Elmore County Living

WINTER 2012 • COMPLIMENTARY

Elmore CountyElmore County

L iLi vv ingingM A G A Z I NM A G A Z I N EE

Elmore County Living • Fall 2012 1

hank goodness we’ve experienced some coolertemperatures off and on during the past few weeks.The crisper weather heralds all of those wonderfulthings about autumn – football, colorful leaves,

misty mornings and preparing for and appreciating theonslaught of holiday activities. The only drawback here inthe South is that the season is all too brief.

Although I say it every year, I really do intend to tryvery hard to squeeze every bit of enjoyment possible outof the season this time around. We’ll see how that resolu-tion works out for me.

Autumn also brings you, our readers, another issue ofElmore County Living. We have a new slate of people andplaces to share with you in these pages, and we hope youenjoy what the Fall 2012 edition has to offer.

There are stories and photographs from across thecounty. You will meet a Titus man who carves sculptureswith a chainsaw and a Slapout resident who earned thenickname of “The Grave Tender” by caring for the burialplaces of Hank and Audrey Williams. In addition, you canget acquainted with a trio of dance moms who are nothing

like their television counterparts and take a peek into howa Millbrook man and his animals produce gourmetcheeses.

To step back in time a little, there are stories about arenowned Tallassee artist and several musicians from thecity as well as a look at six of the county’s Hall of Famecoaches. And be sure to check out photos from recentevents and the calendar of upcoming activities.

Looking forward to our next issue and subsequent ones,we will be featuring something new in ECL starting nexttime. But this particular item requires some help fromyou. Submit a photograph of yourself (or a friend or fam-ily member) with a copy of Elmore County Living any-where outside the bounds of the county. If you do, you’llbe part of our new “Where in the World is Elmore CountyLiving?” segment. We plan to keep up with the maga-zine’s travels on a map in our office, too.

See you next time.

Peggy Blackburn is managing editor of Elmore CountyLiving.

editor’snote

Autumn isin the air

T


InsideThe Grave Tender 14

A Slapout man keeps the music and memories of

Hank Williams alive.

Art from the Heart 18Tallassee sites reflected in the

works of native painter.

What Lies Beneath 10Titus chainsaw carver frees

shapes buried in wood.

Real Dance Moms 14Life bears little resemblance to popular television series.

Local Legends 18Elmore County’s Hall of Fame

coaches left lasting legaciesin their communities.

22 The Love of MusicFrom teen years to retirement,area entertainers span thedecades with their performances.

26 Goat to GourmetA Millbrook farmerproduces fine cheeses withhelp from animal friends.

29 Out and AboutElmore County residents and visitors were captured at events and locations around the area.

32 CalendarA guide to local events that will take place inOctober and November.

4

8

10

22Elmore County Living magazine is published by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. in conjunction with The Wetumpka Herald, The Eclectic Observer and The Tallassee Tribune. Copyright 2012 by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc., all rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher.

Kenneth S. Boone - President/Publisher David Goodwin - Political Editor TallasseePeggy Blackburn - Managing Editor Kevin Taylor - Copy Editor Ashley Vice - Managing Editor Jay Goodwin - Operations Manager Griffin Pritchard - Sports Editor Willie Moseley - News EditorShannon Elliott - Ad Manager Christy Cooper - Ad Sales Lauren Newman - Staff Writer

WendyWilson - Ad Sales

P.O. Box 99 • 300 Green Street • Wetumpka, AL 36092 • 334-567-7811

4 Elmore County Living • Fall 2012

Keeping thememories andmusic aliveByKevinTaylor

Faust tending Hank Williams’ grave.PHOTO BY KEVIN TAYLOR


ou would only need to see the recordsand all the scratches on the old vinylLPs to understand Terry Faust’s ap-preciation for Hank Williams.

The Slapout community native is anencyclopedia when it comes to the

music and life of Hank.Terry was first introduced to Williams’ music

at age 6 by his mother, Edna.She was not a huge fan of music, but there was

a personal connection his mother felt to Hanksince he and her husband were both born in But-ler County.

