades at the dam, its function has remained unchanged. “Flood control is our first priority,” Bryan said. “And then, power genera-
Dam Superintendent Billy Bryan stands beneath a generating unit PRICELESS
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Martin Dam can generate enough electricity to power 45,000 homes
FOR YOU INFORMATION A tour of Martin Dam can be fascinating entertainment, a riveting walk through local history and a valuable lesson in the science of electricity, and personnel at Martin Dam welcome the opportunity to share this Lake Martin resource with the public. “We love giving tours,” said Alabama Power Company’s Tallapoosa River Manager Chris Goodman. “We enjoy taking people through the dam and showing them how it works. We want the public to see it.” Tours are conducted free of charge Monday through Friday and must be scheduled at least a few days in advance – two weeks’ notice is preferred. Groups of eight to 10 people are ideal, but dam personnel have escorted as many as 70 people on a tour. School groups are especially welcome. Call 205-257-1167 to schedule a visit to Lake Martin’s reason for being. 64
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tion and recreation. Only 6 percent of everything Alabama Power generates comes from our 14 hydro plants, but we work cheap. The cost of hydro power is low; it’s renewable; it’s low emission; and we can start, generate and put power on the grid with a quick turnaround, within seconds, without the public even noticing there was a need for it.” Recreation on the only Alabama lake that meets the stringent water quality requirements of a designated Treasured Lake is a $70.4 million business and is responsible for more than 1,000 jobs, according to a recent independent economic impact study. The lake also generates $32 million annually in building material sales for new construction, and real property in the lake area is valued at $4.7 billion. Lake Martin contributes a total of more than $10 million in property taxes to local government in the three counties through which it flows. The dam also maintains minimum flows for downstream navigation. These flows are dictated by a water control manual, and conditions downstream and upstream typically influence the flow – and hence the water level – on Lake Martin. In winter, the level is 484 feet, as measured by the mean sea level; in summer, it is 491 feet msl. But history – and even the measurement apparatus at the dam – records the lake level by an antiquated system. “In 1923, they were off a foot from sea level elevation,” Bryan explained. “They used what was called Martin Dam Data, which was a foot lower. With improvements in technology, the water level is now recorded and is displayed on the Alabama Power Smart Lakes mobile app as mean sea level, but in the plant the instrumentation is still on MDD. “The water level isn’t changing – just the system for measurement.” Though Martin Dam, and the other dams in the Alabama Power Company hydro system, are controlled 24 hours a day from an office in Birmingham, the local crew is on-call around the clock, Bryan said. In some situations, including severe weather or flooding, the controls might be manned locally. That includes the ability to conduct
a “Black Start,” essentially using the power of falling water to start generating electricity from a complete-blackout situation. This unique ability of hydroelectric facilities could be especially important in the unlikely case of a major failure across the power grid. Should that happen, Martin Dam could be used to help jump-start the electrical system. “We maintain Black Start capability, and every three years, we put the plant in the dark and have to start it up and get power back on the line,” Bryan said. ‘Back on the line’ means generating 182 megawatts, enough power to supply about 45,000 homes at full capacity, but the operation rarely runs all four generators at once. Originally, the building housed just three generators – all of which have been refurbished and upgraded. The fourth generator was added in 1952. Unit 1 produces 61,102 horsepower units. Units 2 and 3 are 53,940 each, and Unit 4 boasts 78,000 horsepower – all from the power of falling water, and none of it is visible from the seat of a fishing boat on the lake. The 16- to 18-foot diameter intake pipelines, located 100 feet below the surface of the lake, draw water that turns the powerhouse turbines. “The water comes down the pipe; gates open; the water turns the turbine, and we’re generating,” Bryan said. “Now, that turbine weighs 230 tons. It takes a lot of water to start it spinning.” Three of the four turbines generate at a speed of 120 rotations per minute (rpm) with the fourth turbine spinning at 112 rpm. Sensors monitor the shafts of each turbine to make sure they stay perfectly balanced. If there is any change in the alignment, an alarm alerts the operator. “This is very sensitive equipment,” Bryan added. Power generation at Martin Dam is a matter of maintaining balance and yet within the dictates of the water manual, water quality guidelines and wildlife habitat requirements. To a large extent, it hinges on something no one can control – rainfall. When there is too much of it, the dam is the area’s floodgate. Twenty spillway gates – each one PRICELESS
The 6-inch antique bulbs on the flow panel still function, indicating which lines are live
30 feet wide and 16 feet tall – can be opened to regulate the water levels above and below the dam. A crane rolls from gate to gate on the dam’s parapet in a regimented sequence. An open spillway gate is capable of releasing more than 3 million gallons of water per minute. “In comparison, a typical fire hydrant flowing at wide open is about 1,000 gallons per minute,” Bryan said. “Back in the 1970s one time, we had 18 gates up, and it washed the bridge out downstream.” To protect the powerhouse from the force of the water, Martin Dam was outfitted with a diversion pool. About 20 feet deep at the nadir of its coneshaped floor, the pool slows the water along the foundations of the building. Releases from the spillway gates cancould be dangerous to those who may be fishing immediately downstream, Bryan said. “The horn sounds before the water is released, but the warning is only momentary. If you’re fishing below the dam and that horn sounds, you need to move fast and get out of there. The water rises rapidly.” Signs remind boaters that personal flotation devices be worn at all times within 800 feet of the dam. PRICELESS
Lake Martin’s ‘string of pearls’ is a series of lamps along the dam’s parapet
When personnel routinely inspect the dam from the parapet, Bryan said, the hum of generators and noise of the powerhouse fades away. When the spillway gates are closed and everything is running smoothly, a stroll along the parapet can be quiet and serene. Bryan said he often sees eagles and ospreys fishing nearby. And across the top of Martin Dam,
the ornate iron lampposts that were installed there almost 100 years ago still stand sentinel to light the way for dam workers and alert boaters to the approach. And passing the dam on the water after dark, boaters often pause to view the light of the antique glass bulbs that dance across the water like a delicate string of highly valued antique pearls. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ GOVERNMENT ]
Volunteer Fire Departments STORY & PHOTO BY ZELENKA BOYD
A
ccording to the National Volunteer Fire Council, volunteers make up 70 percent of the 1.13 million firefighters in the United States. These 788,000 volunteers donate their time and risk their lives daily for the safety of their friends and neighbors. They lend their time and expertise to teams that jump into action in emergencies, protecting and investing in their communities. In Tallapoosa County, they number 240 men and women who work within the structure of 13 local volunteer fire departments and have done so for years. Reeltown VFD Chief Cade Cosby is a 10-year veteran of the 25-member volunteer team there. He also works full time as a paid firefighter for the Auburn Fire Department. The Reeltown VFD is very hands on in the community and, specifically, in the school system. Reeltown High School three years ago implemented an Emergency Medical Responder program through the Reeltown department. Students earn a health sciences class credit through participation in the program, and the fire department benefits, as well, when students continue to work with the department after finishing the class. Payton Hornsby, 17, is now a cadet
Volunteer firefiighters are an extraordinary group who work around the clock to ensure the safety of the communities they serve PRICELESS
with the Reeltown VFD after working with the high school program. And 18-year-old Jake Yarbrough is now a firefighter on the team. “Jake started as a cadet as well. He came through the program, and he is a firefighter now because he turned 18,” said Chief Cosby. Yarbrough is a cattle farmer, whose interest in firefighting sparked when working on a class project at age 13. At the time, his mother asked Chief Cosby to speak with her son’s class, and Yarbrough said he’s been interested in firefighting ever since. Cosby, Hornsby and Yarbrough said their families are very supportive of their line of work, which requires them to be on call at all times. Sometimes, it means leaving family functions on holidays and special occasions to fight fires. “We had a total of 162 calls for 2018,” Cosby said. “We normally range between 10 to 15 calls per month, depending on the time of the year.” A single call might last from 20 minutes to several hours or even many hours over several days, but volunteers log countless hours between those calls as well. Reeltown VFD holds weekly meetings that often run three to four hours per meeting, and members of the fire department come in at other times
to clean up and maintain equipment and do basic upkeep of the department. That long-term dedication is common among the county’s volunteer firefighters. “I’ve been in the field of firefighting for about 30 years or more,” said Willow Point and Our Town Fire Chief Larry Boddie. In his day job, Boddie has worked as the maintenance supervisor at Children’s Harbor for 29 years, but he also has served as a recover diver for Alex City Rescue Squad for 40 years. Boddie said that he joined the field of firefighting to help the community, and despite the hard work and occasional inconveniences, his family is very supportive of his career choice. Assistant Chief Jimmy Ray, who has been a firefighter for 25 years and owns a mechanic shop in Alexander City, mirrored the sentiment. Anthony Wilkerson, chief at the Dadeville and StillWaters fire departments, started his career as a firefighter in 1975. He was a student at the time and enrolled in a cooperative education program with the Lafayette Fire Department. He was named chief at Dadeville four years ago and manages a roster of 15 volunteers who average of about 20 calls per month. But volunteering with the local volunteer fire department isn’t limited to just the men – or even just to firefighting. Local female volunteers have logged substantial numbers of hours in firefighting gear as well, and many more provide the support necessary to keep a department running smoothly. Barbara Willis has been the secretary and treasurer for the Willow Point and Our Town fire departments since 1994. Willis also assists on the scene of calls. She helps firefighters with the equipment, brings drinks to keep them hydrated and handles anything else that responders may need when they go out to calls.
