FTC March April 2013

Connected March/April 2013

Published for customers of

no weight Limit

Ider teen making a name in powerlifting

We’ve got spirit Fyffe cheerleaders win state championship severe weather Be prepared for emergencies

Technology News

your

smart home

The animated television series "The Jetsons" gave us a glimpse into what life might be like in a high-tech future. While we’re not living in space with robot maids, we do have the technology to control and automate many home functions. A Wi-Fi network, powered by a broadband Internet connection, can put the power to control your home at your fingertips. Here are a few devices to help make that happen:

Dropcam

Use Dropcam to remotely monitor the kids, the pets, a workspace and more. Connect it to your Wi-Fi network, then place the Dropcam anywhere in your home or business. Smartphone apps let you monitor the camera’s 720p HD image, or you can log into your account from a computer. Features include digital zoom, infrared technology for night viewing and two-way audio.

Price: $149 Website: www.dropcam.com

Belkin WeMo Switch

Plug a WeMo Switch into a standard electrical outlet, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and you can control whatever you plug into the WeMo Switch. Use it for lamps, fans, curling irons, coffee makers, stereos and more. The WeMo smartphone app lets you turn your connected device on and off from any location.

Price: $49 Website: www.belkin.com/us/wemo

Nest Thermostat

Nest learns your patterns and schedules, and adjusts your home’s heating and cooling system to fit your lifestyle. And because it connects to your home Wi-Fi network, you can control it from anywhere using the iOS app. According to the company website, “Nest can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20%.”

Price: $249 Website: www.nest.com

That’s my web Whatever your interest or hobby, there are countless websites with tips and information you may enjoy. Here’s a look at a few of them.

(We don’t support or control the content of these sites, so we’re not responsible for what you may or may not find there.)

Food www.thekitchn.com This site features more information than you’ll ever be able to digest.

Recipes, product reviews, advice, how-tos… you’ll find it all here.

Cars www.jalopnik.com Jalopnik is obsessed with the cult of cars. Secret cars, concept cars, flying cars, vintage cars, tricked-out cars… you get the picture.

Rural Living www.thepioneerwoman.com How can one woman do so much?

Sections include cooking, home and garden, homeschooling, entertainment and confessions.

LIFX

Technology www.arstechnica.com This site “specializes in original news and reviews, analysis of technology trends” and includes advice on a wide range of technology topics.

See Page 7 for tips on creating a broadband-centric home.

News www.theblaze.com The goal of this news, information and opinion site is “to post, report and analyze stories of interest on a wide range of topics from politics and culture to faith and family.”

And coming soon…

This is the light bulb Thomas Edison never even dreamed about. The LIFX bulb connects to your Wi-Fi network, allowing you to remotely turn it on and off, adjust brightness and change colors. Control individual bulbs, rooms or your entire house. Available early to mid-2013.

Website: www.lifx.com

2 | March/April 2013

P R O T E C T Y O U R T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S S Y S T E M

Step outside and look up. You may see a valuable system of poles and wires — a system that delivers important telecommunications services to you and your neighbors. Telephone. Internet. And in some cases, even Digital TV. Damage to this network can interrupt critical services to dozens or even hundreds of families in your neighborhood and beyond.

We are asking for your help in protecting this valuable investment.

Please “Look Up!” before doing any of the following:

Planting Trees

For a distance of 15 feet in any direction of utility lines, only plant shrubs or trees with a mature height of less than 20 feet. Taller trees can grow into lines, which can create service problems, or their limbs could fall across lines during storms.

Also remember to

Call Before You Dig

Burning Brush

When burning brush, make sure you pile it far away from utility lines. The temperature of burning wood can easily reach over 1,000º F — and that is hot enough to melt telecommunications equipment.

Shooting

When you lift that gun, make sure utility lines are not in your line of sight. When a utility line is broken, it has to be spliced back together — a time-consuming and expensive task.

Spread the word. Look up.

Protect your valuable telecommunications system.

March/April 2013 | 3

From the General Manager

Sometimes it takes time Be careful when you give advice. Someone might take it. Several months ago I talked my daughter into taking an advanced placement course in macroeconomic theory. I assured her that I would be happy to help since the course is taught online without a real instructor in the classroom.

We’ve learned a few important lessons. First, she has chosen not to become an economist. That’s good. Young people need to learn what does and does not appeal to them as early as possible. Something else we learned was that I had forgotten a few things about the academic side of macroeconomic theory. Suffice it to say that despite my daughter’s patience with me, this class made me a nervous wreck. I mean, after all, I talked her into taking it. It is a good thing she is brilliant and, trust me, she really is. I guarantee you she now understands basic economics better than a large portion of the politicians who make up the United States Congress.