“I would play those records a lot,” Terry Faustsaid. “I have those first records that were given tome. They are scratched up and played to death.”

Terry had plenty of time to get to know Hank,the man, and his music.

At a young age, Terry was diagnosed cerebralpalsy.

While most of Terry’s friends would go outsideto play, he would stay inside and listen to Hank.

“I was amazed how he could spin a lyric,”The cover of Faust’s new album. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Hank WilliamsMuseum. COURTESY OF ALLEN DELK MANAGMENT

Y

Slapout man honors‘Hank, the man’


Faust said. “For a guy who didn’t gradu-ate from high school — the depth andthe meaning he gave his lyrics wereamazing.”

In addition to studying Hank’s music,Faust began to learn the history of thecountry music legend’s life.

Faust became so involved withWilliams’ life and music, the cerebralpalsy didn’t seem to faze him.

“There are some times when I hon-estly forget I have it,” he said. “I thinkthat’s just a blessing from the Lord.”

By age 14, Faust began learning toplay guitar and by age 21 he began writ-ing his own songs.

Faust, now 41, said he wrote his firstsong within 10 to 15 minutes.

“I was at my home on Lake Jordanand had just broke up with this gal,” hesaid. “In my mind I didn’t understandwhy it didn’t work out, so I sat downand it all just poured out onto paper.”

Faust would write when the mood hithim. He said there would be times whenan idea would strike in the middle of thenight and he would have to jump out ofbed to get the lyrics down on paper.

Faust seriously began writing and try-ing to perfect his music by age 25.

“I chose country music because it wasnot only what I grew up on, but the sto-

ries it tells,” he said. “And if you listento the lyrics, you’ll know who I am.”

In 1999, Faust also became a volun-teer at the Hank Williams Museum inMontgomery after befriending CecilJackson, who founded the museum.

Jackson was not only the founder ofthe museum, he was also the man whotended to Hank and Audrey Williams’grave sites in Oakwood Cemetery.

In 2010, Jackson passed away and hisdaughter and museum curator, BethPetty, passed the responsibility on toFaust.

Since then, Faust visits the graves atleast twice a week to remove any grassclippings or other debris from the site.

And sometimes, he just sits on one ofthe marble benches in front of Hank’sgrave to spend time with the legend.

Over the past few years Faust hasearned the title of “Grave Tender.”

Faust also has a large collection ofsongs he has written. More than 100 heguessed.

So to honor the country music icon,Faust and Allen Delk of Allen DelkManagement began to collaborate on analbum.

It wasn’t long thereafter, that Faustand Delk had narrowed down more than100 songs to 12 to put on Faust’s debut

album.And fittingly, Faust introduced his

album on Sept. 15 at the Hank WilliamsMuseum during its observance ofWilliams’ birthday.

“He’s been an such an influence andinspiration to my life, and I’m so proudto be able to do this in his honor,” Faustsaid.

And Faust isn’t doing this just for themoney. Proceeds from the album salesgo back to the Hank Williams Museum.

“I wrote these songs just as Hankwould have wrote them,” he said. “Hankwas all about the common man.”

There are so many stories Faust canshare about Hank — not only of his life,but also his afterlife.

“I could quote all kinds of stats youcould easily look up for yourself,” Faustsaid. “But when I talk about Hank, Iwant to talk about Hank, the man.”

And while Hank may be passed on,his music is forever more alive.

It’s alive in Faust, who doesn’t letcerebral palsy slow him down.

“When I wake up in the morning, Itake joy that the sun is up and I’m stillhere,” he said. “And when I come to thetop of this (cemetery) I see that Hank isstill here to remind me to enjoy everyminute of life.”

Hank and Audrey Williams’ graves in Oakwood Cemetery.COURTESY OF ALLEN DELK MANAGEMENT


n every painting of DovardTaunton’s there’s a bit of his home.From recognizeable landmarkslike the Mt. Vernon Mills to un-tamed East Tallassee woods filled

with wildlife. At the annual Tallassee Now event in

June Taunton’s work was showcasedalongside the taxidermized wildlife atBilly McKenzie’s downtown trophyroom.

