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December 5 - 18, 2014
AthensNowal.com
E-MAIL: [email protected]
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Ali: 256-468-9425
Deborah: 256-309-9399
Nina’s Place Home
Furnishings: “We
Don’t Carry A Brand,
We Make It By Hand!”
See Our Listings Inside this edition...
Pages 25 - 32
All Things Soldier
The Legend
That Was Louie
Zamperini...
Louie Zamperini
literally faced down
many enemies in
his near century
of life, including
Adolph Hitler, Josef
Goebbels, Japanese
prison camps and
maniacal... Page 4
Clean And Green
KALB Displays Butts
On The Square...
If you have spent
any time on the
Athens Courthouse
Square during the
last few weeks,
then you probably
saw KALB’s giant
butts...
Page 12
By Ali Elizabeth Turner
Back in 2009, while driving down Hwy 72 W near Dupree Worthey
Road, I noticed a sign and some furniture pieces displayed outdoors
that caused me to turn straight into the driveway of Nina’s Place
Home Furnishings. This is because they had the unmistakable look
Betsy Poppell,
of Nina’s Place
Continued on pages 15
McGuire Plumbing:
“We Won’t Drain
Your Wallet”
Jerry’s Journal
On the Possum’s Trail
With Jimmie “Two Hills”...
One day in 1974, Country
Music legend George
Jones called Jimmie Hills’
barber shop and made an
appointment. “No Show”
Jones didn’t ...
Page 21
December 5 - December 18, 2014
By Ali Elizabeth Turner
I chuckled out loud when Kevin McGuire gave me
his business card and I read the tag line. We met at
the buildings being renovated on Market Street and
just north of the Courthouse Annex where he and
his crew were working. Truly a promise given by a
Continued on page 17
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Page 2
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December 5 - December 18, 2014
Publisher’s Point
Natalie’s Cakes And More,
One Sweet Thing To Come
Out Of Ferguson
Publisher / Editor
Ali Turner
Sales
Deborah Huff
Graphic Design
Jonathan Hamilton
Web Design
Teddy Wolcott
Delivery
Hunter Williams
Contributing Writers
Shelley Underhill
Wanda Campbell
Janet Hunt
Teresa Todd
Joel Allen
Brian Black
Lynne Hart
Rachel Clark, RN, BSN
Jerry Barksdale
My dear friend and Juice Plus
upline sponsor, Carrie Radnov,
was a guest in my home when
Ferguson, MO blew up the first
time over the death of 18-yearold Michael Brown. She is a
resident of St Louis, and she
had to reroute her drive home
due to the rioting. In addition,
she had considerable concern
for her daughter’s safety, as
her daughter lives in Ferguson
only a few blocks where some
of the worst incidents have occurred.
Carrie’s heart for her town
was burdened, and the night of
the DA’s announcement was
going to be a long one. We
prayed that cool heads would
prevail, and that God would
bring good out of the grand
jury’s findings. Sadly, things
blew up, and as of this writing, the situation continues
to be volatile. Nevertheless,
there has been one story out of
Ferguson that has a true silver
lining, that of a bakery known
as Natalie’s Cakes and More.
The night the announcement
was made in regard to the
grand jury’s decision to not
press charges against the officer who shot Brown, I sat in
Natalie Dubose invested everything she had in order to
open her bakery this past June.
Her shop was one of the casualties of the riots, and there
star Brandi Glandville, along
with talk show host Rush Limbaugh were among those who
got the word out.
To everyone’s shock, in a matter of a few days, over $230,000
was raised, significantly more
than what would be needed to
rebuild the bakery. “Thank you
to actresses Patricia Heaton
and Brandi Glanville for supporting me!” Dubose said. “I
must have missed thousands
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3
All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6
What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8
Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12
Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13
Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14
Cover Stories . . . . . . . . . 15 & 17
Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18
Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . 20
Jerry’s Journal . . . . . . . . 21
my living room, she in hers,
and we texted back and forth
as we listened to the District
Attorney read his measured
statement. While the grand
jury’s conclusions seemed
more than reasonable, given
the evidence, it did not mean
that the rule of law would triumph.
Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22
Security Savvy . . . . . . . . . 23
December 5 - December 18, 2014
was no way she was going to
be able to fulfill her orders for
baked goods for Thanksgiving. A website was opened
where people could donate to
help Natalie rebuild her shop,
and through a most positive
use of mass media, Natalie’s
plight went viral. Actress Patricia Heaton and reality show
of other tweets, and I’m so
sorry I can’t mention them all.
The sweet lady who offered
money from her social security check brought me to tears.
… Thank you to EVERYONE
for the kind words, prayers,
and emotional support.”
Not only has the outpouring
been generous, it has also been
speedy. In the first 20 hours
the site was opened, more than
$100,000 was raised. Natalie
has been wonderfully overwhelmed by the generosity of
everyday Americans. She said,
“I would [like to] thank everyone for their warm wishes,
empathy, and support during
this crazy difficult time.”
While it may be that our
prayers for Ferguson were not
answered in the way we had
hoped, in a way this answer
is even “sweeter.” Why? Because in this hour where some
people’s desire is to cause
strife, no one would know the
extent of the generosity of loving Americans of every color
if Natalie had not suffered
loss. Indeed, lemonade has
been made out of bitter lemons, and it looks like it will be
served with one of Natalie’s
cakes for all of us to enjoy for
years to come.
Ali Elizabeth Turner
Athens Now
Information & Inspiration
256-468-9425
[email protected]
Website:
www.athensnowal.com
athensnowal.com
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Page 3
All Things Soldier
The Legend That Was
Louie Zamperini
by Ali Elizabeth Turner
Louie Zamperini literally faced
down many enemies in his
near century of life, including
Adolph Hitler, Josef Goebbels,
Japanese prison camps and
maniacal torturers, juvenile
delinquency, alcoholism and
PTSD. By God’s saving grace
and discovering the power of
forgiveness, he beat them all.
There have been several books
written about his extraordinary
life of triumph, the most recent
entitled Unbroken, written by
Laura Hillenbrand, New York
Times bestselling author of
Seabiscuit. On Christmas Day,
the film version of Unbroken
will be released, and if it is
anything close to accurate in
portraying this shining example of the Greatest Generation,
it will be a splendid gift to “unwrap” time and time again.
Zamperini was born in 1917
in New York to Italian immigrants. In 1919 they moved to
California, and he found himself being bullied due to the
fact that he did not yet speak
English. As a result, while in
school he became a scrappy
fighter. While he was a quick
study in regard to English, he
began to get into trouble and
was headed for an early career
as a juvenile delinquent. It was
he surrendered, he was “all in”
for the rest of his life. The most
dramatic aspect of his conversion story had to do with learning the power of forgiveness,
and once he forgave his captors, he says that he “never had
another nightmare.” Now, it is
one thing to forgive one’s tormentors a half a world away
from them, but it is another
to make several trips to Japan
to hug them and give them
a chance to hear the gospel.
Louie made a point of going
to the Japanese prisons where
his older brother Pete, himself
a track star, who was the first to
come to the rescue of his little
brother. Pete encouraged Louie
to join him in track and field,
which helped to straighten
Louie out. Early on in his adolescent track career, Louie began to set records, some which
stood for years.