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[ GOVERNMENT ] Commitment to the community and a positive attitude are important tools in moving the city forward, said Nabors (center)
Jim Nabors STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
“
It takes working together and trying to do the right thing; that means leaving it a better place than when we found it.” ~ Jim Nabors The Russell complex is being cleaned up; decisions are being made with a long-term perspective for city operations; confidence in high-traffic retail growth is on the upswing, and the key to this progress, said Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors, is commitment. “It takes working together and trying to do the right thing; hoping to leave it a better place than when we found it,” said Nabors. “That means doing your homework, getting the support you need and movinging forward.” Nabors, who serves as mayor without pay, has spearheaded progress on a number of fronts since his election two years ago. The most positive of these, he thinks, is the continued prog68
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ress on the cleanup of the old Russell complex, as that sets the stage for future economic development. “It’s all about cleaning it up. That’s where we’ve got to start,” he said. “Yes, I hear complaints about investing more than we can sell it for, but we can do nothing with it if we don’t get it cleaned up. Once it is cleaned up, we can move on.” The improvement extends beyond the 280 corridor to additional areas throughout the city and includes the removal of dilapidated buildings and signage. “We’re promoting a better appearance,” he said. It’s a process he’s seen in the volunteer work of others, most notably the work of Lake Martin Resource Association’s dedication to cleaning up litter around the lake. “Our own litter crew does that on Highway 280. They inspire me through their efforts,” he said. Improving pride in Alexander City and morale among city employees and citizens is part of that commitment to create a positive environment, he said. “Every employee is a diplomat; I’ve said that often,” he said. A service-oriented attitude on the part of city employees can accomplish
much and have a positive impact on citizens’ lives, Nabors explained. That desire to serve prompted the fire department to improve the city’s insurance rating, which will directly reduce home insurance costs for citizens, he said. Improving infrastructure while finding ways to reduce long-term debt has helped to move the city toward better alignment in the wage structure. Nabors’ commitment to a better future for Alexander City led to the decision to consolidate city services to the 56-acre sales office complex just off the heart of the U.S. Highway 280 corridor. Along with facilitating the decision to locate Russell Marine’s new superstore nearby, Nabors said, the city’s upcoming move would send a message of progress and improvement that could attract new business. A positive attitude is part of the commitment to improve the quality of life for Alexander City’s citizens, Nabors said. “Look for something to do that is constructive, not destructive; know that you are doing the right thing and ignore the criticisms. We’re working together; trying to do it the right way,” he said.
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[ RECREATION]
LakeMartin Economic Driver Quality of Life STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & CLIFF WILLIAMS
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s Lake Martin transitions from a seasonal vacation spot to a year-round destination, its value to the surrounding communities increases exponentially. While lake parcels accounted for about $35.8 million in property taxes 10 years ago, a study commissioned by local municipal and business entities last year reported that figure grew to $2.8 billion by 2018. In addition, the lake directly supports more than Rare Cahaba lilies grow in the shoals at the head of the lake
1,000 local jobs, said Gregg Logan, managing director at RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, the firm that published the study last February. And even those figures may be lower than economic impact numbers would show today, as Logan said the year-old study is the most recent assessment available; however, lake home construction was bustling last year and continues to grow, and real estate sales for 2018 were near record levels. The bulk of the real estate sales growth is in the second home and retirement market. Though these buyers purchase homes, what they’re after is the lifestyle this destination has to offer, reports The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. “In the midst of a world where speed and instant gratification are at the touch of a button – there has been a growing recognition for a need to find time for peace and relaxation,” the institute’s 2018 market report noted. Second home buyers look for amenities that support their lifestyle choices and activities, and Lake Martin delivers. THE LAKE Lake Martin once held the title as the largest man-made lake in
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the country. This water-filled playground was created in the 1920s with the construction of Martin Dam at a place on the Tallapoosa River called Cherokee Bluffs. At first, the backwater – as the lake was known at the time – was muddy, mosquitoridden and dangerous, as floating debris was common. But now nearing its 100th birthday, Lake Martin has matured. It is the only lake in the state of Alabama to meet the cleanliness standards of Treasured Lake status, and it has become a playground for water sports enthusiasts, hikers and fishermen. Lake Martin also is a destination for vacations, weddings, retirement living and second home family retreats. Covering more than 41,000 acres, the lake’s numerous fingerlike sloughs and expanses of open water provide environments for every variety of lake sport, from skiing, wake-surfing and flyboarding to swimming, fishing, paddle-boarding and more. The lake supports 13 marinas; a dozen restaurants; three golf courses; one of the most popular state parks in Alabama more than 150 miles of hiking trails and an abundance of recreational opportunities that include a forest-canopy zip line and sailing races. PRICELESS
Lake Martin offers adventure at Wind Creek State Park PRICELESS
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Much of its 880-mile shoreline is natural and undeveloped land designated as project lands, according to the most recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license that was granted to Alabama Power Company in 2015 for the operation of Martin Dam. Russell Lands On Lake Martin also owns several hundred miles of Lake Martin’s shoreline and adjacent real estate, which the company manages for conservation-oriented neighborhood development, longleaf pine restoration and wildly popular entertainment options that are open to the public.
THE PARKS If Lake Martin seems like a great big park, it’s because it was designed that way. The original license for the operation of Martin Dam stipulated its purpose as hydroelectric power generation and recreation. To enhance recreation, 20 public boat ramps are available throughout the lake area; more than 150 miles of forest trails are open to the public for hiking; and several parks also are open to the public. D.A.R.E. Power Park, operated by Alabama Power Company, is one of the most popular lakeside parks on the eastern shoreline. The 30-acre park offers shaded pavilions, picnic tables and grills, as well one of the lake’s largest beaches. Established in 1997 in cooperation with the local Drug Awareness Resistance Education program at four Tallapoosa County schools, the park is a popular spot for family reunions, pick-up volleyball games and local summer celebrations. D.A.R.E. Power Park also includes an outdoor amphitheater and public restrooms, a boat launch and docks and is surrounded by natural and undeveloped project land. More than 100 miles of trails along the state Route 63 corridor from Willow Point Road west to Russell Crossroads and beyond are managed by the Russell Forest Trail Association. A not-for-profit organization, RFTA offers ecological, cultural, recreational and educational opportunities for the greater Lake Martin community through the preservation
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“
What makes Lake Martin so unique is that, as an outsider, no one treats you as an outsider” ~ Jason Christy
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Wake sports make for an exciting ride behind the boat on Lake Martin
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and restoration of some 25,000 acres of dedicated woodlands. The trails here are selectively available for use by hikers, bike riders, horse riders and golf cart drivers. No four-wheelers, motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles are allowed on the forest trails. For safety, users must register with Russell Lands security prior to entering the forest and notify security when leaving. Hikers may use the trails for free; others pay a very nominal fee. Maps are available on the Russell Lands free app and at the Willow Point With help from hundreds of volunteers, the annual cleanup keeps Lake Martin clear of litter and debris
guardhouse. These trails pass through scenic glens where ferns cover the forest floor and longleaf pines stretch skyward. They offer glimpses of the deer, fox, bobcat and turkey that live in the forest. Picnic tables and benches have been placed along the trails to offer respite to hikers and others. The forest hosts some popular trail runs as well, including the annual Russell Forest Run, a wellattended fundraiser for local education that is held every February. The
Lake Martin 100 – an endurance event that draws racers from around the country – is run through Russell Forest in March. Wind Creek State Park, which lies south of Alexander City on state Route 128, is one of the largest state-owned campgrounds in the U.S. The park offers 586 sites with water and power hook-ups, 157 of which are waterfront. In addition, 39 sites were recently renovated to include 16-foot-wide concrete pads to accommodate large recreational vehicles. Cabin rentals and equine camping facilities also are available, but the park offers far more than camping. Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventures at the park includes 11 ziplines and six skywalks in the canopy overlooking Lake Martin with heights from 20 feet to 70 feet and spans up to 650 feet. The park also offers an archery range, boat rentals, a marina, hiking trails and a beach. Creem at the Creek inside the park is an outdoor restaurant serving sandwiches, pizza and hand-dipped ice cream on summer weekends.
Kiosks below the Smith Mountain Fire Tower and signage in the tower’s cab have transformed the site into an outdoor environmental education center
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The park hosts an Easter egg hunt in the spring, a Halloween festival that draws thousands of participants and spectators in October and fishing tournaments all winter. The park boasts more than 5 miles of hiking trails and approximately 20 miles of horse trails that wind along stands of pine and picturesque hardwood bottoms, as well as fern glens and meadows of wildflowers.
THE ISLANDS The lake is dotted with numerous islands, most of which are available for use by the public – without fees – for camping, picnicking and exploration. Several of Lake Martin’s islands have become hotspots for recreation, including Goat Island, Acapulco Island’s Chimney Rock and Big Beach. The tradition of goat herding on the island north of Martin Dam is a long one. As far back as most old-timers at the lake remember, goats have summered in the open woods on this half-mile strip of land in the southernmost pool of the lake. Visitors, especially grandparents with grandchildren, love to pull boats up on the dam side of the island, disembark and feed the friendly inhabitants. Lake Martin’s current goat population is owned by a second-generation of caretakers. Ricky and Stacie Baker helped Stacie’s father tend the goats on the island for several years before they became the primary caretakers last year. While previous generations of the goats have – like so many Lake Martin residents – moved off the lake in the winter months, this winter, they moved to the lake fulltime. Auburn University veterinary students help to keep the goatherd healthy, and the caretakers keep the pen in good repair, foot the bills and maintain a close watch on their ruminant friends. Donations are accepted and very much appreciated, but mostly, the caretakers hope folks have a good time and treat the goats well. Most lakes around the world have their locally famous jumping rocks, and at Lake Martin, that PRICELESS
Hikers find breathtaking views at the top of Smith Mountain
would be found at Acapulco Island, also known as Chimney Rock, which at its highest platform towers more than 60 feet over a 150-foot depth of the lake. This lake hotspot attracts hundreds of boaters to the area on sunny summer weekends. Just below the rock face, boaters linger to watch the brave and the foolish jump into the lake from the rocky height. Others anchor around the corner in an open cove, rafting up with friends to cool off in the clear lake for the afternoon. Chimney Rock is readily accessible to all but the farthermost reaches of Lake Martin, as it is positioned near the mouth of Blue Creek, slightly south of The Ridge Marina and just around the bend from the big water on the Kowaliga side of the lake. Jumping from the high rock is dangerous, and injuries do happen, so take precautions if you dare: Wear a flotation vest; keep your feet together; and keep your body vertical. Though privately owned, Wood’s Island’s Big Beach is another popular gathering place at Lake Martin. The boats often dock three deep along the beach on holiday weekends while visitors play a pick-up game of horseshoes as they listen to a summer playlist. On occasion, visitors at Big Beach have been treated to an impromptu concert by local or visiting musicians at the lake. No one knows exactly how this wide stretch of sand became the hangout it is, but at some point,
The sweet-natured residents of Goat Island welcome visitors year round
someone posted a wooden sign between two pine trees and dubbed it ‘Big Beach.’ It’s a place where politics and occupations are forgotten while visitors lounge and watch the kids play. All are welcome, as long as they don’t cause any trouble and they take their trash with them when they leave.