You can be reminded of a lot by watching a young person learn. My daughter picked up early on that when you study economics you seem to be constantly answering questions about what happens immediately and then finding yourself concerned about what happens in the long run. More than once she observed and remarked that sacrificing longterm benefit for a quick easy fix to a problem was not always the smart thing to do. It sure would be nice if we could all remember that simple truth.

We live in an unbelievably fast-paced society. We literally stand in front of a microwave oven and tap our foot for seconds waiting on a process that would have taken an hour years ago. In my own opinion, the greatest disservice my generation has done to our children is our failure to teach them the virtue of patience or of gratification delayed for greater gain. We could be talking just about anything; the huge economic problems facing our nation or something as simple as our next meal. The issue is really the same; some things take time to do right and some things are worth waiting on. When we ignore that principle we demand immediate satisfaction. If we fail to consider the long-run effects of our choice, we do so at our peril. A very wise man once told me this: If you settle for a quick, cheap and easy fix, you may be satisfied at the moment — you may even feel a bit thrifty — but when it wears out you’ll be dissatisfied every time you pick it up. On the other hand, if you wait till you can afford quality, you will feel a bit extravagant when you buy it and satisfied every time you use it. That’s what happens when we bake a solution with a heavy dose of patience, thought and long-term planning.

So thanks, Peyton, for reminding me of a very important lesson in life. You gave me the pleasure of seeing another young person grasp how this truth can impact society. You will be a top-notch voter. No politician will ever pull the wool over your eyes. By the way, for the record, thanks for letting me help. My nerves have finally settled and I loved the time we spent together!!!  Fred johnson Executive Vice President and General Manager 4 | March/April 2013

“We Keep You Connected” is a member-owned corporation dedicated to providing communications technology to the people of Northeast Alabama. The company has more than 15,000 access lines, making it the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative.

Board of Trustees Randy Wright, President Flat Rock Exchange Gary Smith, Vice President Fyffe Exchange Danny R. Richey, Secretary Geraldine Exchange Lynn Welden, Treasurer Bryant Exchange Kenneth Gilbert Pisgah Exchange Gregg Griffith Henagar Exchange Randy Tumlin Rainsville Exchange

Connected Vol. 17, No. 2

March/April 2013

is a bimonthly magazine published by Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, © 2013. It is distributed without charge to all customers of FTC. Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. P.O. Box 217 144 McCurdy Ave. N. Rainsville, AL 35986 Telephone: 256-638-2144 www.farmerstel.com Produced for FTC by: www.WordSouth.com On the Cover: Ider High School’s Levi Goolesby is a world-ranked powerlifter. Read his story beginning on Page 8.

Fyffe Cheerleaders win first state title

A

t their first meeting of the season when the Fyffe High School cheerleaders set the goal of winning the state championship, they knew reaching their goal would take a lot of hard work. So the girls practiced twice a week over the summer and every day once the school year began. “We make it our priority to do the very best we can and leave no room for regret,” says coach Connie Cochran.

“Then, whatever happens, it was meant to be.”

What happened was the team’s achieving its goal and bringing home Fyffe’s first-ever title at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) State Cheer Competition held at Wallace State in Hanceville.

Fyffe’s team knew the competition would be fierce. “We have a saying: No what-ifs,” says Cochran. “I got that from Ms. Cathy Wells who coached at Ider and won lots of championships. Cheerleading is subjective. You’re being judged, so there is always room for opinion or preference of the ones judging you.”

All of their hard work and determination paid off. The girls beat out seven other 2A squads, including their rival Sand Rock, for top honors.

Cochran is extremely proud of their accomplishment. “I’ve got a great group of girls and they always give their all,” she says. “I’ve also got the most supportive parents we’ve ever had.

Everyone has pulled together and done whatever was necessary.” She also credits much of the success to Natasha Hilley, the junior varsity

by Kerry Scott

coach and her assistant. “She’s been so helpful, we couldn’t have done it without her.”

For her part, Hilley praises the team’s attitude. “What sticks out to me about this group of girls is not just what they did that day on the mat, but what they do every day,” she says.

“Their sportsmanship is amazing, as well as their character at school.”

But while the girls’ hard work won the competition, a smart strategy on Cochran’s part got them in position to win. She planned a routine that only required 15 of the 20 girls on the squad. “It had nothing to do with talent or ability and everything to do with logistics,” says the coach. “If I created a routine that used all 20 girls and something happened to just one of them, we would have been in trouble.”

The plan paid off. Just two weeks before the state competition, one of the team members sprained her ankle. Fortunately, with the setup Cochran had in place, they were prepared.