Lou was the recipient of a full
track scholarship to the University of Southern California, and
ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His performance garnered
him a face-to-face with Hitler
and Goebbels, Hitler referring
to him as “the boy with the
fast finish.” He enlisted in the
Army Air Corps, and while on
a search and rescue mission,
his plane crashed, killing 8 of
the 11 onboard. For 47 days
he and the other two survivors
were adrift, fighting sharks,
surviving on small amounts
of rainwater and fish, and on
the 33rd day, one of them
died. Then they were captured
by the Japanese when their
raft came ashore on one of the
Marshall Islands.
For two years, until the end
of the war in 1945, he was in
Vietnam Veterans of America
(Chapter 511)
$7
December 16th
11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm
17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029
Page 4
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several Japanese camps and
the recipient of unspeakable
torments, including “medical
experimentation.” After the
camps were liberated, he experienced what so many of our
troops do, a period of euphoria, followed by depression,
substance abuse, and the rest
of the gambit of symptoms that
we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
He married, had two kids, and
his drinking took a huge toll
on his relationship with his
wife. He was tormented by
nightmares, sometimes dreaming that he was strangling his
captors. His wife attended a
Billy Graham crusade and became born again. At first Lou
was highly resistant, but once
his captors were serving terms
for war crimes, spoke to them
through an interpreter, and several became Christians.
He went on to be an inspirational speaker, an author, ran
a camp for troubled kids, and
just recently passed at the age
of 97. He was known for his
sense of humor, his boundless
energy, and finally quit snow
skiing at the age of 91.
There are fewer and fewer
of the Greatest Generation
amongst us, and soon they will
all be gone. Let us learn well
from them as well as from
Louie regarding how to be
“unbroken,” and do what we
can to carry on their legacy. We
owe it to them.
December 5 - December 18, 2014
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December 5 - December 18, 2014
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Page 5
Calendar of Events
Downtown Athens Christmas Window Contest
Through Dec 12th
Downtown Athens, AL. Stroll the participating merchants and pick
your favorite for the “People’s Choice”. Voting is from Dec 2nd
- 9th and winner will be announced Dec 10th. To vote on your
favorites, visit the Spirit of Athens Christmas Window Decorating
Contest Facebook Page.
Polar Express at Whistle Hollow Farms
Through Dec 17th
Whistle Hollow Farms, 701 Lofton Hall Road, Ardmore, TN.
Choose from either 9:00AM or 12:00PM, Monday-Friday for an
adventure on the farm. Enjoy the Polar Express on the big screen
with hot chocolate and homemade cookies. There will be a special
guest and souvenir to take thome too. School groups, day cares and
parents with children at home are welcome - groups of 100-125
can be accommodated. Cost is $6.00 per person. Enjoy lunch for
an additional $2.00 per person. For more information or to make a
reservation: 931-638-3501 or [email protected]
We Love Pam Shopping Extravaganza
Dec 6th
10 a.m. til 2 p.m. Athens Tourism Office, located at 100 N. Beaty
Street, Athens, AL. Do your Christmas Shopping and help Pamela
and Mike Blackburn at the same time. For information please contact
Mary Wimbs @ 256-758-1324.
Elkmont Lions Club Christmas Parade
Dec 6th
Old Fashioned Christmas in Rogersville
and Yule Log Ceremony
Dec 6th
Historic Rogersville Presbyterian Church 1889 Dements Street,
Rogersville, AL Join the Rogersville Historical Preservation
Committee for this free event at 7:00PM following the parade.
There will be several musical selections from local children and
vocalist along with a traditional Yule Log Ceremony on the grounds
of the church.
Bells of Christmas Holiday Home Tour
Dec 7th
The Athens Ladies Civitan Bells of Christmas Tour of Homes,
Decmeber 7th from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the following
locations: Crawford’s Gifts, First National Bank (Hwy 72), Haley
Marie’s, KALB office, Nestle Toll House Cafe, Pablo’s On the
Square, Pam’s Home Furnishings, Pimento’s, Shea Leigh’s, and
Trinity of Athens. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of event. 5
of Limestone County’s exclusive homes will be open for touring.
Call 256-233-0258 for information.
Christmas Makes Everything New Concert
Dec 7th
Wooley Springs Baptist Church. 28025 Bethel Road, Toney, AL.
Join the Wooley Springs Baptist Church Choir at 2:30PM or 6:00PM
for this Christmas Choir Musical For more information: 256-4233494.
The Light of Christmas Concert
Dec 8th
Elkmont, AL. Join the Elkmont Lions Club for Christmas cheer
and to welcome Santa to Elkmont. More information to come. To
register your float, marching band, group or individual participant,
please call 256-732-4211.
First Christian Church, 400 West Market Street, Athens, AL. Come
clebrate the season with The Heritage Children’s Chorale with Mary
Stephenson, Founder-Director at 7:30PM. Admission: Free.
AHS JROTC Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk
Dec 6th
Ardmore Christmas Parade
Dec 9th
Athens High School, 100 U.S. Highway 31N, Athens, AL. More
details to come. Contact Chief James Chambers at (256) 233-6619
or [email protected] for more details.
Christmas Tour of Homes
Dec 6th
Join the Friends of the Ardmore Public Library from 3PM-7PM
for tour of local homes decked in their holiday finest. Homes to
be toured include: Alish Schrimsher, Cecelia and Andy Hargrove,
Ronny Cornelison, Elayne Shannon, Ginger and Kevin Dunn and
Mattie and Jerry Lipham. Tickets are $10 and can be picked up
from an Ardmore Friends of the Library Member, Ardmore Public
Library, Ardmore City Hall, Ardmore Town Hall and First National
Bank in Ardmore.
Page 6
Ardmore AL/TN. Santa is coming to Ardmore with floats, marching
bands and more. This year’s theme will be “Melodies of Christmas”.
Line up starts at Ardmore High School at 5:00PM, parade starts at
6:30PM and marches down AL-251 to AL-53 To register your float,
marching band, group or individual participants, please call 256423-3011 or 931-427-2421.
Santa’s Mailbox and Sleigh Visits
Dec 10th - 24th
Ardmore Town Hall (Bryan House). 26494 First Street, Ardmore,
AL. Grab the letters to Santa Claus and your little one’s and head to
Santa’s Mailbox to drop them off. Elves will check the box daily.
Be sure to bring your camera and take photos at Santa’s sleigh too.
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December 5 - December 18, 2014
Jesus
is the Reason for the Season!
Drucilla’s
300 North
Marion Street
Athens, AL,
35611
256-497-7279
Hours: M-F
10:30-2
Facebook:
Drucilla’s
Southern
Satellites
southernsat.getdish.com
26978 Hwy 72 E.
232-6445
AUTHORIZED
RETAILER
Complete
Property
Maintenance, LLC
256-497-6447
www.completepropertymaintenance.org
[email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Complete PM LLC
Twitter: /@ CPM_LLC
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Wishing you peace, love &
joy this Christmas and a
Happy New Year
Country Lane Discount
16800 Hwy 72 • Athens, AL
256-216-5666
December 5 - December 18, 2014
www.athensnowal.com
256-335-4356
Specializing in:
Layout & Design
Pulications
Logo Design
Web Graphics
Menu Design
Page 7
What Makes Ronnie Roll
The Rotarian, Kareem, And Eureka!
by Ali Elizabeth Turner
This is the first in a series
of “Ronnies” that will be
keyed off of several outstanding articles published
in the Rotarian, the magazine put out by Rotary Club
International. As is the
case with any service organization that is meeting
the needs of its members,
the Rotarian has many articles written on leadership
and personal development.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the
famed 7’2” superstar who
played basketball for de-
Page 8
cades, first for the Milwaukee Bucks, then for the
Los Angeles Lakers, wrote
an article entitled, Eureka!