FISHING When summer’s sun fades and the wake boarders hit the gym for the winter, Lake Martin takes on another life, one that launches with the rising sun and bears the seasonal cold in a contest for the best catch. The big fishing tournaments are based at Wind Creek State Park, where anglers find plenty of parking and ready access to Lake Martin’s FEBRUARY _ 2019
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prized fishing spots but are close to the amenities of Alexander City. There are so many tournaments, said WCSP Superintendent Bruce Adams, that the park teems with anglers every weekend all winter long. These events are a big catch for the local economy, too. The Carhartt Bassmaster Collegiate Bass Fishing Tournament held on Lake Martin in 2016 was estimated to net the area as much as $1 million. More than 100 collegiate teams from across the country descended on the area for four days of practice and three days of tournament fishing. They lodged in local hotels, ate in local restaurants, purchased gasoline at local stations and spent money with other local businesses. Last year, Alexander City hosted the opening tournament for the B.A.S.S. Elite Series with an even 78
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greater economic impact. The tournament itself was expected to boost the local economy by $1 million, but a bigger fishing season could also be seen, said Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari. “There are a lot of residual benefits to bringing in this tournament. It gives us nationwide visibility and brings in a lot of tourism. Since it was announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series would begin the 2018 season here, we saw people coming in. People want to fish the same place where the pros fish,” Collari explained. The 2018 tournament was the 14th time B.A.S.S. had held a tournament on Lake Martin – that’s the 14th time the tournament filled hotel capacity to 100 percent; the 14th time anglers spent a week living in the area; and the 14th time fans fol-
lowed them. It was the 14th time the tournament brought the big bucks to town, and it was just one of the tournaments hosted in the area. Already this year, the lake has hosted the Alabama Bass Trail, which sold out with 220 boats, and Fishing League Worldwide and the ASABFA will bring a tournament to the lake in March. Fishing is big business at Lake Martin.
LAKE SUPPORT “What makes Lake Martin so unique is that, as an outsider, no one treats you as an outsider,” said Fishing League Worldwide Tour pro Jason Christy, who moved from Arizona to Lake Martin last summer. Christy recognized the sense of community at the lake, and he looks forward to being part of it. It’s PRICELESS
In addition to its busy summer seaon, Lake Martin plays host to fishing tournaments every winter
likely he’ll be very busy here, as the local residents play a big part in supporting Lake Martin. More than 300 volunteers turn out every November for the annual “Renew Our Rivers” cleanup around Lake Martin. An Alabama Power Company program that is coordinated locally by Lake Martin Resource Association, ROR 2018 collected an estimated 20 tons of trash from Alabama’s only Treasured Lake and its surrounding roadways. They assembled a mountain of more than 1,000 trash bags, including more than 100 tires and even a refrigerator. LMRA is a nonprofit organization that is diligent about keeping Lake Martin clean and safe. And they are supported by other Lake Martin organizations, including the Lake Martin Young Professionals. LMYP sponsors an annual polar plunge to raise PRICELESS
money for the LMRA Light Up Lake Martin program, an effort to increase the number of lighted hazard buoys on Lake Martin to 200. LMRA deploys and maintains hazard buoys in more than 400 locations around the lake, and as night boating grows in popularity, volunteers on the buoy boat hope more lighted buoys will help to protect lives and property. Lake Watch Lake Martin is another nonprofit organization that advocates for the good of the lake. Lake Watch volunteers regularly test water samples in 54 locations around the lake. Their dedication helps to identify potential pollution/ contamination sites early and remedy these situations before the quality of the water is compromised. Working closely with Lake Watch, the Homeowners and Boat Owners Association of Lake Martin helps to rally public support when issues arise that could threaten the lake. Many of these volunteers are folks who have retired to the lake and enthusiastically support efforts to keep it beautiful, as doing so enhances their lifestyle choices in being here.
THE LAKE Acreage: 41,150 Shoreline: 880 miles Length: 31 miles Maximum depth at the dam: 155 feet n Watershed area: 3,000 square miles n Plug Day: February 28 n n n n
VALUE n Total value of lake impact
area: More than $4.7 billion n Annual building material sales in lake impact area: $32 million n Lake’s net fiscal benefit to local governments: $2 million n Jobs directly related to lake: 1,000 n Annual economic benefit of local lake-related jobs: $128 million
Paddleboarders enjoy the peace and serenity of Lake Martin when boaters have gone home and the lake is calm
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[ RECREATION]
Prized Parks Alexander City’s parks surpass those of larger cities that have more resources and personnel STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
“
The city is blessed to have this facility. With the tournaments that come in, the Sportplex is the first part of Alexander City that a lot of visitors see. It makes a good impression. They are surprised it is as nice and it is, especially for a town this size.” ~ Sonny Wilson
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E
ight years ago, Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson sat down with city leaders to develop a master plan for the serious business of fun. Wilson had just accepted the job as purveyor of recreational programs and maintenance mastermind for parks facilities in Alexander City. It is his dream job, one that combines his passion for sports with the skill set of creative construction and his love for the community. An Alexander City native, Wilson graduated Benjamin Russell High School where he’d played every sport he could fit into his schedule. He also had worked at Robinson Iron as a work/ study student, and he kept that job while playing baseball for Central Alabama Community College. He enjoyed the challenge of working as an artisan and craftsman with the country’s leading metal caster so much that when he finished college with a degree in sports management, he accepted a full-time, traveling job with Robinson Iron and spent weeks at a time in the New York City and New Jersey area.
His Alabama roots – and then-Mayor Barbara Young – called him home in 2011. The area’s depressed economy had taken its toll on the park infrastructure, and Wilson was tasked with bringing the City’s program up to a 21stcentury standard on a figurative dime. He rolled up his sleeves and dove in. “We set out to look at what we had and what we needed, and we wrote a master plan,” he said. “The biggest need was soccer. It was a really fast-growing sport, and we didn’t have the fields we needed.” With the help of every one of its departments, the City spent $800,000 over four years to build a soccer complex that today is valued at $2.5 million. “It took every department in the City, but we saved more than $1 million by doing it all in-house,” Wilson explained. It was a strategy that worked, and Wilson applied it to other projects, including in-door batting cages and upkeep at the football stadium. The City purchased Byer’s Field, turning an eyesore in the community into a practice facility that adds value to PRICELESS
The Sportplex stadium hosts a variety of activities all year long, including the local high school’s football games
The hilltop baseball complex at the Sportplex draws visitors into Alexander City with a busy tournament schedule
the area. Many improvements have taken place at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex. “School busses could not cross the bridge at the Sportplex. They had to drive all the way around to get to the ball fields,” Wilson explained. “It had to be replaced to be able to carry the weight of a school bus, and with all the PRICELESS
youth events we have at the Sportplex, we really needed to replace that bridge. We finished that last year.” Using a grant, the City paid about $150,000 for the project, which might otherwise have cost as much as $550,000, Wilson said. “We also put in sidewalks at the Sportplex. You would be surprised at how many people use that and come
out here to walk. It is a good, safe place for exercise,” he said. The Charles E. Bailey Sportplex, built 33 years ago, also includes a 3-mile trail through varied woods and terrain for off-road bicycle riding, hiking and trail running; an archery range; baseball and softball fields that meet tourney standards; a horse riding arena; disk golf course; outdoor fitness trail; basketball gymnasium; an active senior center and playgrounds. The 212-acre public park hosts Sun Festival events in the summer, a popular Oktoberfest in the fall and a magical Christmas in the Park celebration in December. The park also hosts tournaments for baseball and registration events for fishing tournaments – often accommodating as many as 900 youth for a weekend event – and the Sportplex never fails to make a good impression, Wilson said. “The City is blessed to have this facility. With the tournaments that come in, the Sportplex is the first part of Alexander City that a lot of visitors see. It makes a good impression. They are surprised it is as nice as it is, especially for a town this size,” he explained. The department also includes three additional parks, two swimming pools, the Cooper Community Center, a boat ramp and a golf course. “What makes it work is teamwork. A lot of businesses just talk about that. Here, we really have it. Everyone here understands that it’s not enough to do just your job title. Whatever it takes, we need it done, and everybody works together to do it,” said Wilson. With just 24 full-time employees and seven to 40 part timers, depending on the season, Alexander City’s parks and recreation department is one of the smallest in the state, he added. “The staff can do most of what’s needed. They have skills in carpentry, concrete and electrical. When the big fishing tournaments come in, the staff will be out there directing traffic, serving food, organizing everything, just working behind the scenes to make it happen. “Visitors come in here and wonder how we do it. It’s because we hire the right people – with good attitudes – and the mayor and council support what we’re doing,” he said. “It makes me proud to be the department head.”