Taunton’s works were collected thanksto the participation of several private col-lectors and the showing drew a crowd ofmore than 500 people.

The paintings and McKenzie’s animals

played off of each other to make eachscene more lively than the next, a majes-tic lion next to a roaring thunderstorm inoil on canvas; an antelope poised to runnext to the vibrant streets of Jordanville.Taunton’s wildlife paintings were right athome as painted quail, turkey, tigers andfish hung beneath rams and elephantsand even a hippopotamus.

Taunton grew up in Tallassee and diedin 1998 leaving his work and many long-time friends behind.

Len C. “Butch” Wilbanks was one ofthose friends who brought paintings tothe exhibit.

Wilbanks’ family plantation can be

seen in the background of a historicalpicture depicting slaves harvesting cot-ton, while his father stands watch on thehunt in “L.C. and His Bird Dogs” andWilbanks, himself, is shown drinkingwith Taunton and another friend in “PoolRoom.”

Wilbanks described the scene in “PoolRoom.”

“This is us drinking at a bar and overon the other side, coming in the door,you see Dovard’s ex-wife. She’s got agun in her hand,” Wilbanks said. “He al-ways said she cast a shadow over his lifeand that’s why she has this long darkshadow in the painting.”

Art from the heartTaunton’s works are reflections of Tallassee sites

Dovard Taunton’s painting, “Grandfather and Butch.” PHOTO BY ASHLEY VICE

ByAshleyVice

I


In total 39 paintings werecollected for the TallasseeNow exhibit. The paintingsfell into several categories:historical works featuringNative Americans and “TheLightning Route” depictingthe early 1900s MontgomeryCourt square, wildlife scenesincluding duck and snowgoose stamp entries for theAlabama contest, buildingslike Jeffcoat Funeral Homeand the Old B&SE TrainDepot, and scenes from everyday life like “Jordanville,”“L.C. and His Bird Dogs”and “Pool Room.”

Taunton was also commis-sioned by the Bank of Tal-lassee to paint some ofTallassee’s historic buildings.The bank distributed hisprints to customers andfriends on the 65th, 70th,75th, 80th and 90th anniver-saries of the Bank of Tal-lassee.

“We felt the exhibit would

be of interest to people inTallassee because many re-member Taunton and admire

his work,” said event organ-izer Liz Britt. “His was thetype of art that would particu-

larly appeal to people in ourarea. He was a friend tomany.”

In “Pool Room,” Taunton portrayed his ex-wife as casting a long shadow. PHOTO BY ASHLEY VICE


ByGriffinPritchard

Uncoveringwhat liesbeneath

Corey Worden working on one of his chainsaw carvings.

PHOTO BY GRIFFIN PRITCHARD


ehind the piercingeyes and the tattooslies an artistic soul. Ascreaming chainsaw ishis brush and a block

of pine is his canvas.“I met somebody some-

wheres and told them I coulddo this,” said Corey Wordenas he runs a file through theteeth of a chainsaw blade. “Iwound up at a county fair andI carved for the first time. Icarved a seahorse.”

He says this with confi-dence.

“I told the guy I could doit,” said Worden. “I didn’tknow if I could. I sort ofjumped in with both feet andit’s all gone from there.”

The seahorse then led to a7-foot-tall dragon, then to aseries of different bears. Itled to a sea monster and awizard holding a crystal ball.

It eventually led him to a10-foot-tall alligator and alife-sized Bear Bryant on dis-play at Shaylee’s Place inTitus.

“A lot of it is trial anderror,” said Worden. “I’venever taken a lesson or any-thing. I’ve looked and ob-served things.”

And more importantly, itled him to create Beneath theBark Chainsaw Carvings.

“I liked to draw when I wasa kid and I messed aroundwith different mediums,” saidWorden. “I always likedchainsaws. I thought theywere cool. I did some treework and cut firewood withmy dad, but never anythinglike this.”