The Four Elements Behind
Every Great Invention. The
article is a good one, and it
generated lively discussion
between the two of us.
First, we dated ourselves.
I first asked, “Remember
when he was Lew Alcindor?” “I sure do,” replied
the Mayor. Lew was a full
two feet taller than I ever
was, let alone when, as a
seasoned citizen, I began
to shrink significantly. The
idea of being over 7 feet
tall is something I will
never be able to get my
head around. At some point
Lew decided to change his
name to Kareem, went on
to have a long, amazing
career, and retired as an
undisputed NBA giant in
every regard.
Kareem mentioned in his
article something that he
learned from his mentor,
UCLA Coach John Wooden. He has applied Wooden’s statement to his own
life ever since he left the
collegiate basketball court.
“Things turn out the best
for the people who make
the best of the way things
turn out.” While no one
disputes the importance of
positive thinking as a foundation for anything that is
successfully creative, what
spoke to Mayor Ronnie
www.athensnowal.com
was the fact that Kareem
had distilled out four
other elements that went
far beyond the “glass that
is half full.” They are behind every great invention that has blessed our
lives, and become a part of
how we function daily. Of
inventors and their inventions, Kareem says, “…
real accomplishment was
the result of observation,
imagination, commitment,
and discipline.”
Observation means more
than just being situationally aware; it means taking
a detailed look at what can
happen. From the standpoint of basketball, it means
not just knowing where
your opponents are, it’s anticipating where they’ll be
“three seconds from now.”
Imagination, as Mayor
Ronnie said, “is what gets
the inventors somewhere.”
Commitment is what gave
Thomas Edison the stuff to
press through over 15,000
“failed” experiments before the light bulb effectively went on. Kareem
spoke of African American inventors whose inventions saved lives, but
they were never given
credit for it. It was clear
that public adulation, (or
the lack of it,) was not
what motivated them, and
in spite of tremendous
odds, they went on to be
successful. Discipline is
something Kareem spent
a good deal of the article discussing, because,
by his own admission,
he never saw himself
as having all that much
raw talent. He described
himself as a young man
as a “greyhound running
across a freshly waxed
floor.” However, it took
literally years of daily
practice under Wooden’s
tutelage to become the
player who had one of the
longest careers in NBA
history. “Being tall put
me on the court, but being disciplined kept me
winning on the court,” he
said.
All of these are highly important points to consider,
whether for an inventor,
a city, or a Mayor, and
they can be applied to any
problem. “From basketball, to life, to church, to
Rotary,” said the Mayor,
“this is what makes for
a truly ‘seamless city.’”
We talked about what
the wonderful things Rotary is doing, both here in
Athens, and all over the
world, then we prayed.
Then he had to “roll,” this
time to Birmingham.
December 5 - December 18, 2014
December 5 - December 18, 2014
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Page 9
Tourism
What A Wonderful Life
by Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
Remember reading the Polar
Express as a child and wanting to hear the ringing bells
of Santa sleigh? Now through
December 17th, you and your
family can experience the Polar Express at Whistle Hollow Farms located at 701 Lofton Hall Road, Ardmore, TN.
You can choose either 9:00AM
or 12:00PM, Monday-Friday
for an adventure on the farm.
Enjoy the Polar Express on the
big screen with hot chocolate
and homemade cookies. Make
a lasting family memory. Admission is $6 per person. Enjoy lunch for an additional $2
per person. Contact 931-6383501 or whistlehollowfarm@
att.net to make a reservation.
Street, Ardmore, TN, Ardmore
Town Hall 26704 Main Street,
Ardmore, AL, or First National
Bank 26591 Main Street, Ardmore, TN.
The Belle Mina Station
Christmas Open House will
be held December 6th at 6855
Mooresville Road, Belle Mina,
AL. Bring your list and enjoy
the Belle Mina Station for a
little holiday shopping, cheer,
and light refreshments from
10AM to 5M. Call 256-3557059 for more information.
held on December 7th in Athens, AL. Five prominent Athens
homes will be dressed up for
the holidays and open for touring from 1PM to 5PM. Each
home will have delicious sweet
treats provided by local caterers
for your enjoyment. This is a
self-guided tour with hostesses
at each home. Advanced tickets
are $15 and can be purchased
at Nestle Toll House U.S. 72-
rale with Mary Stephenson,
Founder-Director. First Christian Church is located on 400
West Market Street in Athens,
AL. Concert begins at 7:30PM
with free admission.
6:30PM-9PM as they reenact
the birth of Jesus in this annual
walk-through production. For
more information visit www.
mablehillbaptist.org/bethlehem.html
The Ardmore Christmas Parade will be held on December
9th in Ardmore AL/TN. Santa is
coming to Ardmore with floats,
marching bands, and more. This
year’s theme will be “Melodies
Visit Historic Mooresville,
AL, for the Holiday Home
Tour and Progressive Dinner. They are putting on their
holiday finest, and invite you
to enjoy the season with them
on December 13th. Bright,
fresh greenery and red bows
decorate the street signs. Della Robbia wreaths colorfully
deck the public buildings, and
homes are decorated in the
traditions of Christmas past.
Reserve your space on this exclusive tour that will visit locations and homes from 2PM
until 7PM. Cost is $65.00 per
person. For more information,
or to make reservations, go to
www.mooresvilleal.com/progressive-dinner.
Hand-bell Artist, Danny
Lyons, with Bellissimo
Hand-bell Quartet will be
performing December 7th
at McCandless Hall, Athens
State University 300 North
The Mooresville Mercantile
Holiday Open House will be
held on Dec 5th & 6th located
at 5081 Mooresville Road,
Mooresville, AL. You will be
impressed by the all American-made wares and goods
available to fill your stockings
or heap under the Christmas
tree. Go to www.mooresvillemercantile.com/special-events
for more information.
The Elkmont Lions Club
Christmas Parade on December 6th begins at 1PM with the
theme “A Disney Christmas”
in Elkmont, AL. After the Elkmont Parade, continue the celebration of Christmas with the
Ardmore Christmas Tour
of Homes starting from 3PM
till 7PM. Sponsored by the
Friends of the Ardmore Public
Library, enjoy the tour of local homes decked in their holiday finest. Homes to be toured
include Alisha Schrimsher,
Cecelia and Andy Hargrove,
Ronny Cornelison, Elayne
Shannon, Ginger and Kevin
Dunn, and Mattie and Jerry
Lipham. Purchase your $10
tickets from the Ardmore Public Library located on 25836
Main Street, Ardmore TN, Ardmore City Hall 25844 Main
Page 10
The Annual Spirit of Athens
Sippin’ Cider will be held December 13th on the Downtown
Square in Athens, AL from
5PM to 8PM. Enjoy samples
of cider from participating
merchants and vote by ballot
for your favorite. The cider
receiving the most votes wins
bragging rights for the year.