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[ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ]
Ministry makes a difference Local churches support the community through faithful service STORY BY BETSY ILER
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bout two-thirds of Tallapoosa County’s 40,000plus population attend more than 100 predominantly Christian local churches that support the community through outreach ministries. Through small group affiliations within the membership, these churches build wheelchair ramps for the elderly and disabled; collect supplies for disaster victims; purchase notebooks, writing utensils and other supplies for local school children; visit veterans and provide companionship at the Bill Nichols Home; send nutritious snacks to chemotherapy patients at Russell Medical Cancer Center; offer free yoga classes to the community
at large; feed the hungry through service-related organizations and more. The Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center, through local churches, civic groups and individuals, provides clothing, blankets, heaters, books, fresh vegetables and meals for children and adults and in need and acts as a clearinghouse to facilitate aid from churches and other agencies. The Bill Myers Backpack program sends snacks and meals home with more than 140 schoolchildren every weekend, and the TCCC thrift store helps to raise monies that help to pay rent, utilities and transportation expenses for the needy and to combat homelessness.
Local churches offer a variety of needed services and ministries to the local community
Many of the local churches sponsor drives that provide Christmas presents to veterans and the poor, as well as holiday dinners. In addition, several churches offer meeting space to Scout troops, alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation organizations and social clubs. Church members sew, cook, clean, do yard work, hold bazaars, visit, provide transportation, teach and give generously to make the Lake Martin area a better place – one that reflects God’s love and care for others. Contact the church of your choice to learn more.
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Arts District From concerts in the park to art walks, plays, cultural events and more, entertainment district activities offer more to do STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS AND KENNETH BOONE
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recent Americans for the Arts study found that the nation’s arts and culture industry generated $166.3 billion in economic activity in 2015, $102.5 billion of which was event-related spending by audiences. In Alexander City, arts and cultural organizations look to build on the recent development of the arts and entertainment district downtown to bring positive economic impact to the community through the arts. The initiative is part of the tourism aspect of the Partners in
Progress campaign, an Alexander City Chamber of Commerce strategic plan that was announced early this year and will work through the year 2023 to support and build local business and quality of life. Alexander City Theatre II is on a mission to draw audiences to the downtown area. The 501(c) 3 community theatre organization is leading an effort to create a downtown fine arts center that could serve local artists and arts organizations and drive business to shops and restaurants on Main Street.
Strand Session concerts draw crowds from April to August
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“We encourage our audiences to shop and have dinner downtown before they come to see a play, and we love the idea that they might stroll up the street to have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine downtown after the show,” said ACT II President Betsy Iler. The ACT II venue is available for use by other nonprofit arts and community organizations and last year hosted the Jazz Fest Art Contest Exhibit. ACT II stages an annual season of theatrical productions, showcasing the talents and abilities of local townspeople in classic Broadway shows, including this season’s Love Letters by A.R. Gurney and A Christmas Carol later this year. Celebrating its 50th season, Alexander City Arts, Inc., broadens the local entertainment scene with performing arts presentations that have wide appeal and artistic merit in music, theater and dance. In its history as a leading arts organization in Alexander City, ACA has opened the hearts and minds of local residents with more than 200 presentations showcasing nationally renowned performers. Its goals going forward build on the foundation of a rich commitment to the arts in the area. Founded in 1968, ACA engages touring companies, university proPRICELESS
grams and performers that visit Alexander City venues to present performances that have wide appeal in the community. Among the acts the nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization has booked are The Vienna Boys Choir, The Kingston Trio, symphonies, ballets and numerous productions by the Virginia Samford Theatre, Wetumpka Depot and other theatrical organizations. The founders endeavored to encourage, foster and cultivate the arts within the community through programs of music, literature, drama, painting, sculpture, exhibits, lectures and graphic art and to promote professional instruction in the arts. “We provide opportunities for entertainment and cultural enrichment,” said ACA President Mary Wood Perry. Each season consists of four or five productions from fall through spring, and in addition to retaining the venues and artists, ACA often springs for lodging, meals, printing, lighting and sound equipment for performances and exhibits. Funding support is provided in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, but Perry said support from the local community drives the program forward. “The key to our success is from the local community – the patrons, audiences, media outlets and civic organizations, and local businesses sponsor our patrons parties prior to each performance,” she said. The arts, Perry noted, transcend the generations, and ACA looks forward to a continuing mission to support community growth and artistic expression for local residents and visitors to enjoy for another 50 years and beyond. In addition, the Strand Sessions music series draws summer audiences to the arts and entertainment district for evening concerts featuring local artists. Launched in 2016 by the Lake Martin Young Professionals and sponsored by local businesses, the series has grown every year and now invites audiences to concerts on the first
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The cast of Our Town
Thursday of each month from April to August. Additional activities at Strand Park include the annual Leslie Patterson Gaston Chili Cook-off, sponsored by Ocie & Belle’s, a downtown lounge, to benefit the Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation, a birth complication that took the life of a local young woman. The event drew 32 cook teams and featured live music, along with indoor and outdoor beverage bars and a lemonade stand. Last year, the park also played host to the Second Annual Blues in the Park concert, as well as the National Night Out event with local law enforcement and the Fall for
Downtown celebration. Fall for Downtown in an annual event that includes a pumpkin painting contest, horse and carriage rides and art exhibits in the park. The downtown arts scene also includes a revolving exhibit at Gallery 128 on Calhoun Street and the Luck of the Draw studio and gallery at Broad Street Plaza. The works of local artists also are sold on Main Street, where the Makers Market exclusively features works by local artists who work in a variety of media, including paint, wood, metal, glass, paper, textile and even food.
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Fabulous Festivals STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
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Thousands gather on the Strand Park lawn for the annual Jazz Fest
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ummer at Lake Martin is a revolving calendar of fun. In addition to boating adventures and lakeside art festivals by day, the evenings offer great food and music in a variety of venues, but two backto-back big events stand out each year, drawing thousands of visitors and celebrating summer Lake Martin style. This year, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce will host its seventh Sun Festival – a weeklong tribute to family, friends and fun. More than 50 events are scheduled throughout the week, including a daily treasure hunt with clues printed in The Outlook newspaper and broadcast on radio and television and social media; cooking competitions; activities that honor local veterans; a glowin-the-dark golf tournament; sundae making and KidsFest activities.
It’s a celebration of community that ends with the annual Jazz Fest, a 2-day, six-band music extravaganza at Strand Park in Alexander City and the Lake Martin Amphitheater at Kowaliga. Started 29 years ago as part of the 100th birthday celebration for Frohsin’s Department Store in downtown Alexander City, Jazz Fest brings two free concerts to the area on the last weekend of Sun Festival. Jazz, blues and Southern rock musicians big and small have taken the Jazz Fest stages over the years, including St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Taylor Hicks, Delta Rae, Lowrider Band and more. What makes it really special is that this concert series is free and with the support of local sponsors, it will remain so.