The cheerleaders ended the year on a high note, but the girls are already looking ahead to next year. If the squad can raise the money needed and get a bid for nationals, they hope to win state again and place in the top five of the nation next year. And their coach knows what can happen when this team sets a goal. “These aren’t just cheerleaders,” says Cochran. “They are highly-skilled athletes.

They have what it takes to attain these goals. I believe in them.” 

We’ve got spirit - For the first time in school history, the Fyffe cheerleaders beat out seven other Class 2A teams to win first place in their division at the AHSAA State Cheer Competition last November.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

Photo courtesy of Paul Uptain

Photos courtesy

of Paul Uptain

2012 Fyffe Cheerleaders Seniors: Breann Gonzales Amber Uptain Juniors: Jesslyn Cochran Carlie Guinn Nicole Gunter Elizabeth Kennamer Ashley Swain Sophomore: Cheyenne Holbrook Freshmen: Jessika Fowler Savannah Johnson Anna Wooten Eighth Graders: Colby Cochran Savannah Guffey Heather Gunter Bailey Holloway Kaley Miller Addison Rains Sagen Thomas Seventh Graders: Isabelle Blackwell Nadia Powell March/April 2013 | 5

Safety Focus

Are you distracted?

Teen’s story highlights dangers of texting behind the wheel

By Stephen V. Smith, Editor

I

t was the middle of May 2009, and Ashley Umscheid had just finished her freshman year at Kansas State University. As the 19-year-old drove down a long, straight stretch of four-lane Kansas highway, she carried on a text message conversation with her sister.

Ashley typed “K” to acknowledge a comment from her sister. In the seconds surrounding that one-letter message, the left tires of her small pickup truck dropped off the left shoulder. Reentering the highway, her vehicle began to flip, ejecting Ashley and strewing her belongings – including her cell phone – along the roadway. She died three days later from her injuries.

While Ashley’s life was cut so tragically short, her story lives on to warn other students of the dangers of texting while driving. “Distracted: The True Story of Ashley Umscheid” is a DVD produced by Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative (FTC) in Rainsville, Ala. It uses interviews with Ashley’s family and friends, along with former high school classmates and a coach, to reveal a young woman ready to begin an exciting new phase of her life.

“We knew it was important for students to see Ashley the way her family and friends saw her,” says Fred Johnson, executive vice president and general manager of FTC. “We wanted them to identify with her and remember her every time they got behind the wheel.”

Once complete, Johnson licensed the video to the Foundation for Rural Service, a non-profit group that works with independent telecommunications companies to offer youth-based programs and educa-

6 | March/April 2013

tional materials. FRS sent copies of the DVD to more than 1,000 phone companies and associated firms throughout the U.S. for them to present in their communities and schools.

The message, however, went well beyond the telecommunications industry. “We have reached a new audience with this DVD,” says Elizabeth Crocker, executive director of FRS. “We had police officers in Kansas calling us, and a Rotary Club in Texas.” Even U.S. Department of Transportation officials have contacted FRS for copies of the DVD. While interest continues to spread outside the industry, Crocker says the independent telecommunications companies have done a great job in sharing Ashley’s story in schools, through community groups and on their local television channels. “These providers are there, living with the folks they serve in the community,” Crocker says. “This is where they chose to live and work, and it’s important to them that their communities are safe and have access to learning opportunities.”

Among those Ashley Umscheid left behind was her uncle, Terry Force. He is board president of his local phone company, Blue Valley Tele-Communications in Kansas, and was recently elected co-president of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). “It is a blessing to see Ashley’s story touch so many lives across the country,” Force says. “This DVD delivers a strong message for young drivers, and we believe it has helped many other families avoid the tragedy that changed our family forever.”

Watch It If you are interested in showing “Distracted” in your school or community group, contact your local telecommunications company. See Page 4 for contact information.

Learn more FRS awards dozens of scholarships to rural students each year. It also sponsors a youth tour where students across the nation visit Washington, D.C., to learn about rural issues and how government works. Learn more about FRS at their website: www.frs.org/about-frs.

Wi-Fi

The key to a broadbandcentric home Having a broadband connection in your home opens the door to fast downloads, streaming video and the other benefits of high-speed Internet. But there is much more to broadband than simply browsing the Web.

T

o help understand this concept, think about broadband in terms of electricity. When electricity first came to the rural regions, residents were excited to light up their evenings with a single light bulb hanging from a cord in the middle of the room. They eventually learned that electricity could bring even more conveniences into their lives when the technology was applied to appliances and gadgets for the kitchen, the living room and the farm.

The same holds true for broadband. A fast Internet connection can open a world of opportunities when extended beyond your computer. And Wi-Fi is the key to expanding those capabilities.