The ballots will also serve as
an entry to one of many door
prizes to be given away.
Beaty Street, Athens, AL. Sponsored by the Livingston Concert
& Lecture Series and the Center
for Lifelong Learning, enjoy this
special concert featuring Danny
Lyons as he rings an entire 3
octave set of hand bells - 37
in all. He will be joined by the
Bellissimo Hand-bell Quartet.
Concert starts at 3PM. Limited
seating available for this free
event. For ticket information,
contact the Center for Lifelong
Learning at 256-233-8262.
The Athens Ladies Civitan
Holiday Tour of Homes will be
Athens, Shea Leigh’s on Hwy
72-Athens, Pimentos downtown
Athens, 1st National Bank U.S.
72-Athens, Hallie Marie’s next
to 306BBQ on U.S. 72-Athens,
and Keep Athens-Limestone
Beautiful East Street-Athens.
Tickets at the door will be $20.
For more information contact
Carolyn Stair, 256-233-0258.
Join First Christian Church on
December 8th as they celebrate
the season with “The Light
of Christmas Concert” with
The Heritage Children’s Cho-
www.athensnowal.com
of Christmas.” Line up starts
at Ardmore High School at
5PM, parade starts at 6:30PM,
and marches down AL-251 to
AL-53. To register your float,
marching band, group, or individual participants, please
call 256-423-3011 or 931-4272421.
Experience the unique Bethlehem Walk at Mable Hill
Baptist Church located on
3778 Ready Section Road, Ardmore, AL on December 5th-7th
and December 12th-14th from
Make your plans now to attend
Yesterday’s Rockin’ New
Year’s Eve Variety Show at
the Yesterday’s Event Center
located on 15631 Brownsferry
Road, Athens, AL. Don your
partywear and come enjoy a
night of your favorite music.
RSVP to [email protected].
Visit us at the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Office
located at 100 N. Beaty Street,
Athens, AL. for information
on upcoming events, attractions, hotels and restaurants.
To learn more about Limestone
County, please visit us online
at www.VisitAthensAL.com or
call 256-232-5411.
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Visit smart.athens.edu to get started.
Collins
Supply
17616 U S Hwy 72 Athens, AL 35611 (256) 232-3498
ENTER TO WIN!
$1000
Shopping Giveaway
collinssupply.biz
December 5 - December 18, 2014
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Page 11
Clean and Green
KALB Displays Butts On The Square
by Lynne Hart
If you have spent any time
on the Athens Courthouse
Square during the last few
weeks, then you probably
saw KALB’s giant butts on
display.
Now I know some of us may
resemble that remark, but I
am referring to giant cigarette butts! These giant butts
were created and placed next
to each of the new metal bell
ash receptacles purchased
by KALB with grant money
awarded through the Keep
America Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program and a donation from
T.R.A.I.L. (Together Renewing and Improving Limestone).
The amount of poisons in
these butts may seem miniscule; however, when you
consider that TRILLIONS are
tossed, flicked, and squished
annually, that adds up to a
LOT of poisons. According to
CigaretteLitter.org, smoking
materials are the most littered
item on earth and add up to
millions of pounds per year.
We recognize that cigarette litter is an environmental issue,
not a smoking issue -- just
the same as soda manufacturers having no control over the
consumer’s decision to litter
drink containers. We respect
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks
helping to get the message out
“just the facts”, here are some
facts and statistics you can
share with your friends and
relatives that smoke who may
need a reminder. Peer pressure
works on grownups, too!
We are all so busy that we
may not notice the amount
of cigarette litter that exists.
That is exactly why this cigarette litter awareness program
was developed. KALB hopes
these giant cigarette butts
will call attention to the location of the new ash receptacles and bring awareness to
the dangers this type of litter
causes. Each of the cigarette
butts contains an individual
fact about cigarette litter.
Cigarette litter is very small
and often overlooked or
equated with being harmless.
That couldn’t be further from
the truth. Cigarette filters are
made from tiny strands of
plastic so small some people
think they are made from
cotton. They will remain in
the environment a very long
time. The filters are designed
to trap the chemicals and
poisons in burning tobacco.
When the filters are littered,
they will find their way into
ditches and waterways where
the poisons wash out of them
and into the ecosystem.
Page 12
• Smoking in the United States
has decreased by 28% over
that last 10 years, but remains
the most littered item.
• Dropping, flicking, and stuffing filters in planters is littering and is against the law. The
act warrants a citation.
the right of a person to smoke.
Our goal is to provide enough
information so that smokers
can make educated choices
about discarding their waste
once the cigarette has been
smoked.
Here is a list of just a few of
the chemicals found in cigarette filters:
• Methanol
• Arsenic
• Butane
• Cadmium
• Stearic Acid
• Toluene
• Nicotine
• Ammonia
These chemicals and more find
their way into our aquatic ecosystems and endanger the living things that make the water
their home. They are also very
toxic to wildlife that mistake
them for food, as well as toddlers who often put things in
their mouths.
For those of you that prefer
www.athensnowal.com
• Littered cigarette butts cause
fires. Did you ever wonder
how the grass fire you saw on
the side of the road got started?
• 63% of cigarette butt littering is attributable to a lack of
awareness about the environmental impact and insufficient
ash receptacles. KALB is
working to solve both problems through the purchase
of ash receptacles and our
awareness program.
• Residents and businesses
“pick up” the tab. Cigarette
litter creates a need for more
street and sidewalk sweeping,
greenway and park cleaning,
and storm drain cleaning.
• Auto manufacturers no longer put ashtrays in vehicles,
which causes a dilemma.
Contact or visit the KALB
office and we will provide
smokers with portable ash
receptacles that fit in a drink
holder. We also have pocket
ashtrays that will safely hold
a cigarette butt until an ash
receptacle is found.
Please share this information
as often as you can because
knowledge is key to changing behaviors. Watch for our
giant butts to show up again.
Cigarette butts, that is!
(256) 233-8728
[email protected]
www.KALBCares.com
Become a Fan
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Cooking with Shelley
Sausage Balls
by Shelley Underhill
Ms. Clara (my daughter) is at it again in the kitchen…
Not so long ago I was awakened to the aroma of something baking
in the oven. I couldn’t put my finger on what it might be, but I
knew it was gonna be good! As I stumbled towards the kitchen,
there she was...in full flight. She had a pan of sausage balls in the
oven, she was rolling out more and she had this neat basket lined
with cheese cloth to put them in (the basket reminded me of little
Red Riding Hood). She was making them for her coworkers.
She reported to me that afternoon
that they were a hit!
She also shared the recipe with me...
HEHEHE. They are very easy to
make and keep well in their raw state. Because the recipe made
more than what I needed at the time, I kept half of the mixture for
later.
Hope you enjoy them as much as we did. They will be on my holiday
menu.
What you will need:
1 pound bulk sausage ~ mild or spicy (your choice)
3 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar
1 cup parmesan cheese
3 1/2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
A pinch of garlic powder
3 tablespoons parsley
Mix together well all ingredients. Shape and roll into
balls the size of a golf ball. Place on a greased sheet
pan with sides. Bake on 350 for 20 minutes or until
light brown.
December 5 - December 18, 2014
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Page 13
Health and Fitness
Tips For Eating Out
by Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.