Taylor Hicks closes last year’s Sun Festival celebration
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[ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ]
The AMP STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
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Sister Hazel listed Lake Martin Amphitheater as one of the band’s favorite stages
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VALUE S tate-of-the-art stage at The AMP: 60 feet long by 40 feet deep Year The AMP was constructed: 1998 A cres maintained by Russell Lands for live entertainment at The AMP: 110 L argest concert crowd at The AMP: 4,500 strong M inutes of toe-tapping family fun at The AMP: Immeasurable
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elping concert lovers create memories of hand-clapping, sing-along fun with family and friends, the Lake Martin Amphitheater, known as The AMP, provides hours of open-air entertainment each year. Ben Russell, chairman of Russell Lands, founded The AMP; then, he donated the venue to the community. Full-time residents, as well as second-home owners and guests, find value in this perfect location designed to feature entertainment, art and cultural events on beautiful Lake Martin. Located on a hilltop overlooking the Big Kowaliga Basin, The AMP invites guests to relax on blankets or lawn chairs while enjoying the many events showcased each year. From country to Southern rock, Motown to alternative, nationally-known entertainers and locally-based artists have graced the stage. Zac Brown, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Revivalists, Moon Taxi, Charlie Daniels Band, Blues Traveler, Marshall Tucker and Sister Hazel are just a few. Atlanta Rhythm Section, Kansas, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, among others, have also harmonized to listeners’ delight. “We are very proud that a few years ago, Sister Hazel listed The AMP as one of their favorite stages,” said Robert Gunn, director of marketing operations for Russell Lands. The AMP features even more local talent when Alexander City’s Benjamin Russell High School and Alexander City Middle School bands play a Halloween concert each year. Band members and concert-goers alike dress in costume for the free performance. “The Halloween show is a great and growing event for these students, their families and their friends,” said Gunn. Patriotism takes center stage at The AMP on the 4th of July each year, and that holiday celebration at Lake Martin would not be complete without fireworks over Kowaliga Basin. In addition to dazzling the crowd with the largest fireworks display in the Southeast, The AMP provides even more family fun with a musical concert, a twist contest and a hula-hoop contest. The concert series comes to a close with the Labor Day Weekend Concert. Traditionally held on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, this event is attended by those who are trying to get in one last trip to the lake, students from area colleges and fans from all over. Whether heading out to enjoy a legendary musical performance, an exceptional night of the Alexander City Jazz Fest or the oohs and ahhs of the traditional 4th of July fireworks show, The AMP provides a spectacular venue on the banks of Lake Martin’s beautiful waters. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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Russell Crossroads A Town Center for fun with family and friends at Lake Martin STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE AND ANN WADE PHOTOGRAPHY
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ussell Crossroads enhances the lives of residents and visitors in the surrounding communities by offering opportunities for dining, shopping and playing in one central hub. Located on the east side of Lake Martin just 3 miles north of the Kowaliga Bridge on Highway 63, the Crossroads serve as more than just a place to pick up a quick meal or play a game of Frisbee – the specially designed town center has become a landmark in the Lake Martin area. “Russell Lands On Lake Martin built the town center as a common area for friends and families to gather. There is something at Russell Crossroads for everyone,” said Janet Price, director of marketing for Russell Lands On Lake Martin. Staying true to the history of the area, cobblestone streets and vintagestyled street lights welcome visitors. A windmill and clock tower provide focal points near rustic cabins and buildings, built as testaments to local history. Natural landscaping, replete with boulders and seasonal flower beds, provide a matchless setting for a relaxing stroll or singing along at a concert on The Town Green. The Green, featuring a perfect lawn for barefoot picnics and games any day of the week, hosts concerts and events throughout the year. The annual Fall Family Festival celebrates kids who arrive in costumes ready for pumpkin decorating and pony rides. A working gristmill and a blacksmith are also 96
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highlights of the festival. Christmas at Crossroads with Santa, including the Holiday Bazaar, featuring local artisans, is an additional offseason special occasions on the Green. Morning yoga classes are popular on summer Saturdays, and Friday on the Green, with live entertainment for the whole family, offers the perfect spot for adults to enjoy a glass of wine with friends while the kids entertain themselves on the lush lawn. Everything needed for perfect picnics on The Green can be found at Catherine’s Market right across the cobblestone street. “Catherine’s Market offers worldclass quality and hometown warmth – a one-stop shopping experience with superb service and goods,” said Price. Locally grown ingredients, as well as gourmet foods, could be found in the market. Everything needed and already prepared for the picnic basket or for preparation at home is available, from fresh veggies to ice cream. The butcher shop provides prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood for customer selection. The wine shop is fully-stocked, and gift items with lake themes are readily available for those last minute surprises. Inside the market, Catherine’s Café offers a full breakfast with omelets, as well as lunch with homemade salads and sandwiches. Hand-crafted pastries in the bakery case are hard to resist, and locally roasted coffees provide for a relaxed morning or a business meetPRICELESS
SpringHouse Executive Chef Rob McDaniel serves award-winning recipes with farm fresh ingredients
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n A verage number of wedding events each year at Russell Crossroads: 60 n A cres covered by Russell Crossroads: Just under 100 n N umber of summer employees at Russell Crossroads: 150 n N umber of events at Russell Crossroads in 2018: 103 n M iles of trails in the Russell Forest: Over 100 n T reasured memories created at Russell Crossroads: Endless
The meadow at Russell Crossroads offers a spectacular backdrop for wedding pictures
Photo by Ann Wade Photography PRICELESS
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Carriage rides can be arranged through The Stables
ing on the lake. The café offers indoor and patio dining, and a shuttle is available to bring guests from the lake to the town center. Wine-tasting every week in the summer gives friends and family one more place to gather at Russell Crossroads. Catherine’s Café is available in the evening to host events, such as rehearsal dinners. Off premises catering is also available. Also known for special evenings and events, SpringHouse caters to large groups or couples seeking an intimate 98
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dining experience. Located on a hilltop with beautiful views, the restaurant fits right in to the natural surroundings of Russell Crossroads. Offering homegrown and local cuisine, Executive Chef Rob McDaniel – a six-time James Beard semi-finalist – ensures that every dining experience is unique with an elegant setting and sophisticated presentations. The restaurant seats nearly 200 with a main dining room, two outdoor patios, an upstairs dining area and two full bars. The WellHouse seats 12 for a private dining experi-
ence. Weddings and receptions at SpringHouse are brilliantly orchestrated. From the beautiful front lawn, which can be tented and lit, to the patio with a view of The Stables, the venue has something to offer every wedding party, no matter the size. In addition, SpringHouse caters off premises event or just down the hill at The Stables, another exceptional venue at the Crossroads. The 8,000-square-foot stables are available for weddings and other spePRICELESS
cial events. Indoor and outdoor spaces are available for large groups. Rustic tables and lighting, not to mention a pasture filled with prized horses, can make a storybook wedding dream come true. Guided trail rides are available for exploring the Russell Forest Trail System, an equestrian’s ticket to adventure. Russell Crossroads serves as the central point for the trail system, with more than 100 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. “Russell Lands set aside thousands of acres of property, known as the Russell Forest, to be part preserve, part playground. That forest will ensure that future generations of Lake Martin residents and visitors may personally experience the woodlands,” Price said. The Russell Forest is also the stage for the naturalist, located in the Russell Lands Naturalist Cabin, who provides nature tours and wildlife presentations for a family-friendly look at nature around the lake. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator with over 15 years of experience, the Russell Lands naturalist is a raptor trainer and has worked as a biologist and educator for the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn
The annual Russell Forest Run raises funds for the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation
University for many years. She currently works as the Conservation Outreach Specialist for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Her expertise and passion allows Russell Crossroads to promote lake wildlife and vegetation to both children and adults. In line with the family-friendly Naturalist Cabin, the Adventure Center at Russell Crossroads is located just off the Town Green for families and friends to find just the right activity, on or off the water. Locals, weekenders and guests can book self-guided or guided tours at the Adventure Center. Canoes, kayaks and bicycles are available for rent, as well as wagon and
guided horseback rides. Interested in the history of Lake Martin? Check out The Discovery Center at Russell Crossroads, which serves as welcome center and museum for the town center. A pictorial timeline of the history and artifacts from the area gives guests a place to step back in time while visiting the rustic town center. The convenience of Russell Crossroads, combined with its founders’ desire to meet the needs of those who live nearby or visit now and then, make it an incomparable shopping, dining and playing location in the Lake Martin area.
The Town Green at Russell Crossroads hosts free concerts on summer Fridays to start the weekend at the lake
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[ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ]
Feed the Fun
From burgers with bang to farm-fresh fare, lakeside dining is part of the experience of being here STORY BY LONNA UPTON
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hether planning a celebratory dinner or a quick stop for lunch, Lake Martin eateries satisfy the hunger, quench the thirst and awaken the senses of the captain and crew. Everything from a snack basket to a five-course meal from an awardwinning chef could be found on this treasured lake. And, for just a taste of the added value of Lake Martin restaurants, if you are out on the boat during the day, it’s easy to don a cover-up and flip-flops and come as you are to most of these restaurants. On the west side of Lake Martin, patrons can pull the boat right up to the docks at Kowaliga Restaurant, VALUE
nN umber of Lake Martin Pizza toppings available: 31 nN umber of placemats printed for Kowaliga Restaurant last year: 60,000 nS coops of Ice Cream served at Catherine’s in 12 weeks of 2018: 2,600 nB oat slips at The Landing at Parker Creek: 30 nG lasses of beer served at Oskar’s since opening in 1993: Thousands n T aking a sunset cruise to a restaurant on Lake Martin: Priceless 102
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The Landing at Parker Creek and Shipwreck Sam’s yogurt bar. All three locations have slips and casual, family-friendly seating. Complete with two dining rooms, two full bars, and plenty of lakeside deck seating – Kowaliga Restaurant, which is owned and operated by Russell Lands, is a perfect place to enjoy a southern comfort menu with your favorite local craft beer, wine or specialty cocktail. From appetizers including their famous catfish taco, and Conecuh sausage with Wickles’ Pickles and pimento cheese to steak sandwiches and hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and seasonal vegetable plates, catfish and fried shrimp – there’s something for everyone. Sunday live music complements the beautiful view of the lake and casual dining on the patio in season. And on the northwest side of the lake, Russell Crossroads, provides shuttle access to their off-the-water locations, including Catherine’s Market and SpringHouse. At Catherine’s, breakfast and lunch are served fresh daily with dine-in and take-out options, while homemade bread, croissants, pastries and desserts are available in Catherine’s bakery case. Wines by the bottle are available for purchase inside the market, along with everything else needed for a picnic on the boat or on the Town Green just outside Catherine’s door. SpringHouse features local
Area restaurants specialize in satisfying the hunger after a day on the lake
cuisine served in rustic, casual elegance, the perfect combination of food and distinctive mood for special occasions or an adult night out. Chef Rob McDaniel supports local farmers and pays homage to his grandmother’s Southern cooking methods with a presentation of exceptional seasonal starters, entrees and desserts. SpringHouse offers a full-service bar and wine by bottle and the glass. On the east side of Lake Martin, folks gather for good food and good times in venues with candlelit ambience, laid-back decks and everything in between. Chuckwalla’s Pizzeria at Chuck’s Marina, known not only for its food but also for its fun atmosphere, suits families and friends for casual dining and a full-service bar with live music on the deck on weekends, gourmet pizzas to wings, salads and sandwiches, mini-corndogs and macand-cheese bites. Copper’s Grill at the Stillwaters golf clubhouse also offers live music on summer weekends. This off-thewater restaurant ferries diners from PRICELESS