What is WI-FI?

Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity, a set of technical standards that enable devices to transmit and receive information without wires connecting them. It may sound complicated, but the results are empowering. By setting up a wireless network in your home, you can change the way your family enjoys entertainment, makes a living, stays connected and controls the functions of your home.

The Router

The heart of your Wi-Fi network is the router. In the early days of home Internet access, a phone line plugged into a modem

while a second line connected the modem to a single computer. Now the line from your telecommunications company can deliver broadband access to a router, creating a wireless network that can connect any number of devices.

Wireless Network Setup

Some telecommunications companies lease or sell wireless routers to their Internet customers, while others ask customers to purchase a router of their choice from a technology vendor. Either way, setup is simple when following the manufacturer’s instructions. Contact your telecommunications company if you need help with this phase.

Once your wireless network is established, begin by connecting a laptop or a smartphone. Most devices have easyto-find network settings where you will identify and select your new network then enter your router’s password. It really is that simple.

Other Devices

Your laptop and smartphone are just the beginning. There are many devices on the market today that can use your broadband connection over a wireless network to bring greater convenience to your life.

These include: • Tablets and e-readers: Read books, watch videos, browse websites and more.

• Gaming systems: Play video games with and against other enthusiasts from around the world.

• Video players: With devices such as a Blu-ray player, Roku or Apple TV, watch streaming video on your television from paid video services, including Apple’s iTunes, Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime.

• Smart TVs: Skip the extra devices and watch streaming video through your television’s built-in ability to connect to paid video streaming services.

• Surveillance systems: Monitor the activity and security of your home with a simple single-camera setup or a complex system of surveillance equipment.

Coming Soon

There are several household appliances already on the market that take advantage of your broadband Internet connection.

These include washing machines that can be controlled remotely and refrigerators that recommend recipes based on the ingredients in them. As prices come down and features improve, it will become more practical for homeowners to connect and control almost every major function of their home. Create a wireless network in your home now, then add devices and appliances as it becomes affordable and practical to make their features available to your family.  March/April 2013 | 7

World-Class Lifter Ider High School junior wins championships, sets records on way to international competition

I

By Diana LaChance

t’s not unheard of for an athlete to take the skills he has learned from one sport and apply them to another. Bo Jackson, whose strength and speed not only made him a standout on the baseball field, also distinguished himself as a running back on the football field.

Levi Goolesby may not be Bo Jackson, but the Ider High School junior outside linebacker has become something of a sensation in the sport of powerlifting, taking third place at the World Powerlifting Championship in Szczyrk, Poland, in August.

Not that Goolesby ever intended to become a powerlifter. After all, football is his first love. But working out in the weight room one day during his freshman year, Goolesby says he caught the attention of fellow teammate and competitive powerlifter Dillon Blalock.

“He noticed that I was a good lifter and that I had good form,” he says, “so he started coaching me and giving me advice. Then he invited me to come to one of the competitions.” That competition, the Alabama State Power Lifting and Bench Press Championship, was held in February of 2011 in Gulf Shores.

As Goolesby explains, powerlifting competitions consist of three types of lifts. “The first is the bench press, which is where you lie down on the bench and push the bar up. The second is a squat, which is where the bar is on your back and you squat down and stand back up. And the third is the deadlift, which is where the bar is on the ground and you grab it and stand up.”

Each competitor is given three attempts for each lift. “The goal is to lift something easy on your first attempt,” says Goolesby. “On your second attempt, you want to lift something that’s pretty hard but not the maximum. Then, on your third attempt, you have to lift the heaviest one.” Competitors can then medal by either lifting the most weight in a single lift or by lifting the most weight overall.

8 | March/April 2013

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

Goolesby, in the first powerlifting competition of his life, ended up winning the whole thing. “I won first place and set all the records there,” he says, “and that qualified me to go to the Wisconsin High School National Championship in March of the next year.” It also landed him on the radar of one of the most highly respected powerlifting coaches in the industry, Sherman Ledford. As the owner of Quest Nutrition and Athletics, Ledford has coached more than 100 national champions at his 11,000-square-foot training facility in Duluth, Ga. “When I got to the competition on Saturday morning, the Alabama state chair, who is a friend of mine, mentioned to me what Levi did the day before,” says Ledford. “So even though I didn’t get to see him lift, just hearing what he did for someone so young, I wanted to make sure I met him.”

Ledford says he then offered to train Goolesby for the upcoming high school nationals in March. But while Goolesby was honored, he didn’t take Ledford up on it right away. “It took almost a whole year for me to call him,” says Goolesby, “because to be honest I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew so little of the sport and I didn’t know if I could compete at that level.” When he finally did get in touch,

the squat is one of the lifts that Levi set a record in at the High School National Championship in Wisconsin.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

it was nearly too late; nationals were just three months away.