If you are trying to eat
healthy or just trying to
shed a few pounds, one of
my first recommendations
is do not eat out more
than one or two times per
week. Work or social obligations may sometimes
make this difficult. If you
find yourself eating out
frequently, here are a few
tips to follow.
•Check out the menu
ahead of time. If you
know where you are going, pull up the menu
online and check out the
healthy choices. Look for
items that are lower in
sodium and lower in calories. Some restaurants
have calories listed. If you
know ahead of time what
you plan on ordering, you
will not be tempted by
what others are choosing.
Also, try to order first and
set the pace for the meal.
You will be surprised at
how many follow your
lead.
•Skip the buffets. If your
friends insist on a restaurant with a buffet, go
ahead and order off the
menu and skip the buffet.
•Keep your meal simple.
Order grilled meat and
simple vegetables. Make
substitutions – steamed
vegetables rather than
French fries or mashed
potatoes. Baked potatoes
are healthy when eaten
plain. Skip anything that
is described as “loaded,”
“cheesy,” or “creamy.”
•Drink water or calorie
free beverages. Calories
from sodas, sweetened
teas, and alcoholic beverages can add up. These
are just added calories
that will not make you
feel full.
it does not equal whole
grain!
when it is a special treat
and not the norm!
•Skip or split dessert.
Most desserts served
are HUGE with a high
amount of calories. Order
one dessert and forks for
all. A couple of bites will
satisfy the sweet tooth. Or
order dessert only on very
special occasions. You
will appreciate it more
Want more information
about making healthy
choices and changing
your lifestyle? Contact
Janet Hunt at jhunt1@
pclnet.net or 256-6143530 to find out when her
next Weight Management
and Lifestyle Class is offered.
•When ordering salad,
ask for the dressing on the
side. If salad comes with
bacon, ham, cheese, croutons, etc., ask that they
be left off. A salad loaded
with high sodium, high
fat toppings and loads of
salad dressing probably
has more calories than the
burger and fries.
•Skip the bun. Most
breads in restaurants are
not whole grains so just
ask for that sandwich
without the bun or bread.
Reminder: just because
they offer a wheat bun,
Page 14
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December 5 - December 18, 2014
Cover Story
Nina’s Place Home Furnishings: “We Don’t Carry
A Brand, We Make It By Hand!” by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
of the substantive, artfully
hand crafted, wood, metal,
leather,
stoneware
and
travertine home furnishings
and décor that I had come
to love so dearly while
living and working in the
late ‘90s with my husband
at an orphanage in Juarez,
Mexico. Nina’s has gone on
to become one of my favorite
stops on my Athens Now
delivery route. I am always
warmly greeted, the shop is
a feast for the eyes and soul,
and is a place to rest for a
bit. The furniture is solid
and the décor whimsical. I
think all of it is a reflection
of “Nina,” her staff and her
family. Nina’s actual name
is Melinda Freeman, and the
nickname (which stuck), was
given to her by her brother
when they were kids.
Nina’s
Place
Home
Furnishings just celebrated
their 5 year anniversary,
which I believe is a tribute
to God’s grace, their great
staff, friendly customer
service, and from Melinda’s
perspective,
“None
of
this would have happened
without my mother.” Her
mom’s name is Betsy
Poppell, and I can attest
that she is indeed lovely,
within and without. “She is
a godsend, my best friend,
and my biggest cheerleader,”
says Nina. She then added,
“She is so good with
everyone and everything.”
Betsy holds down the fort
when Melinda is gone on
buying trips or is out back
working on furniture, and
she does a splendid job of
it.
Another thing Melinda
wanted to emphasize in this
season of giving and giving
thanks, is her gratitude for
their loyal repeat customers.
“They really have become
like family. They come
in all the time just to
say hi, and recommend
us to other people.”
She then added, “We
could not do it without
them, either. It has been
a tough year, for our
customers and for us,
but things are looking
up, and we are all still
here.”
Melinda is a big fan
of radio talk show
host Dave Ramsey,
who has helped many
families become debt
free through common
sense, biblically based
financial
strategies,
and implementing those
principles has helped Nina’s
Place stay in the black, even
in lean times. As a result,
she has an uncommon level
of flexibility when it comes
to selecting the pieces that
fill Nina’s Place. She also is
able to steer clear of the usual
level of price mark up in
December 5 - December 18, 2014
and importing furniture
so worth it is the joy
she feels when someone
finally sees the thing
that they had lost hope
of ever finding in a chain
store or anywhere else.
She has helped give
several local interior
designers their start by
employing them in the
store, and loves it when
they come back “home”
with a client who is
genuinely delighted in
what is available.
One of the new additions
at Nina’s Place about
which many furniture
dealers
routinely
engage.
“Every piece in here
I have picked, and I
love,” she told me.
She also indicated
that one of the many
things that makes
all the hard work
involved in selecting
which Melinda is pleased is
the teak furniture that is being
imported from India. Besides
being solid, beautiful and
trendy, it means she doesn’t
need to travel quite as much.
“Now we have solid pine
from Mexico, and solid teak
from India,” she said with a
smile.
On a personal note, being
able to be at home more
means she doesn’t have to be
away from her dogs. Kitty, a
Chihuahua, and Boo, a rescue
pup found on a buying trip to
Texas are most definitely part
of the Nina’s Place family.
However, Melinda’s tender
heart is not confined just to
www.athensnowal.com
her pooches and the people
in her life; she has also
been involved in supporting
international adoptions and
fighting lupus.
Nina’s also makes a point of
carrying the work of several
local artisans, and does
cross promoting of their
work with other outlets.
They carry excellent quality
unfinished furniture, and
will custom finish pieces to
suit the client’s exact needs.
They also specialize in
painting furniture with the
most current and popular
interior color trends, and
“if you bring in the
paint, (and the piece
you purchased has an
unfinished surface,)
there is no charge
for
painting
or
distressing it,” said
Melinda.
Nina’s Place has a
solid reason to hope
and a clear vision
for their future in
the Athens area.
The business is
doing well, they are
passionate
about
giving back to the
community, and the
hard work is paying
off. Come to Nina’s
and enjoy the fruit of their
labors, while you explore
a homey furniture and
interior design store where
their motto is, “We don’t
carry a brand, we make it by
hand.”
Nina’s
Place
30175 US Hwy 72
Madison, AL 35756
256-233-5720
256-233-5718 FAX
www.ninasplace.biz
www.facebook.com/pages/
ninasplaceal
Hours: 10-6 Tue-Sat,
12-6 Sun, closed Mondays
Page 15
Page 16
www.athensnowal.com
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Cover Story
McGuire Plumbing: “We Won’t Drain
Your Wallet”
by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
plumber to not drain one’s
wallet is both welcome and
rare, and I enjoyed hearing
Kevin’s story.
He is “purebred and home
grown,” as they say, having lived and worked in
Limestone County all his
life. He graduated from
Elkmont High School, and
he and Laurie have two
kids, Madelyn, 15, and
John, 12. They both have
worn several hats in their
careers, Laurie with real
estate, property management/development
and
hospitality (with her work
at Madelyn’s in the Grove),
and Kevin with farming,
construction, real estate
investment and plumbing.