the lake on a free shuttle. Copper’s is known for its fresh seafood, Cajun cuisine and steaks. With a full menu – including specialty drinks from the bar, soup, sandwiches and salads. Niffer’s Place on the Lake, a sister restaurant to locations in Auburn and Opelika, boasts “burgers with attitude.” The menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, wings and chicken and the restaurant even offers gluten-free options. A full bar with specialty drinks, such as Fishbowls, Nifferitas and Lake Martin Lemonade, make this spot a Lake Martin favorite for locals and seasonal guests. Open seven days a week and serving Lake Martin since 1993, Oskar’s Café in Dadeville touts great food and homegrown hospitality. The menu features appetizers, soup and salad, sandwiches and burgers, as well as a kids’ menu. Oskar’s serves beer by the bottle and wine by the glass. In Anchor Bay at the south end of the lake, Harbor Docks Restaurant and Bar just celebrated 10 years in business. The kitchen offers dinPRICELESS
ers a wide selection of fresh seafood, such as ahi tuna, oysters and bacon-wrapped shrimp. Simpler fare includes a multitude of salads and sandwiches. The T.N.T. Burger may be just what a hungry wake boarder needs. Weekends at Harbor Docks feature live music and dancing on the deck, the perfect place to watch the sunset. Lake Martin Pizza, with off-thewater locations in Dadeville and Alexander City, serves up the perfect setting for a family lunch or dinner, whether it’s a break from the water or just a craving for great gourmet pizza. The parlor menu includes garlic knots, salads and traditional and specialty pizzas. Guests may select their pizza toppings or choose from specials, such as The Buoy, The Wilson and The Mac Daddy or Kira’s Favorite. Accommodations can be made for some food allergies, gluten free, dairy and vegan. Beer and wine are available. The Landing at Parker Creek provides 30 boat slips and hosts family games of volleyball, corn hole, lad-
der toss and ring toss on a grassy peninsula that juts into the lake. From spring to fall, the restaurant offers appetizers and small plates in a 1,250-square-foot pavilion. Try the 8-ounce bone-in Duroc pork chop or a fresh cut 12-ounce ribeye steak. A full-service bar is available, perhaps for a frozen cocktail after a day of tubing with the kids or a glass of wine to enjoy the sunset. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Shipwreck Sam’s yogurt bar inside Smith’s Marina, located north of Parker Creek, can cool off all the boat passengers on a hot day. A variety of flavors appeal to any crowd, and the convenience makes the quick stop well worth the trip north. Elegance and white tablecloths, deck chairs and umbrellas. Hot dogs and pizza, fresh ahi and spring greens. Lake Martin has it all – dining options for locals, weekenders and guests alike, adding value to their lives on the lake by providing times and places to relax and enjoy great food and great company in a great community. FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ MEDICAL ]
Respite for Caregivers and New Mobile Healthcare Services STORY BY BETSY ILER
Lake Martin Community Hospital’s new respite resort offers all the comforts of home in a clinical setting
A
s needs for senior-care services grow with the aging of the U.S. population, Lake Martin Community Hospital has looked for ways to meet those needs, said Ashley Benton, director of marketing for Ivy Healthcare. Last year, the hospital, which is owned by Ivy Creek, launched a respite resort service to provide a break for caregivers. “It relieves the family, so they can go on vacation or get a rest,” Benton explained. “They can run errands, spend time with their own spouses; get some sleep! Or just take some time to relax and do nothing while their seniors can come in and stay at our hospital for respite care for up to seven days. The
seniors will get the care they need, and caregivers can take a few days off, too, and not be worried.” The idea grew out of the hospital’s hospice respite care program, Benton said. “We reinvented the wheel for patients who are not in the hospice program to give family members peace of mind. Our program makes it easy for a family to let go and not worry about their elderly grandparents or parents, knowing they are being cared for – and if anything goes wrong, they couldn’t be in a better place: They’re in a hospital,” she said. “It’s a unique service that you don’t often find in a rural area like ours.
Guests can bring their own blankets and pillows and other things from home if they would like, and the family knows they will get top-notch care,” she added. Ivy Creek also has invested in occupational medical services to care for patients on job sites, decrease loss of productivity and increase employee morale. More than 50 services are available through the mobile program that can be scheduled to visit work places at times that are convenient for employers and employees, Benton said. “It fosters an environment of well being for employees and reduces lapses in productivity from employees who end up being out sick or can’t work because they need to seek health services,” she said. “It’s a win-win for both parties.” Flu shots, eye exams, wellness checks, vaccines, glucose and hemoglobin A1C checks, some emergency services and more are available through the occupational medicine program, as well as drug and alcohol tests and some cancer screenings. The healthcare provider last year rebranded its hospice-care program with a name change to reflect its Ivy Creek affiliation. Lake Martin Hospice is now Ivy Creek Hospice and is a stand-alone entity instead of a department in the hospital.
Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting Powder Coat • Sand Blasting
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[ MEDICAL ]
Russell Medical adds Transitional Care Unit STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUSSELL MEDICAL
“
We are all a team; actually, we are all a family that promises to work together to take care of our patients.” ~ Stephanie Jones
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T
he Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at Russell Medical opened in November 2018 to high praise from the greater Lake Martin area. Licensed for up to 10 patients, the premier unit was designed for patients who need rehabilitation after hospitalization and prefer an alternative to traditional placements. “We are in a great community, in a close-knit hospital, and we are excited for the opportunity to take care of our community. We go above and beyond to make sure the patients get the care that we would want our own families to receive,” said TCU Coordinator Stephanie Jones. The specialized unit is housed on the third floor of Russell Medical, where private rooms with private
baths recently were designated for rehabilitation patients. With the addition of local artwork and facelifts, the hospital rooms are warmer and more inviting than the traditional hospital room setting. “As long as the patient has been hospitalized for three days and nights, they qualify for the TCU. They may have had surgery or a stroke, or they may have had a serious infection. Whatever the reason for the hospital stay, if they need any type of therapy, they can stay in the TCU for up to 21 days,” said Sarah Beth Gettys, Vice President of Clinical Services for Russell Medical. The unit provides 24/7 skilled nursing care, and the rooms have hospital beds with all the features PRICELESS
Therapy options are easily accessible on the Russell Medical campus
needed by patients that have just been released from regular hospital rooms. Facilitating functional independence is the goal of staff members – from the therapists to the nurses and the techs. “By coming to the TCU, patients have access to a highly trained therapy staff that really cares for their patients. The hospitalist group that cares for the patient while in the hospital continues to care for the patient in the TCU, which is a continuation of care that many other places just don’t have,” said Jones. The coordination between the doctors, therapists and TCU nursing staff make the Russell Medical TCU unique. “There is constant communication through all disciplines. We have a quick huddle each morning and a longer weekly meeting on each patient to address any concerns or issues as quickly as possible. We are all a team; actually, we are all a family that promises to work together to take care of our patients,” said Jones. Patients are served meals in their rooms, but they are also free to eat in the activities room on the hall for a change or with family members. Family members can also check patients out of the unit when the patients become mobile and take them to dinner in the hospital cafeteria. Visitors are welcome to come PRICELESS
and go, but evening hours are recommended, since TCU patients work hard each day to reach their therapy goals. Gettys explained that the first job for new TCU patients is the discharge plan – the goal for departure for home, which could also be an assisted living facility. To that end, they are extremely busy every day working to grow stronger and more independent. “Patients get up and get dressed every day. No hospital gowns and no staying in bed. After breakfast, patients receive therapy in their rooms, if they are not yet mobile, or a therapist takes them to Total Fitness, the rehabilitation department at Russell Medical. After lunch, patients are back in therapy,” said Gettys. Total Fitness is another key element that sets this program apart from others. Not only are speech, occupational and physical therapy available in the gym but also, the department includes a swimming pool and the activities of daily living room (ACL), essentially a small apartment. The ACL is designed to offer patients, especially the type of patients who need the TCU, an opportunity to practice life skills with assistance until they are proficient enough to be independent. “Many times, patients need to
relearn balance and gait technique. Repetitious acts, such as folding clothes, can be very difficult. Our therapists help patients relearn daily tasks and self-care,” Gettys said. The ACL has a small kitchen with a washer and dryer, stovetop, oven, dishwasher and washer and dryer. A single bed, plus a bath with a shower, allows patients to practice getting in and out of bed or using a transfer bench to get into the shower safely. Patients might be found baking muffins or folding towels, simple tasks that need to be relearned with help from therapists before the patients can live alone. The uniquely designed unit for transitional care at Russell Medical offers a two-fold solution for patients requiring rehabilitation after hospitalization. One, the patients are treated as family members, receiving genuine care and encouragement. Two, the collaboration among TCU team members ensures their patients are receiving just the right mix of top-notch medical care and rehabilitation therapy – a perfect recipe for success. “The TCU is a tremendous advancement in terms of care for our post-surgical patients. We are proud of the value added to the community,” said Susan Foy, Director of Marketing for Russell Medical Center.
Hospital personnel are always nearby for consultation
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[ MEDICAL ]
Healthcare options offer value to community STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI
M
ainStreet Family Care focuses on the family aspect of its name by maintaining close ties to each community in which its healthcare clinics are located. MainStreet Family Care owns 16 facilities statewide, and the Alexander City location opened in October 2016. “We did a lot of growing within the three years since we opened our first location in Centre. We’ve halted for now, but that does not mean we won’t continue to expand in the future,” said Nicole Singleton, MainStreet Family Care’s content manager. The clinics opened to fill a need for patients that may not be able to see their primary care physicians in a timely manner. “I think having urgent care services provide additional opportunities to be treated. We want people to go to their primary care doctor, if possible, but a lot of times it is not,” said Singleton. Going through the emergency room for healthcare when a primary physician’s office is closed could be much more expensive and often is a longer wait. MainStreet also offers self-pay with a cap at $125 total. This includes X-rays, shots and prescriptions but does not include lab work. MainStreet also takes all major forms of insurance or looks into adding a company to its system if it is not already accepted. “Our goal from the time a patient walks through the door is to have them out in an hour,” said Singleton. The Alexander City office also offers primary care services with two providers that rotate in that location. “The main reason is that rural doctors are few and far between, 108
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MainStreet’s goal is to help create better communities in its 16 facilities statewide
and rural communities are our focus. We have a great relationship with primary care providers in the communities where we are located,” said Singleton. MainStreet Family Care is involved in local community activities, too. The company has joined the chambers of commerce in all 16 clinic locations and provides a family atmosphere to patients. “We feel like everyone who comes through our clinic should be treated like family. Providers specifically relate their own families to patients they see, which brings a new level of love and kindness,” said Singleton. Between sponsoring events to being a familiar face throughout the community, MainStreet prides itself on being more than a medical facility. “We’re not just in a community to heal people. Our number one goal is to make sure we are able to bring a different kind of service to the people that come see us. We want to come into a community and change it for the better,” said Singleton.
