Connected

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
Test do
o
d
a
n
r
a
To
ep a torn
dows ke
win
ing your
Will open ing your house?
1 from explod
uld you
ado, sho pass?
n
r
to
a
r
r
ea
e or unde
driving n
If you’re r beneath a bridg
2 seek shelte
ster
your disa
f
o
t
r
a
p
e
andles b
Should c
3 supply kit?
ess can
asier acc
nd
ur roof a
lift off yo
s:
Answer
ind e
and
ing the w
iv
G
.
o
stronger
N
1)
s.
ll
a
s winds
w
e
r
k
u
a
o
m
y
t
c
le
topp
nnel effe
ridge.
at can
e wind tu
2) No. Th gerous under a b des gas leaks th
n
lu
c
a
in
more d
ge often
rm dama
.
3) No. Sto m an open flame
o
fr
e
it
n
ig
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 [email protected].
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
“We Keep You Connected”
P.O. Box 217• 144 McCurdy Ave. N.
Rainsville, AL 35986
It’s here!
The channel you’ve been
waiting for is now on FTCtv!
C
Watch AM
on FTCtv
Channels
65!
265 & 12
Tune in to the
horror sensation
The Walking Dead –
one of the most popular
shows on television
Plus, these original series:
Breaking Bad • Comic Book Men • Freakshow
The Pitch • Immortalized • The Prisoners
Visit amctv.com to find up-to-date
programming schedules
Get FTCtv for FREE!
Add ANY new service and FTC will give
to you free for 3 months!*
*A term service agreement is required for promotional pricing
256-638-2144 | farmerstel.com