“I got my start with my
dad, who is a master
plumber, and that’s where
I learned the trade,” said
Kevin. I thought about
the fact that we could
use a wholesale return of
dads teaching their sons a
trade and instilling in them
pride in their work as well
as a conviction that their
word is everything. “We
farmed, did cows and hay,
and I earned my master
plumber’s certification,”
said Kevin. Kevin and
Laurie “flipped” houses
for awhile until the housing and investment markets went sideways, and
there was no longer any
level of reasonable profit
to be had.
Certain aspects of the
construction industry became saturated, so Kevin
decided to concentrate on
the plumbing business. He
is one of those rare birds
who actually likes dealing with the muck, and
gets an enormous sense of
satisfaction when a tough
job gets “all buttoned up.”
One of the things that he
also enjoys is listening to
his clients while he is on
his back under a messed up
sink. He has an especially
protective heart for our
“seasoned citizens,” who
at times can be vulnerable
and easily ripped off by
scam artists or people who
do shoddy work. “I do my
very best to never disappoint,” he says.
I asked him to tell me about
some of his projects, large
and small, and the list is impressive. “We did several of
the houses at Canebrake,”
he said. I asked, “Do you
prefer to do residential over
commercial?” “Not really,”
he said. “I like doing
it all.” Some
of the
commercial
projects have included ConAgra, as well as
several smaller businesses.
Most recently they did all
of the plumbing upgrades
for the temporary Limestone County Courthouse
building down on Jefferson
near the new library.
Kevin has been in the
plumbing business for over
20 years, and built McGuire
Plumbing on reputation,
“going-the-extra-mile”
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Left to Right: Brandon Rager,
Zack Adams, and Kevin McGuire
customer service and hard
work. “We have had to do
very little actual advertising,” he said, “and almost
all of our business comes
from word of mouth and
referrals.”
“OK,” I said, “Let’s say
I am new to the area, and
need a plumber. Why
should I come to you?” He
answered thoughtfully by
saying, “I don’t want to
put down any other plumb-
www.athensnowal.com
ing companies, but our best
advertising comes from homeowners who have called
us to come in to repair the
work of other plumbers.” I
thought for a moment about
what a challenge that would
be. A person would already
be upset, probably suspicious and worried that they
would be taken advantage
of again, and of course,
concerned about the cost of
the repairs. If someone in
that situation can go from
being an “unhappy camper”
to becoming a “raving fan”
customer, that is proof that
the plumber indeed “went
the extra mile.”
Laurie told me later that she
especially wanted people to
know that now is the time
for folks to let McGuire
Plumbing get their pipes
prepared for the cold
weather ahead. We have already had some bitter cold
weather, and while I know
that Kevin and his guys
are experienced in dealing
with plenty of emergency
service calls, a little proactivity would go a long way
toward making everyone’s
holiday just that much less
stressful!
If you are in need of a local crew with over 20
years experience in the
Athens-Limestone
area,
and whose business has
been built on hard work
and honesty, then you need
to give McGuire Plumbing
a call at 256-233-0806.
McGuire
Plumbing
Kevin McGuire, owner
New construction,
remodeling and all
types service work
Emergency service
available
Phone: 256-233-0806
mcguireenterprises@
yahoo.com
Face book:
mcguire plumbing
Page 17
Learning As A Lifestyle
Online Learning
by Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262
Online learning is convenient, reasonably priced,
and fun. Some people
don’t want to take an online class because they
are intimidated by the
technology. Some people
don’t want to take classes
online because they are
not motivated to stick with
it. Some people just really
prefer the interaction of an
in-class course.
for students, teachers, and
other professionals to access high quality educational courses to complete
re-licensure, program certification, additional educational endorsements, or
advanced degrees. These
courses are offered each
ers. New course sessions
begin each month. Most
courses run for six weeks
(with a ten-day grace period at the end). Courses
are project-oriented and
include lessons, quizzes,
hands-on assignments, discussion areas, supplemen-
At the Center for Lifelong
Learning we offer more
than 300 online courses.
We have partnered with
four companies that provide excellent opportunities for learning. Each
company has its own time
frame, its own selection of
classes.
Virtual Education Software, Inc (VESi) specializes in teacher courses
for continuing education
and professional learning
credit. Thousands of educators across the country
have registered for and
completed VESi courses
to fulfill their continuing
education needs. In an effort to meet the growing
needs of students, teachers, and universities, VESi
has begun partnering with
institutions to develop
asynchronous and blended
certificate and degree programs. These programs
will make it even easier
Page 18
fective web-based learning
programs. Instructors/mentors are actively involved
in your online learning
experience, responding to
any questions or concerns,
as well as encouraging and
motivating you to succeed.
These courses will prepare
you to take national certificate exams or to be certified
in topics. Visit the website
at http://careertraining.ed2go.com/athens/ for more
information.
Our final partner, UGotClass, (a division of Learning Resources,) makes online learning easy and fun.
These classes will boost
your productivity and your
organization’s bottom line.
semester. Visit the website
at http://www.virtualeduc.
com/athens/ for more information.
ED2GO offers instructorfacilitated online courses
that are informative, fun,
convenient, and highly interactive. Their instructors
are famous for their ability
to create warm and supportive communities of learn-
The online certificates are
provided by expert instructors and students can
participate day or night
from any computer. Their
focus is on business skills
and social media. These
courses run for one month
unless you are taking a
certificate course. You can
visit the website at http://
www.yougotclass.org/catalog.cfm/Athens for more
information.
When you are ready to
take an online course, I
hope you will visit our
website at www.athens.
edu/CLL for a long list of
options. Learning happens
everywhere now. See you
there.
tary links, and more.
You can complete any
of these courses entirely
from your home or office and at any time of
the day or night. Visit
the website at http://
www.ed2go.com/cll/ for
more information.
We have also partnered
with the Career Training
department of ED2GO to
offer online open enrollment programs designed
to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional level positions for
many in-demand occupations. These programs
are designed by a team
of professionals from
each respective field,
providing you with ef-
www.athensnowal.com
December 5 - December 18, 2014
December 5 - December 18, 2014
www.athensnowal.com
Page 19
Dog Barker
A Letter To Doggie Claus
by Joel Allen
Dear Doggie Claus,
This year has been
memorable! I was a
bad dog, but in a good
way. Just because I escaped from my yard
and prowled the neighborhood doesn’t mean
I was the dog getting
into the neighbor’s
trash. Besides, my
family needs to know
that their security measures are not that good.
Better fences make
great neighbors and the
statement the cat gave
the “Dog Cop” was
completely fabricated.
He said he saw me tearing out the neighbor’s
trash. But really, can
he say it was truly me?
There is another dog in
the neighborhood who
looks just like me and
he lives at 108 Fido
Lane. You reading this
Page 20
“Copper?”
I really believe the family cat is getting old.
All his claims he makes
against me about getting into the trash and
chasing him makes me
worry for him. So, just
to show that my heart
is in the right place, I
ask that you bring my
feline friend a pair of
glasses so he can get
his facts straight. Oh
and some catnip would
be nice too.
I have a confession
to make. I have been
backsliding very badly
on my chewing habits.
Just the other day, Dad
left his nice leather
shoes down and I was
passing by them when
the memory of chewing a pair like them
hit me. I found myself
salivating so bad that
before I could remem-
ber the “BAD Dog! No
touchie!!” rule, I had
them in my mouth running to another room.
They were tasty. Just
like old smelly socks
and leather, yummy.