Worden said he never con-sidered using the chainsaw asa tool of creation, until hewas confronted with the sea-horse proposition.

“I never thought of doing it

until that night I told thatdude I could carve the sea-horse,” said Worden. “Hesaid ‘I’m carving at the fair,why don’t you come along.’And I did.”

That was 16 years ago. “I don’t have any favorite

pieces that I’ve done,” saidWorden. “I figure the day Ilike something and the dayI’m completely satisfied withsomething I’ve created - it’sprobably the day I sit the sawdown.”

Worden said he is con-stantly critiquing his work. Itmakes sense, though. He ad-mits that his mind sometimesdoesn’t slow down.

“I draw things sometimes,but I end up losing what I’vedrawn,” said Worden. “But,because I’ve put it on paper Ican remember it. Half thetime I can’t find a pencil, so Ipick up my other one, myloud one.”

That’s why headphones at-tached to a small radio tunedto the local alternative rockstation, along with safetypants and glasses, is a part ofhis carving attire.

“People always come up tome and tell me it’s a bless-ing,” said Worden. “I don’tknow if it’s a blessing or acurse, ‘cause this is all I thinkabout. I decided I want to dothis, and now I’m going fullforce.”

His carving sessions willlast for hours.

“I lose track of time,” saidWorden.

He does maintain a real jobdriving a gas truck for ApexGas in the midst of his wood-working.

“It’s not so much what Isee in the wood, it’s what youwant me to make for you,”said Worden. “Only in a cou-

ple of cases, like the alligatorbecause of the way it wasshaped, I immediately knewwhat I wanted to do.”

There’s an element ofmovement in most of Wor-den’s carvings.

“Straight up and down isjust boring,” said Worden. “Ilike pieces that have a flow tothem. I like doing stuff thathas fluidity.”

And there is an element ofdestruction involved.

“If you want me to do aneagle, I’m looking at what Iam going to have to takeaway to make the piece,” saidWorden. “Art is a 50-50 bal-ance between creation anddestruction. It’s like adyslexic version of usingmodeling clay. Instead ofadding something to a pieceyou are taking away. I wasdyslexic as a child, to. Doingthis makes sense, maybethat’s the advantage I have.”

There’s also an element ofdanger.

“You’ve got to watch the

saw and respect it,” said Wor-den. “You are doing every-thing you are told not to dowith the saw when you dosomething like this.”

After working on an Eaglesitting atop the Auburn AUlogo, the blades on Worden’ssaw were smoking.

“I end up doing commis-sion pieces,” said Worden.“But I like doing differentthings. You could get to apoint where you are carvingbear after bear after bear.That would get boring after awhile.”

One of the main reasonsWorden displays his work atShaylee’s - an easy way to at-tract customers.

“I know 45,000 cars go bythe River Bridge every day. Ifigure about 16,000 come upand down this road eachday,” said Worden.

Worden’s work comes witha price.

“That boot I made will be alittle flower pot, and it’ll bearound $65. Some of the

Carver frees shapes buried in wood

Carvings of Alabama’s Bear Bryant and the UA elephant and “A.”PHOTO BY DAVID GOODWIN

B


bears range from $125 on up to $800depending on the realism and howin-depth they want me to get into thething,” said Worden.

Bear Bryant, Worden’s first attemptat emulating a photo into a carving,was commissioned at $4,500 for asports bar in South Alabama.

“I’m going to make the goalpoststhat go with it,” said Worden. “Thatwas my first shot at doing one likethat.”

Along with the aforementionedpieces, Worden has also created a 6-foot turkey.

“It’s harder to put stuff together,”said Worden. “There’s a lot of gamesyou’re playing in your head. You’vegot to be 12 or 13 steps ahead in yourmind.”

Worden relies on friends for thepieces of wood he uses; and currentlyhas a dozen chainsaws.

“I own 12,” said Worden. “Andthey all serve a purpose at one pointin time. I use regular chainsaws. Theydon’t make specialized saws for this.”