Alexander City MainStreet Family Care is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit MainStreetFamilyCare.com or check out the MainStreet Family Care – Alexander City Facebook page.
VALUE nP atients seen in Alexander City: More than 10,000 n F amily Select Primary Care program: More than 1,100 patients statewide have signed up nS taff at Alexander City location: 8 – 3 providers and 5 CRNPs nA ccepts every major insurance carrier nS hots and X-rays statewide: 12,900 PRICELESS
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[ PEOPLE ]
Leaders in Service Lake Martin Area United Way supports the work of 28 local agencies STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
“
We make an impact in the lives of people in the community.” ~ Sharon Fuller
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H
ope has many hands in the Lake Martin area. From the United Way to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, the American Red Cross and many more, those hands reach out to change lives for the better. They are hands that do more than just write checks; they comfort, build, feed, paint, clean, plant, answer phones, share, welcome and pray to make a difference in the community. And the value they add is at once exponential and impossible to quantify. “We make an impact in the lives of people in the community,” said Lake Martin Area United Way Executive Director Sharon Fuller. Last year, the United Way funded agencies and volunteers that encouraged more than 1,000 children in a summer reading program and assisted with the repair of three veterans’ homes. More than 200 volunteers turned out on the annual Day of Action to spruce up local schools for the new year. Countless members of the community provided clothing and household goods for fire victims, and
the United Way helped the Prosperity Again Thru Health organization to promote healthy lifestyles through education and the community garden program. In addition, LMAUW funds the 211 call referral line. “We are able to support agencies that make a difference for us – for the local community – through our annual campaign and through initiatives,” Fuller explained. Through an annual fund drive, United Way raises more than $550,000 per year to support the work of 28 agencies that address needs in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. “This would not be possible without our board and volunteers because with two full-time and one part-time staff, it would not be possible,” Fuller said. Every year, each of the 28 agencies makes a 15-minute presentation to the United Way board of directors to acquaint the board with recent developments and qualify for funding. “It’s exhausting because we hear stories about improving lives,” Fuller said. “Even though I do that every year, I always learn something new every year.” PRICELESS
The annual fashion show supports local initiatives and services
The best part of the job, Fuller said, is knowing the work she does makes a difference. “I can see that life is moving forward for people. I know that, through so many food programs that are available, no one in this community will go hungry,” she said. “We can’t do enough; we know that, but what we do makes a difference.” In addition to improving lives through the agencies United Way funds, the local office also supports the agencies as a resource for team building and networking, Fuller said. “We have these meetings where representatives from all of our agencies are sitting around the table, and it occurred to me that these people didn’t know each other. They didn’t know what each other did, and they didn’t know that each of them had resources that the others could use – that they could help each other,” she explained. “So we created a network among the agencies, so they can work together.” Each of the agencies supported by Lake Martin Area United Way puts in volunteer time with local initiatives and other agencies. PRICELESS
Sharon Fuller (left) confers with local business leaders
“We wanted the agencies to be part of it, to be vested, and they volunteer,” she said. “They work, and they give, too.” Initially, the local United Way operated under an assortment of names for several years. Eventually, the organization was certified under the United
Way Worldwide umbrella, which provides accountability for the local branch and for the agencies it serves. Only 1 percent of the campaign funds go to the worldwide organization. The rest, Fuller said, stays in the local community, where it offers hope.
FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ PEOPLE ]
Cancer Care Home Team STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTO COURTESY OF RUSSELL MEDICAL
T
he UAB Medicine Russell Medical Cancer Center in Alexander City is the only 50/50 joint venture partnership with the University of Alabama-Birmingham Cancer Center outside the city of Birmingham. That unique association between Russell Medical and UAB provides an incredible number of opportunities for cancer care that many small towns do not have. “Our joint venture relationship with UAB helps support and grow our program with broader access to best practices, medical education for nurses and education about advancements in detecting and treating cancer,” said Ellen Abernathy, director of RMCC. Abernathy explained that RMCC is a member of the UAB Health System Cancer Care Community, which allows collaboration between UAB and eight other community centers on evidencebased guidelines for cancer treatment. The connection with UAB also provides patients a broad base of support and collaboration among doctors in both Alexander City and Birmingham, including two full-time oncologists provided by Russell Medical plus five radiation oncologists provided by UAB. “As director, I see firsthand, on a daily basis, how dedicated and compassionate our physicians and staff are in treating our patients. The fact that we can bring such high-quality services to our local community and keep patients at home for treatments is truly a blessing,” Abernathy said. Oncologists Dr. Mary Emily Sheffield and Dr. Alex Minter, a brother-and-sister team, grew up in Lanett, Alabama. Both said Alabama is a special place to them, and they love working close to family after living away from home for many years. Sheffield attended medical school at the University of South Alabama followed by an internship, residency and fellowship at UAB. She said she knew 112
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she wanted a career in medicine, which for her is a wonderful combination of science, challenges and service. “Oncology is a great niche in which to do that. I want to give patients options, give them hope, be straight with them. We can offer so much since we are rural and because we are not a big center. We can get patients in and out faster; we can provide personal care; we can open doors to other hospitals in areas where we might be limited. Our team does what we do because we love it,” Sheffield said. For five years Sheffield was the only medical oncologist on staff at RMCC,
but when her brother was hired three years ago to work alongside her, they achieved a win-win situation, she said. “My brother and I have always been close, so it’s been fun to work together. We have positive sibling rivalry that pushes us to always do the best thing,” Sheffield said. Minter attended medical school on an Army ROTC scholarship, so after medical school and residency at UAB, he was stationed in San Diego and Washington, D.C. “I learned to truly respect the military, and I was happy to be able to offer my medical service to those who serve
Minter, Sheffield and Boggs are UAB doctors who practice at Russell Medical Cancer Center in Alexander City
PRICELESS
our country – active duty and veterans. I still have that sense of service to community, and I also see the need for rural oncology. At the Cancer Center we can offer great customer service where every patient feels they get the attention they need,” Minter said. Minter sought pediatrics at the beginning of his post-graduate work, but when his then-girlfriend, now his wife, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24, his focus shifted. “After she was diagnosed, I did so much research and work in that area, and I knew I had a calling. Having been a part of Jennifer’s road to recovery gives me a great perspective of being a family member in the midst of the diagnosis and the treatment. That perspective motivates me to be the best I can be,” Minter said. Sheffield and Minter work closely with Dr. Boggs, a radiation oncologists who is at RMCC twice weekly. Boggs grew up in Rayville, Louisiana, a rural agricultural town.
PRICELESS
He attended medical school at the University of Louisiana, Shreveport, followed by an internship and residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Although he has spent time working in cities, his childhood reminds him that trust is important in a small community where everybody knows everybody. “When my grandfather died of lung cancer, I always wondered what the outcome might have been if he’d had access to better care. I’ve always had a desire to deliver medical care in a rural area, like where I grew up, but I also wanted to be in academics and work on clinical trials,” Boggs said. He knew he had the best of both worlds when he was offered a job that included helping patients in Alexander City while remaining on the UAB teaching staff. “I want patients to know they can get the same care at our cancer center that they can get in a city, but we have a personal touch they might not receive somewhere else,” Boggs said. Boggs said he believes the collaboration at RMCC is a different situation than most. He can easily discuss cases face-to-face with Sheffield and Minter, which greatly improves patient care. “Having knowledge upfront is empowering when patients know what they are dealing with. Patients meet with everyone to discuss their options. If we don’t have what they need, we open the door to the center where they need to be,” said Boggs. Boggs, Minter and Sheffield were quick to point out that the staff at RMCC includes amazing team members who work together for the good of the patients they serve. One of those team members is Melanie Moseley, previously a patient representative for Russell Medical and an Alexander City native, who provides a hometown touch as patient navigator, working with patients who need various types of assistance, from transportation to make-up and wigs. “I fill the gap between the physicians and patients by helping them navigate the healthcare world and insurance world. If they find themselves in hardship, I do the legwork to find the resources they need,” Moseley said. As patient navigator, Moseley meets with every patient that is new to the
VALUE n The Cancer Center at Russell Medical Center opened: 2001 n E ntered joint venture business relationship with UAB and became UAB Medicine Russell Medical Cancer Center: 2012 nP hysicians employed at RMCC: 7 nA dditional staff members: 20 nC hemo certified nurses: 100 percent nT ime to wait for a new patient appointment: 48-72 hours n F eeling comfortable with physicians and caregivers right here at home in the midst of crisis: Priceless center and continues to work with each one throughout treatment. She monitors patients’ stress levels and determines if they need more support, financial resources or just a listening ear. Moseley said that since she has lived in Alexander City her whole life, many of the patients she sees are people she grew up with or people whose children went to school with her children. In 2018, the RMCC added a respiratory gating system to its state-of-the-art facility to deliver radiation more safely and accurately to breast and lung cancer sites; however, the hometown, trusting atmosphere is what sets the UAB Medicine Russell Medical Cancer Center apart. “It is so gratifying to work at this cancer center with such a great group of people where we can provide such personal care,” said Boggs. Susan Foy, director of marketing for Russell Medical, said RMCC actually serves a more metro area than many might think for such a rural area, since the community includes the greater Lake Martin area. And the physicians and staff at RMCC reach out with heartfelt compassion and hometown service with a smile.