My Dad was walking around looking for
those shoes not long
after and I played it so
cool by laying there. I
just stretched, yawned
and gave him the look
like, “What is wrong?”
He kept giving me the
look of “You got my
shoes and if I could
prove it, ewwweeee, I
would tan your hide!”
Well, he won’t find
them because I buried
them in the trash. Yes, I
can dig in the trash and
not get my paws dirty,
can’t anyone? Can you
bring him some new
shoes to replace his old
ones? They needed replacing anyway and it
www.athensnowal.com
was just my way
of doing him another favor.
About the “Pottie Patch” you brought
me last year. Well, it
worked great until I
left a few poop mines
and then my parents
were like “What did
you eat?” Or when
they came home before
they found the mess
and said “What is that
smell?” So, to alleviate my family coming
home to that terrible
smell and save face,
could you bring me a
dog door to be installed
in my house? I really
would like to come
and go when I please.
Besides, the cat should
be able to wander out
when he wants to also.
Hehehe....
My year has been an
awesome experience
again, Doggie Claus,
and should there be
anything I didn’t cover
(like bones and food),
could you please surprise me and bring
me some? Thanks and
Merry Christmas!
Love Sincerely,
Everybody’s Favorite
Canine Family Member
“Remember to love your
dogs because they love
you. Maybe not the way
you want them to, like
chewing up your favorite
shoes or what not, but
that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the
time you have with them
always.”
Joel and Zues Allen
256-651-2211
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Jerry’s Journal
On The Possum’s Trail With Jimmie
“Two Hills” Part Three
by Jerry Barksdale
One day in 1974, Country
Music legend George Jones
called Jimmie Hills’ barber
shop and made an appointment. “No Show” Jones didn’t
show up. Nor did he show up
for the next several appointments. “He walked in one day
and asked me to cut his hair,”
says Jimmie. “He gave me a
hundred dollar bill and told
me to keep the change. He
would come by the shop two
or three times a week just for
me to shampoo and style his
hair. We got to be friends and
would go out and have lunch
together.” It was the beginning
of a 22 year journey for Jimmie, often rocky and challenging, but never dull.
One evening, George dropped
by Jimmie’s house and stayed
several hours just to talk; said
the Hills seemed like a good
family. He asked 12-yearold Danny Hills to go to the
car and get his shaving kit.
“George opened it and pulled
out the biggest roll of money
I’d ever seen,” said Jimmie.
He counted out three thousand dollars, offered it to Jimmie and said, “I want you to
be my friend.”
“George, my friendship isn’t
for sale. I don’t want your
money. I’ll be your friend no
matter what,” replied Jimmie.
“After that, we became really good friends. I heard later
that’s how he tested people to
see if they were honest.”
George was troubled, but always generous. “I was giving
him a hair cut one day and a
woman came in the shop and
saw his expensive ring with
a guitar surrounded by diamonds. She said she’d like to
have a ring like that. George
pulled it off his finger and
gave it to her,” says Jimmie.
“I got the lady aside and told
her not to take it. She gave it
back. George was generous and
would give you the shirt off his
back.”
George came by the barbershop on several occasions, intoxicated and passed out in the
chair. Jimmie and Ann always
took him home. This was after
George and Tammy Wynette
had divorced and he was dating
Linda Welborn, Peanutt Montgomery’s sister-in-law.
Jimmie was driving George
home when the latter wanted
to stop at a small cemetery. “If
there is a God, those people
wouldn’t be in those graves,”
George said.
Jimmie rolled down the window
and let in fresh air. A bee flew
inside the car and stung George
on the neck. “He got down on
the floor and started praying. I
laughed at ‘em. “Why are you
laughing at me?” George asked.
“Because you’re crazy.” That
proved to be phrophetic.
George would frequently appear unannounced at the barber
shop or at the Hills’ home and
request Jimmie to drive him
around and listen to him talk. He
and Linda Welborn were having
problems. One night, Jimmie
was driving him in his Lincoln
Town Car down the Natchez
Trace, while George drank Jack
Daniels from the bottle, tooted
cocaine and talked about Linda.
A herd of deer walked onto
the road and paused. immie
stopped the car. “Jimmie if you
going to hunt deer get yo’self a
shotgun,” said George. “Listen
to me when I’m talking to you.”
His behavior became more bizarre as time passed.
“That was one of numerous
trips down the Trace. I bet I’ve
driven a million miles up and
down the Trace listening to my
friend, George,” says Jimmie.
On another occasion, George
stopped at the barber shop near
December 5 - December 18, 2014
closing time and asked Jimmie
to buy him supper. Jimmie told
him that Ann was cooking and
would set out an extra plate as
she had done on many occasions. George wanted to go to
Bonanza Steakhouse. On the
way there, George said someone had robbed him of $25,000.
While crossing the Tennessee
River bridge, George reached
under the seat of the Lincoln,
pulled out a pistol and put it to
Jimmie’s head. “I’m going to
kill the SOB,” said George. “I
didn’t take your money,” Jimmie said and pushed the pistol
away with his hand.
“Oh, I know you didn’t get
it my son,” said George. “I
would have given it to you because I love you like a brother.”
go to sleep, Jimmie stopped at
an Omelette Shop in Muscle
Shoals. A song writer, his wife
and George’s girlfriend, Linda
Welborn pulled up simultaneously and they all went inside
and sat in the same booth.
“You remember being over
at my house one night?” said
George to the songwriter. “I
seen you in the hallway. You
got some money outta Linda’s
purse.” George yanked out his
pistol, stuck it between the
man’s eyes and started pulling back the hammer. Jimmie grabbed George’s hand,
punched him hard in the ribs
and wrestled him down. Customers scattered like quail on
the rise. One man jumped over
the counter. The songwriter and
Sirens were wailing and growing louder. Jimmie peeled rubber and made a getaway. “We
drove around until 2 a.m.,”
says Jimmie. “I expected the
cops to be waiting for us but
they weren’t. The police were
real good to George and helped
him all they could.” Jimmie
put George to bed. The next
evening, George came to the
shop. “He didn’t remember
anything,” says Jimmie.
George seemed to have a
Guardian Angel. Maybe he
was just lucky, but most likely
it was his fans who looked
out for him. George was late
for a flight from Huntsville to
Nashville and didn’t have time
to park his new Lincoln. So he
parked his new Lincoln on the
sidewalk at the front door.
He called Jimmie . “I’ve left
my car at Huntsville Airport.
Can you go up there and get
it?” “I guess. Why?” asked
Jimmie. “I left it by the door
and I’m afraid they’ll tow it
off,” said George. Jimmie and
Ann knew they would need a
key so they called the dealership, explained what happened, picked up a new key
and headed to Huntsville Airport.
Country music legend
George Jones, (l) and
“Jimmie Two Hills”
George said he had been asleep
on a couch at a car lot and the
owner had taken his money out
of his pocket. “I know where
the SOB lives and you’re gonna
help me kill’em,” said George.
“Not me George!”
Jimmie tried to convince him
to go home, but George was
insistent. Finally, thinking that
food might cause George to
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company made a fast getaway.
The manager called the cops.
“George, let’s get outta here!”
exclaimed Jimmie. “They done
called the law.” Jimmie pulled
George out of the restaurant,
put him in the Lincoln, and
slammed the door on his ankle.