From start to finish, he said a car-acter bear would take him 45 min-

utes. “I just know where to go and it

doesn’t take that long,” said Worden.“The butterfly, those wings are prettythin. Bear Bryant’s face, getting intothat is going to be pretty intricatework.”

Worden does on-site carving andpine is his medium of preference.

“It’s softer and more durable; a lotof carvers like it,” said Worden. “I’llcome to your house and look to see ifI can do anything with the tree. I’llcome and carve whatever was onsight.”

Along with the carving, he doesthe painting and the cleanup.

“I’m a one-man show,” Wordensays with a chuckle. “It’s hard to findsomeone that can come and help. Butwhen it comes to finishing a piece,you’ve got to trust that person isgoing to pull it off. And I don’t wantto be disappointed in them. That’smy name on everything and I wantthe people to be happy.”

For additional information, contactWorden at 334-567-5718 or via emailat [email protected].

A 10-foot alligator created by Worden using hischainsaws. PHOTO BY DAVID GOODWIN


f there’s one thing Tal-lassee doesn’t have ashortage of, it’s dancestudios.

Considering Tal-lassee’s size, three studiosmight seem excessive. Canthere really be that many girlsinterested in dancing?

Answer: Yes. All three stu-dios are full each year.

Lifetime’s hit reality showDance Moms gives a look atwhat goes on within a com-petitive dance team at aPennsylvania studio. Asguessed from the name, theshow revolves more aroundthe mothers of the dancersand the drama that unfoldsbetween them and the danceinstructor each week prepar-ing for a competition. Eachepisode is packed with shout-ing, name calling and gossip.

But that is not exactly howlife is as a dance mom in Tal-lassee. In fact, it’s quite theopposite.

These are the real dancemoms of Tallassee.

HEART OF DANCEMissy Nichols has her

daughters Mallory (11) andMorgan (6) enrolled at Heartof Dance studio, owned byVicki Oliver. Heart of Dancehas been in Tallassee thelongest out of the group ofstudios. Nichols has been adance mom for eight years.

“Mallory and Morganstarted dancing when theywere 3,” Nichols said. “I’vealways felt like, at 3, it’s timeto start dance. All the girlsaround here usually start atthat age.”

Nichols said she was drawnto Heart of Dance becauseshe heard great things from

other dance moms. “I knew what a great influ-

ence (Heart of Dance) had onmy friends’ daughters,” shesaid.

Mallory favors twirling andballet, while Morgan enjoystap.

“I think Mallory really en-joys the gracefulness of bal-let,” Nichols said. “And withtwirling she loves perform-ing. I think Morgan just lovesthe tap shoes and the soundsthey make.”

Nichols said dancing hasbeen a great outlet for self-expression for both of herdaughters.

“I love the fact they areboth very shy and then theyget out there and perform infront of hundreds of people,”Nichols said. “I also like thatmost of their music is Chris-tian. You feel like it’s an actof worship for the girls.”

The reality show is notsomething Nichols is inter-ested in, as she’s never beenable to watch an entireepisode.

“(Dance Moms) is very un-nerving,” she said. “I don’tknow why someone wouldsubject their child to that. It’snot worth it. I think with Tal-lassee moms, to me, there isno comparison to the momson the show. Our moms havegirls involved because theylove it. The girls growthrough dance. I know all ofthe Heart of Dance instructorsreally go out of their way toencourage the girls and theywork to bring out the best inthem. It’s a positive place.”

STUDIO B DANCETraci Fecteau, like Nichols,

has also been a dance mom

Life bears little resemblanceto popular television seriesThe real

DANCE MOMSof Tallassee

ByLaurenNewman

Dancers at Studio BDance Studio.PHOTO BY LAUREN NEWMAN

I


for eight years. Her daughter,Rikki, attends Studio BDance Center, owned byBrooke Rigsby.

“I like seeing (Rikki) enjoydancing,” Fecteau said. “Shelearns so much. It’s good be-cause it teaches her thingslike discipline. I like seeingher in competitions.”

Rikki said while she takestap, ballet and baton, her fa-

vorite style of dance is jazz.“It’s fast, kind of like hip-

hop, and it’s very fun,” shesaid.