Fortunately, thanks to all the hard work Goolesby had been putting in at the weight room while training for football, he wasn’t far behind. “There’s a lot of crossover with powerlifting in training for football,” says Ledford. “So while he needed to work on some things, like his deadlift, he had a really good base already.”

Ledford attributes much of that to Ider football coach Brent Tinker. “He is someone who absolutely deserves a lot of credit, because when Levi first came to me, his squat was incredible!”

It also helped that Goolesby was very receptive to Ledford’s coaching. “He is really good about listening — if I told him to stand on his head in training, he would do it,” he says. Ultimately, the work paid off; Goolesby not only won the high school nationals in Wisconsin, but also set records at the Teenage National Powerlifting Championship in Orlando that June.

And with that, he was on his way to Poland and the World Powerlifting Championship.

Goolesby was beyond excited at the opportunity. “I felt pretty privileged to be able to go to another country and lift weights with other people and meet athletes from other countries,” he says. He

The deadlift was one of three lifts required at the Junior World Powerlifting Championships in Poland last August.

competed on August 28, his birthday, and placed third overall despite the challenges of crossing several time zones, eating strange food and competing at what would have been 3 a.m. Central Time.

“It is absolutely amazing that he could do so well,” says Ledford. “For someone to go to the world championship in that short a time and place that high and beat people doing the sport their whole life, he’s doing phenomenal.”

And it’s a trend that Ledford can see continuing. “Levi is already a world-class squatter, a world-class bencher, and the only thing really holding him back right now from being considered an elite power lifter is his dead lift,” he says. “And that’s something that comes with time.”

The question is whether or not Goolesby is willing to invest that time, a difficult choice for a young man torn between two sports — his first love of football and his newest love of powerlifting. “I may compete in powerlifting again next year, but I haven’t decided yet,” he says. “This is my senior season of football. I’m not really designed for the sport, but I love it.”

Who knows what will happen after that? After all, says Goolesby, “I’ve met a 66-year-old lifter — and he was very strong!” 

The bench press is Levi’s weakest lift. But he still managed an impressive 258 pounds at the teenage nationals in June 2012.

March/April 2013 | 9

N at i o n a l S e v e r e W e at h e r P r e p a r e d n e ss W e e k i s M a r c h 3 - 9

Ready, Set, Survive Be part of the “Weather-Ready Nation”

By Tony Laiolo

“E

verybody talks about the weather,” goes the old joke, “but nobody does anything about it.” That may have been true in Mark Twain’s time, but these days people are doing quite a bit about the weather, and with good reason — preparing for violent storms can be the difference between life and death.

Our part of the world attracts tornadoes, including some real movers and shakers. According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, EF-5 storms (winds over 200 mph) were until recently a rarity for us, with only nine on record from 1954 through 2010. Then, in April 2011 alone, four of the giants ravaged the Southeast, accounting for more than a third of the 338 tornadorelated deaths that month.

What can you do? Become what NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) calls a “Force of Nature” — taking actions that give yourself, your family and your community a better chance to survive the moment and ride out the aftermath.

The calm voice before the storm

Lisa Spencer, chief meteorologist at Nashville’s WSMV-4, is a big booster Lisa Spencer of storm readiness. She doesn’t just see weather, she sees its effects on people.

“The thing we kept hearing at disaster scenes,” she says, “was ‘I just didn’t know what to do.’ We wanted to address that.”

Spencer and the station’s weather team created “Surviving the Storm,” a free, fun community outreach road show that teaches the “what, why and how” of severe thunderstorms. Using dramatic video, experiments, games and prizes, the team instructs and inspires, one group at a time.

“People do seem to be taking serious weather more seriously, and more and more are preparing for it,” says Spencer, “although some still tend to think ‘it can’t happen to me,’ which of course it can.” 

A week of preparation

Any time is a good time to get ready, but March 3-9, 2013 — NOAA’s National Severe Weather Preparedness Week — is all about helping us become a “Weather-Ready Nation.” With the height of the tornado season near at hand, it’s the perfect time to focus the country’s attention on storm safety and help save lives this very year. It is a time to…

• Know your risk — Learn the alerts and emergency plans for your community. Know the difference between a “watch” and a “warning,” and how to respond to each.

• Make a plan — Decide where you’ll take shelter. Consider your family’s specific medical and assistance needs. Network with neighbors, friends and co-workers.

• Build a kit — Assemble enough water, non-perishable food, medicine and supplies to last at least 72 hours.