“You broke my ankle! Oh God,
you broke it,” George hollered.
“The car was parked in the
front door – I mean up on the
sidewalk, engine still running,” says Jimmie. “A note
was on the dashboard. ‘Please
to whom it may concern, I was
in quite a hurry, this flight was
very important. My name is
George Jones with the Grand
Ole Opry and I’ll be back tomorrow evening.’ It had probably been there four hours.
Nobody touched it,” says
Jimmie. He pushed aside the
empty Beenie Weenie cans,
pork rinds and cheese balls on
the seat and drove it home.
The note is framed and now
hangs in Jimmie’s den.
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Medical Update
Five Simple Solutions To SAD
(Seasonal Affective Disorder)
By Rachel Clark, RN, BSN
It’s winter again, and the
days are getting shorter.
The skies seem cloudier, the air colder, and
the wind has a bite to it
that isn’t there in Spring
and Summer. With the
change of the seasons
can come a change in
mood for some people.
This is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. According
to the Mayo Clinic, SAD
is a type of depression
related to the change in
seasons that begins and
ends around the same
time every year. For
most, that happens in
the winter.
How do you know if
you’re “SAD?” Some
common
signs
and
symptoms include irritability, feeling tired or
having less energy, issues getting along with
others, hypersensitivity
to rejection (real or perceived), oversleeping,
heavy feeling in arms or
legs, appetite changes
(especially
increased
cravings for high-carbohydrate foods), and
weight gain. As SAD
as this all sounds, there
are some simple, natural ways to combat this
change in moods. So if
you’re ready to get back
to your usual self, and
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leave the grumpy, irritable you that comes in the
winter behind, below are
five simple ways to get
started.
1. Scents can be used as
a “pick-me-up.” Most
people have scents that
they personally associate
with positivity and comfort. For some, that is
the mingled scents of
baking sugar cookies,
with warm vanilla and
sugar wafting through
the house. For others it
might be roses, cinnamon, or oranges. Diffusing essential oils can
be a great way to help
lift your mood, without
side effects connected
to anti-depressants and
other chemical alternatives. A “recipe” of
sorts that I can’t wait
to try is as follows: 20
drops Sweet Orange oil,
20 drops Clove Bud oil,
and 20 drops Cinnamon
oil. Check out Pinterest
or other social media
sites for additional information on essential
oils and blends that can
help lift your mood this
winter.
2. Let the sunshine in!
The lack of available
sunlight is a key factor in
SAD. Open up your curtains, blinds, and doors
on sunny days. Letting
in the sun can lift your
mood exponentially. Sit
next to those open windows to maximize your
sunlight absorption. You
can also use phototherapy to help. This involves
using lights that mimic
natural sunlight. You
can also surround your-
time to talk with your
significant other, best
friend, or someone else
you care about. Consider
an alarm clock that uses
natural sounds and/or
light to wake you rather
than your usual methods.
And enjoy the peace and
quiet, get away from the
mood is concerned.
self with imagery that is
bright and sunny when
the days are cloudy and
dull. Set your screensaver on your phone or computer to something warm,
inviting, and bright. This
can also help elevate your
mood.
noise and chaos that is
everyday life.
and comfortable can go
a long way. Also, the
same characteristics in
bedding can be helpful.
Get affirming touches
such as hugs, cuddling,
and other gentle affections from your spouse,
significant other, or even
your pets. You may also
wish to consider getting
regular massages from a
licensed massage therapist.
3. Start listening! Music and mood have been
linked for quite some
time. Choose music that
is uplifting rather than
dark and moody. Christmas carols or summer
themed choices are generally best for combating the blues. Who can
be sad when the beat is
happy? Also, schedule
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4. Taste the joy! Many
people gain weight when
battling SAD. Choose
foods that remind you of
summer. Mix blueberries, chocolate, and nuts
into trail mix and snack
on it. Choose hot tea
rather than coffee when
you need to warm up
on cold afternoons. Eat
fresh fruits and vegetables as often as you can.
When you can’t choose
frozen options. Put them
in salads, smoothies, or
as dessert itself. You’ll be
amazed at the difference
it can make as far as your
5. Be sensitive to
TOUCH! Touch is one
of the first senses to develop inside the womb,
so it only makes sense
that it can be a huge
anti-depressant
for
some people. Clothing
that is soft, breathable
Don’t be SAD this winter. Take some of the tips
above and change the
pattern that may have
been going on for years.
You’ll be glad you did.
December 5 - December 18, 2014
Security Savvy
Safe Driving
by Brian Black, Operations Manager of Madison Security Group
203 Us Highway 31 S, Athens, AL 35611
Driving is a privilege,
not a right. That being said, there are lot of
people who practice this
privilege. Some of us
have been driving longer
than we were in school,
longer than we’ve been
married, some longer
than there have been
traffic lights, and some
are just starting to learn
to drive.
I’m not big on special
restrictions for drivers,
but I do think NASCAR
has the right idea: put
a yellow stripe on the
back of cars to indicate
that the driver is inexperienced and should be
treated with caution.
I will not jump into the
debates about speed
limits, seat belts, or helmets for bikers. These
are laws that should be
followed until they are
repealed. I do want to
talk about a couple of
simple, yet overlooked
issues that we as drivers face every day.
later or earlier in order
to adjust. Also, make
sure that there is plenty
of braking room between
you and the car in front
of you and start braking earlier when coming
up to stop signs, traffic
lights, and ALL intersections.
When driving on ice,
don’t unless you have
had lots of experience.
Even if you are experienced, proceed with
caution. If you are reading this article, chances
are you live in the South
and know we don’t get
a whole lot of ice, and
you have seen what happens when we do. If you
are one of our cousins
from the North, trust me
you’re not much better
driving on ice than we
Southerners are so stay
off the roads. Please.
But, bless their hearts,
they won’t listen.
Parking Areas:
What? Parking Areas?
That’s not driving! I
know, but this is an area
where the little things
cause problems.
First, let me rant for a
moment. If you are not
handicapped,
please
don’t park in these spaces! I will take it a step
further: the only people
that should park in handicap areas are people who
are truly handicapped or
those who are transporting them. Just because
you have a handicap
placard does not mean
you should use it.
so people parked next to
you can get into and/or
out of their vehicle without hitting your car with
their door. You also need
to be able to get into and
out of your car without
hitting the car next to
you with your doors.
Another overlooked issue
is walking in the parking area. When you are
walking from the store
to your car, be mindful
of cars trying to back out
a parking space. Many
fast food restaurants
have parking areas in the
same areas as their drivethru windows and have
entrances/exits in these
areas as well. Be mindful that even though you
have the right of way, the
drivers leaving the drivethru may be distracted
and not see you. Children are the most vulnerable in parking areas, so
let’s keep them safe.
As with all things in security, your best defense
is to be aware of your
surroundings.
Now, on to parking.
Please make sure your
vehicle is fully in the
parking
space
with
enough space around you
Road Conditions:
This is one of the biggest reasons for accidents that drivers
encounter. Let’s be
honest, it’s not the road
conditions that cause
the problems; it is our
lack of adapting to
these road conditions
that causes accidents.
When it is raining,
snowing, icy or foggy,
SLOW DOWN!
If you have
during these
ditions, plan
better. Plan
to travel
bad conyour trip
to arrive
December 5 - December 18, 2014
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