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FEBRUARY _ 2019
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[ AD INDEX ] A1 Lock & Key.................................. 26
Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce..... 56
Katelynne Dean, Selling Lake Martin...8
Radney, Radney, Jackson............... 104
A&M Plumbing................................. 50
DAV....................................................... 50
Kelly Heating & Air........................... 16
Red Ridge United Methodist Church......55
AAA General Contractors................ 114
DAVCO..................................................... 114
Kent Norris D.M.D.......................... 101
Renaissance Electronics......................9
Adam’s Health & Rehab................... 39
David Willis, Raymond James................ 115
Kona Ice........................................... 51
Rhodes Brothers/Key Builders....... 104
Ahluring Angler................................ 39
Days Inn............................................. 114
Lake Martin Dock............................. 66
Robinson Iron.................................. 80
Alabama Power...................................9
Dock’s Unlimited....................................... 71
Lake Martin EDA............................... 35
Russell Building Supply................... 94
Alexander City Board of Education..... 117
Donna B’s Barber Shop........................... 114
Lake Martin Garage........................ 115
Russell Do it Center........................ 101
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce.....35
East Alabama Medical Center.......... 94
Lake Martin HOBO’s......................... 24
Russell Lands on Lake Martin......... 2-3
Alexander City Fire Department........ 24
East Alabama Mental Health............ 90
Lake Martin Inspection..................... 84
Russell Marine.................................. 24
Alexander City Police Department.......8
Emporium Wine................................114
Lake Martin Mini Mall....................... 55
Russell Medical................................ 59
Alex City Guide Service.................... 31
Fairytale Journeys............................ 69
Lake Martin Realty.......................... 120
Sakura Bistro.................................. 115
Alex City Vet..................................... 26
Farmer’s & Merchants Bank........... 117
Lake Martin Resource Association...... 15
Satterfield, Inc................................. 69
Allen’s Brew Market.......................... 50
Fifty Plus........................................... 55
Lakewinds Golf Course.................... 19
Scooters Grill.................................... 16
American Inn.................................. 114
First Baptist Church, Dadeville....... 104
Langley Funeral Home.................... 100
Scotty Gordon, Cornerstone Insurance..... 84
Anytime Fitness................................ 39
First Insurance................................ 114
Lynch’s Lawn Care........................... 55
Sherry Willis, RE/MAX Around the Lake.... 115
Auburn Earth Works, LLC.............. 114
Flint Hill Church.............................. 115
Lynn’s Qwik Stop.............................. 51
Singleton Marine.................................39
Barbara’s Studio of Dance.............. 114
Four Seasons Irrigation.................. 115
Madix................................................ 57
Sixth Street Baptist............................115
Bice Motors...................................... 56
George Hardy, DMD......................... 31
Main Avenue Appartments............... 94
SL Alabama...................................... 81
Bill’s Electric........................................8
Gilbert Woodworks......................... 116
Main Street Downtown..................... 91
Speak’s Offroad & Trailer................. 70
Blossman Propane......................... 114
Gil’s Auto.......................................... 90
Mark King’s Furniture....................... 23
Steven Gaddis, Keller Williams...... 115
Blue Creek Ironworks..................... 105
Griffith Lawn Care............................ 69
Millstone Nursery............................. 94
StillWaters R.A................................. 90
Buck’s Dairy Quick........................... 51
Gold Ole Boys BBQ........................... 37
Moore’s Hardware.......................... 101
Super 8........................................... 116
Camp Hill Quick Stop....................... 80
Harbor Leaning Academy............... 115
Movie Rack....................................... 51
Tallapoosa County Board of Education.....39
Central Alabama Community College.....119
Heritage South Credit Union............ 27
Noel Boone..................................... 115
Tallapoosa County Lighthouse............... 116
Central Alabama Gastroenterology........ 31
Hillabee Towers.............................. 115
Oasis Salon & Spa........................... 31
Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative.......8
CertaPro Painters.....................................31
Hill Petroleum................................. 117
Ocie & Belle’s................................. 101
Temple Medical Center..................... 80
City of Alexander City..........................5
Hillview Memorial............................. 55
Oneal Electric.................................. 101
Thomas Auto Parts........................... 69
Cherokee Qwik Stop......................... 51
Hodges Vineyard & Winery.............. 95
Onin Staffing..................................... 26
TLC Real Estate ............................. 114
Children’s Harbor............................ 118
Holley’s Home Furnishings............... 71
PAAC................................................. 84
Town of New Site............................. 16
Chuck’s Marina................................. 16
Holman Floor Company................... 50
Papa John’s Pizza............................. 51
Valley National.................................. 40
Clayton Homes................................. 56
Howlin Moon Pet Resort................ 115
Philips Agency, Inc......................... 115
Virginia Pettus, Aronov.................. 105
Cloud Nine...................................... 114
Huddle House................................... 51
Playhouse Cinemas.......................... 51
Wellborn Cabinets............................ 84
Coosa Valley MRI........................... 114
Hyde’s Kitchen.................................. 26
Poor House Boat Outlet.................... 90
Whisker’s Catfish.............................. 37
Coach Kraft..................................... 114
Idletime Family Center.................... 115
Precious Memories.......................... 24
White Acres...................................... 30
Crestview Apartments.............. 26, 114
J&M Tank Lines.............................. 109
Professional Plumbing..................... 66
Who’s Diner...................................... 51
Cutting for Christ.............................. 84
JD Manning Masonry..................... 115
Queen’s Attic..................................... 94
Wind Creek State Park..................... 85
Dadeville Animal Clinic..................... 80
Karen Channell, State Farm.............. 50
Radney Funeral Home.................... 100
Wind Creek Zipline........................... 47
Super 8 by Wyndham
4335 Hwy. 280 • Alexander City, AL ( 256 ) 234-7099
•Free home-style breakfast •Free Wi-Fi Internet Access •Fitness Center
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•Outdoor Pool •Spacious rooms w/ work area
FEBRUARY _ 2019
WOODCRAFTS
QUALITY, CUSTOM-BUILT
1096 Airport Drive, Alexander City, AL 256.392.4866
PRICELESS
Strength . . . Service . . . Community . . .
Our friendly and professional personnel are always willing to help you with your banking needs. We welcome the opportunity to serve you.
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK
216 S. Broadnax Street • Dadeville, AL
256.825.9943
4371 Highway 280 • Alexander City, AL
ALEXANDER CITY SCHOOLS HIGH EXPECTATIONS and SUCCESS FOR ALL The VISION of the Alexander City Schools is to produce graduates that are successful and empowered to compete globally based upon their own unique talents and interests. The MISSION of the Alexander City Schools is to provide a safe and inviting learning environment with high expectations for ALL, while focusing on the development of the whole child – academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
375 Lee Street • Alexander City, AL 35010 • 256-234-5074 Follow us @ www.alexcityschools.net PRICELESS
Alexander City Schools
@AlexCityCats1
FEBRUARY _ 2019
117
A
Ha ppy
Pl
ace
Family Center
1600 6th Ave S, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35233 205.638.6123 info@childrensharbor.com
Lake Martin Campus 1 Our Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Highway Alexander City, AL 35010 334.857.2133 info@childrensharbor.com
Mission
To serve seriously ill children and their families through unique, no-cost services at both the Family Center located at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham, AL, and at the Lake Martin retreat facility in Alexander City, AL. 118
FEBRUARY _ 2019
4,020
36 Buildings
Meals Served at the Family Center
Maintained at the Lake Martin Campus
1,667
4,650 Campers Served
Free Counseling Sessions at the Family Center
at the Lake Martin Campus
Follow Our Story childrensharbor.com @ChildrensHarbor PRICELESS
Central To You, Central To Your Success.
Central Alabama Community College www.cacc.edu Now Offering Classes in Millbrook Alexander City Campus 256.234.6346 1675 Cherokee Road Alexander City, AL 35010
Childersburg Campus 256.378.5576 34091 U.S. Highway 280 Childersburg, AL 35044
Talladega Center 256.480.2066 1009 South St. East Talladega, AL 35160
CentralAlabama1 PRICELESS
FEBRUARY _ 2019
119
Jerry Purcell 205.382.3417
Allison Ladson 256.750.0711
Haley McKelvey 256.749.8353
Damon Story 205.789.9526
Mike Davis 256.226.1238
Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792
Amy Duncan 256.212.2222
India Davis 256.749.7592
Judy Voss 205.794.0779
Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681
John McInnish 334.415.2149
Jaylen McGriff 256.300.0372
Jan Hall 256.329.6313
Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071
Becky Haynie 334.312.0928
Jim Cleveland 256.596.2220
Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372
Adam Yager 205.914.0830
Michelle Brooks 256.749.1031
Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099
Sawyer Davis 205.965.7940
Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017
David Mitchell 256.212.3511
Howard Haynie 334.312.0693
Leroy Sellers 256.496.2141
Randall Rogers 334.707.5804
Chad McKelvey 256.749.4018
Mimi Rush 334.399.7874
Bottom line
We sell more property in the Lake Martin area than anyone else. It’s all we do — and we can’t wait to do it for you.
We’re the Market Leader Lake Martin Waterfront Market Share
53% 120
LAKE MARTIN REALTY/ RUSSELL LANDS ON LAKE MARTIN
*LMAAR/MLS Member Firms Sales Volume Data Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2018
FEBRUARY _ 2019
Dadeville
256.825.9092
Willow Point 256.212.1498
L a k e M a r t i n R e a l t y. c o m
Ourtown
256.212.1498 PRICELESS