• Buy a NOAA Weather Radio — Equip yourself with a life-saver that activates automatically (even with the audio off) when receiving an alarm tone from the National Weather Service.

• Be an example — Once you’ve taken action, share your story with family, with friends and over social media.

10 | March/April 2013

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Your telco is prepared for the threat of bad weather

By Stephen V. Smith, Editor

W

hen severe weather strikes, citizens depend on their telephones, the Internet and television to stay informed and connected.

However, the network of your local telecommunications company, who provides many of these services, is often the victim of storm damage as well.

Knowing their services are critical to public health and safety, telcos across the country dedicate a great deal of time and resources toward preparing for the storms.

“One of our biggest concerns during severe weather is the loss of power,” explains Jason Dandridge, CEO of Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative (Walterboro, S.C.). Being near the Eastern seaboard, the cooperative faces the threat of losing electricity for days when hurricanes hit.

“Almost all of our lines are buried, so we don’t catch the effects of downed poles, Dandridge says. “But we have to keep our remote sites powered.” This requires a good supply of generators, a schedule of employees ready to operate them and enough fuel on hand to keep them running for several days if necessary.

“Portable and fixed generators are critical in the event of a power outage,” adds Jim Cook, general manager of New Hope Telephone Cooperative (New Hope, Ala.).

“Lining up commitments from fuel and service providers in advance can be the difference in being able to keep our network up and running for just a few hours to days and weeks without power.”

geographical issues

In contrast to the flat lands of Palmetto, the service area of Highland Telephone Cooperative (Sunbright, Tenn.) is rocky and hilly. The cooperative’s lines and equipment are therefore almost entirely above ground, attached to poles. “During the winters we can have heavy snows that will take our lines down,” says Mark Pat-

terson, Highland’s general manager. “We have to keep extra materials on hand for our crews to do rebuilds.”

While tornadoes are uncommon there, one did pass through Highland’s service area some eight years ago. Patterson says crews had the materials in place to splice many of the lines where they lay on the ground. “We were able to restore telephone service within a day or so, even in areas where the power companies had not set new poles yet,” he says.

Part of New Hope’s service area is low and surrounded by mountains, making it susceptible to flooding. “Depending on the type of disaster, low-lying buildings may need to be protected from water intrusion,” Cook says.

Phone and Internet lines brought down by a tornado

Phone and Internet lines destroyed by an ice storm

People are key

Regardless of what disasters may come, the employees of your local telecommunications company are the key to protecting the network and restoring your phone, Internet and TV service quickly and safely in the event of an interruption.

“Everyone knows their role when the bad weather comes in,” Dandridge says.

“From operating the generators to dealing with electronic issues, every employee knows their role in our response.”

“Training is important,” adds Patterson.” We make sure our people have the training they need to do the job quickly and safely when severe weather hits.”

“Our employees are our greatest asset, and their safety is our number one priority,” says Cook. “Having a communications plan established so that we can quickly confirm their safety and determine their ability to respond to the recovery efforts is essential.”

From hurricanes to floods to tornadoes and beyond, telcos across the region are prepared to restore critical services in the face of damaging weather. 

Network equipment threatened by flood waters

Are you prepared?

Just like your telecommunications provider, every family should be ready in case of a disaster. Prepare a basic emergency supply kit that includes such items as: • Water • Non-perishable food • NOAA weather radio • Flashlight • Extra batteries • First aid kit • Whistle (to signal for help) • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Manual can opener • Cell phone with chargers For more details, visit:

www.ready.gov/build-a-kit March/April 2013 | 11

Blessings by broadband Faith communities are embracing Internet to fulfill their missions

By Kerry Scott

T

welve years ago when David Patty became the director of associational missions for the Sand Mountain Baptist Association (SMBA), they did not have a website or even email. That meant he was constantly on the phone, attempting to stay in touch with the 30 member churches across Jackson and DeKalb counties.

In a quest to become more efficient and reach more people, Patty says the association created a website, started using email and began a bimonthly e-newsletter. It currently goes out to nearly 500 people in the association, but anyone who would like to stay abreast of what is going on can sign up by visiting www. smbassociation.com and clicking the “Join our email List” link on the home page. The newsletter contains information about what’s going on in the churches, prayer requests, associational meeting dates, mission trip news and more.

The SMBA is one example of how communities of faith throughout Jackson and DeKalb counties are using broadband Internet to fulfill their missions.

According to Patty, the e-newsletter is of vital importance in organizing mission trips. “Jesus said you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world,” he says. He explains that our Jerusalem is right here in Jackson and DeKalb counties, Judea Samaria is Alabama and even our country and then the rest of the world. “We provide relief after storms and natural disasters,” he says. “We have helped build 28 homes and performed hundreds of home repairs after the April 2011 tornadoes.