Fecteau said she and Rikkiboth watch Dance Moms to-gether.

“We like it because it givesthe girls an idea of what com-petitions are really like,”Fecteau said. “(The girls onthe show) eat, sleep and

dance.”But Fecteau said the Studio

B mothers are nothing likethe ones on television.

“There’s no drama,”Fecteau said. “The girls mayhave a squabble every nowand then, but not the moms.There’s just too much dramaon that show.”

Fecteau said she lovesRigsby’s hands-on approach

with the dancers.“Brooke has done such a

good job,” Fecteau said. “I’mreally pleased with the workshe puts in. I like her tech-niques and the girls pick upthe dances quickly.”

The competition team com-petes twice a year.

Fecteau, a stay-at-homemother, said she tries to makeherself available to help the

Missy Nichols Traci Fecteau Kelli Burt

Morgan Nichols Kinsley Burt Mallory Nichols


studio when needed and make sureRikki has what she needs to dance.

“When I was working, I tried to be toeverything that happened after hours,”Fecteau said. “Now that I’m not work-ing, if Brooke needs me for anything, Ihelp. I scrape pennies but I try to movethings around because dancing is whatshe wants to do.”

Rikki said she is involved in otherthings besides dance, such as playingthe clarinet, but her heart is in dancing.

“I think every little girl should be ableto experience learning how to dance,”she said.

THE POINTED TOEKelli Burt’s two daughters, Kinsley

(8) and Haley (4), take lessons at ThePointed Toe, owned by sisters BlaireGraham and Claire Scroggins.

Dancing is something Burt’s familyhas always done for fun.

“We’ve always danced around thehouse,” Burt said. “My girls aren’t re-ally into sports, but they love watchingmajorettes and cheerleaders. Dancinggives them something to do to burn thatenergy they have.”

Burt takes a no-pressure approach toher girls’ dancing. She makes sure theyhave fun while reminding them howmuch work is involved.

“I love seeing them have fun,” Burtsaid. “They may not know the wholedance, but they give it their all. I’m notharsh (like the reality show mothers).My life revolves around my kids but ifthey don’t like something, I’m not goingto push them.”

Burt commends Graham and Scrog-gins on handling their dancers.

“Blaire and Claire love each one oftheir little girls,” Burt said. “They don’tyell at them and they don’t degradethem. Instead they work with the girlsand help them improve. The really havethe patience of saints.”

The Pointed Toe put together its firstset of competition groups this year.Kinsley tried out for her age group andwas selected, along with three othergirls.

“She was so nervous trying out,” Burtsaid. “But she was so excited to make it.She goes home and practices every day.I told her it was going to be hard worklearning the dances and keeping up with

schoolwork, but she’s doing it.”As for the show, Burt said it’s too

mean-spirited for her taste.“The show is mean,” Burt said. “The

women take all the fun out of things.And that’s why my girls do it, because itis supposed to be fun. (Tallassee moms)are laid back. We’re not as intense.”

Halley Burt

LOCAL LByPeggyBlackburn

LEGENDShey prowled the sidelines,hardwoods and diamondsof Elmore County – menwho combined stern disci-pline with patient teachingand became respected

mentors for the players they coached.Some of the greats of high schoolcoaching in Alabama made theirmark at local campuses, as evidencedby the number selected to the Ala-bama High School Hall of Fame overthe years.

A total of 15 inductees to thatcompany have ties to the county,among them such legends of their re-spective games as Tallassee’s J.E.“Hot” O’Brien, Eclectic’s Terry Burt,Holtville’s James Findley, Mill-brook’s Jimmy Foshee and We-tumpka’s Stokely Bazemore and JackRay.

O’Brien was elected to the Hall’sfirst class in 1991. He came to Tal-lassee in 1936, after one year atFalkville, another at New Site andthree at Dadeville. During his 16years as Tallassee’s football coach,his teams compiled a 120-28-17record. From 1941 to 1947, theTigers posted a 57-game unbeatenstreak with its only blemish a tie withWetumpka.