We sent workers to help up north after Hurricane Sandy. And we will soon be making a trip to Guatemala to give food to the hungry and build homes for people who live in a dump.”

He says that without the Internet, the task of coordinating the

12 | March/April 2013

event with the 31 missionaries from across the association would be nearly impossible. “Something as simple as email and these e-newsletters makes the job much easier. We can let people know about meetings and needs we have without making dozens of time-consuming phone calls.”

Robert Reed, a member of the media team for Nazareth Baptist Church in Rainsville, says his church also sees the usefulness of broadband. “As Christians, we are entrusted with the Gospel and called to share that with the world,” he says. “We need to try to reach out beyond these four walls and share the greatest story ever told with everybody.”

During a recent staff meeting, his church began discussing ways to accomplish that goal. “We have some excellent Bible teachers here,” he says. “I think our pastor, youth pastor and associate pastor all do a great job of teaching the Bible. We wanted to take that message and reach outside the walls of this church, so we started brainstorming ways to make it happen.”

They found their answer in the use of high-speed broadband.

The church had been offering Wi-Fi in the sanctuary for members who preferred using a Bible or note-taking app on their smartphone or tablet device. But a few months ago, the church began live streaming their Sunday morning services and posting archived sermons on the church’s website (www.nazarethbaptistchurch.com). “People can log into our website at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday morning,” Reed explains. “They can click a link and watch our service from home, or a hospital bed or wherever they are right along with us. Or they can wait until later and watch it from the archives.”

He says the setup was extremely easy and cost-efficient.

“Really all it takes is a very basic computer with a high-speed Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

Robert Reed at Nazareth Baptist Church uses an iPhone to live stream the church’s worship services. broadband connection and a camera that will offer input to the computer and audio from the soundboard,” says Reed. He actually uses his iPhone to video each service.

The service they use allows them to live stream for free and pay a nominal fee to have their streams recorded at the same time and archived so they can be pulled up again later.

Members often post links to archived sermons on their personal Facebook pages or Twitter accounts. And while the church hasn’t advertised that they are live streaming services, they already have several dozen people watching the videos each week and expect that number to rise as the word gets out.

Nazareth is also using Facebook to communicate with members. “We’ve got about 450 people who keep up with us through our Facebook page,” says Reed.

“We average about 250 in attendance on any given Sunday, and we’re able to get the word out to many more when we post something on Facebook. Several of those following us are past members who have moved away, missionaries serving in other countries and even students away at college. It’s a great way for them to stay informed about what’s going on at church Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

and keep in touch.”

Like Nazareth, Fyffe Church of God (FCOG) is on mission to reach people outside of their church. Brent Rains, the worship arts minister at FCOG, says the church’s vision statement is Experience God Now. “Our pastor has an incredible vision and is doing a great job sharing that with the church,” he says. “Throughout this year we want to focus on our church as not just these four walls but a group of people we are training inside them and then sending out in the community.”

Rains sees his job as providing the pastor with the tools needed to make his point during each worship service. “That could be a song as a precursor to the sermon or a video or photos shown at a certain point in the message,” says Rains. But whatever it is, he’s most likely using the high-speed broadband in preparation.

“Of course, I use Facebook and email to communicate with members of my team,” he says. “I also spend hours on the Internet almost every day,” he says. “If I’m not arranging music, I’m probably online. Any research I’m doing requires Internet. The media team utilizes mini-movies, motion backgrounds and more from a company called Shift Worship. We purchase and download directly from their website.

I also download all of my chord charts for any music I need through our CCLI license.”

The church also uses its website,

www.fyffecog.com, to share audio files from past sermons, information about their many ministries and a calendar of events.

“We’re in the process of updating the site now and hope to make it a more useful tool,” says Rains.

Back at Nazareth, Reed says his pastor used a great analogy to explain the real power of broadband and its usefulness.

In John 14:12 Jesus told his disciples that if they had faith in him they would do what He did and even greater things.

“Our pastor, Roger Graham, said that we know Jesus met many people, performed many miracles and by his feeding of five thousand we know he spoke to thousands at a time,” he says. “By using the Internet we have the power to reach even more people around the world. Perhaps that’s one way Jesus meant we could do greater things. Perhaps by greater he meant more far-reaching.”  Brent Rains, worship arts minister at Fyffe Church of God, says broadband is useful in many areas of the ministry.

david patty says the Internet plays an important role in helping him stay connected with the 30 churches that are part of the Sand Mountain Baptist Association.

March/April 2013 | 13

Southern Kitchens It's more than just a side dish I was born and raised in the South and have always considered myself a good Southern cook, save one thing: before judging the National Cornbread Cook-Off and seeing the amazing things that could be done with cornbread, it was never on my table.

As a cook-off judge though, I’ve witnessed and tasted it prepared in many ways and one thing always stays the same: the cornbread is served as an entrée, not just a piece slathered with butter. One of my favorites was made with shrimp and cream. While it may sound a little strange, it worked and won first place some years ago.

In the midst of all the goingson at the National Cornbread Festival, there’s a gathering of cooks committed to wearing the cornbread crown. No small feat, as each cook/finalist has been chosen from thousands of entries by cornbread mix company Martha White, which sponsors the cook-off along with Lodge Manufacturing, maker of cast iron cookware.

This year’s festival is lining up to be a great one. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Anne P. Braly Food Editor Email Anne Braly at apbraly@gmail.com.

14 | March/April 2013

America's best cornbread

C

ornbread is a favorite in Melanie McCoy’s home.

And for good reason: McCoy is an expert at it. So good, in fact, she took first-place honors in last year’s National Cornbread Cook-Off, held annually in the small town of South Pittsburg, Tenn.

At the age of 52, McCoy looks back on her childhood days of cooking as inspiration for her win. “I was an adventurous eater, and that’s what you have to be in order to be a good cook.”

McCoy’s win came after three previous attempts at being crowned cornbread queen, one of the first three garnering a secondplace win in 2000 for her Shrimp Creole Cornbread. For her 2012 attempt, she decided to add a twist to her favorite shrimp cakes, NATIONAL WINNER— Melanie McCoy of Knoxville, Tenn. (center) won the 2012 National Cornbread Festival cookusing cornmeal rather than bread crumbs and serving it with a dol- off. Pictured on left is Bob Kellermann, chairman and CEO of event co-sponsor Lodge Manufacturing. On right lop of her tried-and-true mango salsa. “So many of my recipes are is Linda Carmen, spokesperson for event co-sponsor Martha White. twists on old favorites,” she says.

Her “a-little-of-this-and-a-littleof-that” method won her top honors, a new stove and $5,000.

McCoy is a native of Michigan, where cornbread is not a staple as it is in many kitchens of the South. But a Southern grandmother introduced it to her as a child. Since then, she’s found that it goes well beyond a simple bread with dinner. “It’s gone mainstream,” she says, adding that all the new mixes make it a versatile product that can go from side dish to main dish with the addition of a few key ingredients.

“It’s really quite amazing,” she says.

As a veteran of the National Cornbread Cook-Off, McCoy has seen the competition grow from an event of homespun flavor to one of a more serious, intense nature. “Contestants come from all around the country now,” she says. “It’s a fun time. It’s just amazing to me to see South Pittsburg grow from a few thousand to more than 50,000 on the weekend of the festival. It’s all a community effort. I call South Pittsburg ‘the little town that could.’”

And it does. Every year. 

If you go...

This year’s festival will be held the weekend of April 27-28. The cook-off will be held on Saturday, April 27, on the town square. For more information, visit www.nationalcornbread.com.

Cornbread: An award-winning treat This winning recipe from the 2012 National Cornbread Festival was created by Melanie McCoy of Knoxville, Tenn. “The judges all worked diligently to select a winner,” says Bob Kellermann, chairman and CEO of event co-sponsor Lodge Manufacturing.

Sweet Cornbread Shrimp Cakes with Mango Salsa Cornbread: 1 (7-ounce) package Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread and Muffin Mix 1/2 cup milk 1 egg, beaten Mango Salsa: 3 cups peeled and chopped mango (2 to 3 mangoes) 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion Juice of 1 large lime Pinch salt 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Shrimp Cakes: 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 1 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled, deveined and coarsely chopped 3 teaspoons seafood seasoning 2 large eggs, beaten 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup chopped cilantro Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste Butter for cooking shrimp cakes Lemon wedges and parsley for garnish

Bake cornbread mix according to package directions, using milk and 1 egg. Cool and crumble.

Stir together salsa ingredients.

Allow to sit for 30 minutes.

Serve or refrigerate until serving time.

Heat butter over medium heat in 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Cook celery and 1⁄2 cup chopped red onion until tender, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer celery and onion to large bowl. Stir in shrimp, seafood seasoning, 2 eggs, mayonnaise, cilantro, salt and pepper. Stir in crumbled cornbread until well

blended. Using about 1⁄3 cup, form mixture into 12 shrimp cakes about 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.

Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium heat. Cook shrimp cakes until lightly browned and shrimp turn pink, about 4 minutes on each side. Cook remaining shrimp cakes, adding additional butter as needed. Place cakes on a serving platter.

Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley. Serve with Mango Salsa.

March/April 2013 | 15

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