In 2009, W.C. Bryant chronicledO’Brien’s life in his book, “Hot andHis Boys.” Bryant played baseballfor O’Brien at Tallassee for fouryears. O’Brien, like many in the past,coached all three major sports – foot-ball, basketball and baseball. His bas-ketball teams went to the statetournament 12 times.

“It was phenomenal the way hepaid individual attention to each ofhis players while maintaining a teamattitude,” said Bryant. “They were allteam people, but he made them feel

special. That’s why everybody likedhim.”

“There is a lot of mythology sur-rounding him as a coach,” Bryantsaid of his reasons for writing thebook. “I wanted to set everythingstraight. I wanted people to remem-ber him as more than the name on the(THS) stadium.”

O’Brien’s highest honor came in1985, when The Birmingham Newssurveyed 387 active high schoolcoaches to determine the best Ala-bama high-school football coach ofall time. Of the 232 returned ballots,“Hot” O’Brien received a 102-pointrating for that honor. No other coach,living or dead, received a higherscore.

O’Brien died in 1977.Several years later and only a few

miles down the road in Eclectic,Terry Burt established his own foot-ball legacy at Elmore County HighSchool. During a 27-year career lead-ing the Panthers (1963-1989 and1999-2001), Burt’s teams compiled a187-115-4 record and claimed threestate championships. He was namedstate coach of the year three times.

Burt said the first of those threestate championships marked the mostmemorable moment of his career.

“That was as good as it gets,” hesaid. “The other two were good, too,but that one stands out.”

Burt said the dynamic betweencoaches and players changed dramat-ically over the course of his career.

“I noticed over the 35 years Icoached that you had to pet the play-ers more and more,” he said. “When Istarted you could be a hard-nose allthe time, but then it got to where youhad to talk to them about what youexpected and why.”

Long-time Stanhope Elmore foot-

ball coach Jimmy Foshee was namedto the Hall of Fame in 2000. Fosheecoached football for 34 years with 25of those seasons spent leading theMustangs (1975-1999). His teamsthere compiled a 212-81-1 record andnever had a losing season. Threeteams went undefeated, all but fivemade the playoffs and four advancedto the state semifinals, losing eachtime to the eventual state champion.He was named coach of the year in1998.

His son, Jeff, took over the reins ofthe Mustangs when he retired, soFoshee still maintains a close connec-tion to the program he loves.

“I think I would have had a hardtime (retiring) if my son hadn’t takenmy place,” said Foshee. “It reallybothered me at first anyway. I don’tknow what I would have felt like if ithad been somebody else.”

Foshee said he thinks football pro-grams have improved since hiscoaching days.

“The players are in better condi-tion now and they work much harderin the offseason,” he said. “They havea lot better techniques, and I thinkthere’s more talent.”

Wetumpka’s Stokely Bazemorewas named to the Hall in 2003. Hewas head basketball coach for the In- dians from 1971 to 1980, head base-ball coach from 1977 to 1999 andhead football coach from 1979 to1992.

His basketball teams compiled a187-57 record and won back-to-backstate championships in 1979 and1980. Bazemore’s baseball squadsposted a 284-157 mark and a statetitle in 1982. He guided six footballteams to the state playoffs, includingthe first in school history in 1981. Hisoverall coaching record in football

County coaches left lasting legacies

T

was 77-71-1.Bazemore’s influence ex-

tended far beyond WetumpkaHigh’s athletic fields. He taughtadvanced math courses from1969 until his retirement in 2006.

When Bazemore was inductedinto the Hall of Fame, he creditedthe recognition he received to hisplayers.

“Whatever I’ve done as acoach was because of the playersI had,” he said at the time. “Ithink any coach will tell you thatquality kids are what makes aprogram successful. I never threwa pass, made a basket or got ahit.”

Bazemore passed the leader-ship of the Wetumpka baseballprogram to one of the membersof his state championship base-ball team when he stepped down.Current head baseball coach RayMullino said Bazemore had alasting impact on his life and thelives of countless others.

“He certainly influenced me,my wife and my family,” saidMullino. “But Coach meant a lotto many, many different peoplefrom the people he taught in classto those he coached.

“He had a passion for peopleand a passion for teaching,”Mullino continued. “Some peoplefind their callings, and teachingand coaching were his loves.”

Bazemore died in 2008.Another of Wetumpka’s native

sons was elected to the Hall in2006. Jack Ray coached football,baseball and basketball at WHS.His football teams posted an 82-40-8 record between 1952 and1964 with undefeated seasons in1953, 1963 and 1964. He spent13 of his 20 years in coaching athis alma mater. Ray also coachedat Millry, Central-Phenix Cityand Tallassee and served as El-more County superintendent ofeducation.

Ray said the most prevalentstyle of coaching when he begancoaching was to “try to kill themand if they survived they played.

“But times changed, and we

learned that players per-formed better with waterbreaks and rest,” he said.

Wetumpka’s footballrivalries with Holtvilleand Prattville were im-portant while he wascoaching, Ray said.

“When we weregoing to playHoltville, we’d bringin flatbed trailersbecause there wasno way we hadenough seats forall the fans,” hesaid. “And wehad a goodrecord against Prattville.Our teams only lost once againstthem in my career, and that was7-6.”

As important to Ray as thewins in the record books were theimprovements made to athleticfacilities. The surface of the foot-ball field was regraded and re-planted, more seats were added atthe stadium, new stands werebuilt on the east side, new lightswere installed and a long overduefieldhouse was added.

Ray, now 84, said his playerswere the best part of his coachingexperience.

“I was blessed with a lot offine young men,” Ray said.“There’s a bond there that I reallycan’t describe.”

The most recent local selectionto the Hall came in 2008, whenformer Holtville High Schoolcoach James Findley was in-ducted posthumously. During his14 years there as basketballcoach, his teams compiled a 259-117 record, reached the state fi-nals four times and won the statechampionship in 1996 when hewas named 3A Coach of the Year.Findley also coached football,tennis, softball and track duringhis 19 years at Holtville.

“To some degree, he influ-enced the way I coached,” saidHHS principal Jimmy Hull, whoplayed for Findley at Holtvilleand also coached basketball

there. “He was acharacter; he knew how to keepyou loose in a tight situation andget you to play your best.”

Findley, who passed away in2006, coached at Holtville from1960-65 and from 1984-1997. Hewas also a science teacher.

“I played for him from 1990-93,” Hull said. “As a coach, hewas good at managing the talenthe had and letting guys play totheir strengths.”

When his coaching careerended, Findley remained a fixturein the Holtville community,working with his church andDixie Youth and attending almostevery HHS sporting event.

“He was just a lifelong mem-ber of the Slapout community,”Hull said. “He always had sug-gestions for me if I needed helpwhile I was coaching, and he wasalways a big supporter of whatwe were doing.”

In addition to O’Brien, Burt,Foshee, Bazemore, Ray andFindley, other Hall of Fame in-ductees with connections to El-more County are Wetumpka’sRussell Taylor, Edgar Welden,Ken Blankenship and Jack Wood;Tallassee’s Tom Jones, DuaneWebster and Ronnie Baynes; El-more County’s John Whatley;and Holtville’s Bubba Lewis.

O’Brien

Burt

Foshee

Bazemore

Ray

Findley



or Larry Hoyle andBryant Duncan, twoaspiring teenage Tal-

lassee guitarists, the Beatles’appearance on “The Ed Sulli-van Show” in February 1964was an epiphany that com-pelled them, like thousandsof other American young-sters, to get a band of theirown cranked up.

However, unlike someother would-be rock stars,both had already begun play-ing guitar prior to the Beat-les’ historic appearance on

television.“I grew up in the country,

in Rock Springs,” Hoyle said,“and when I was 10 yearsold, my uncle, who was abluegrass picker, taught me afew chords on a guitar so Icould back him up. That wasacoustic music, but when theBeatles came along I had tohave an electric (guitar), andthe HerRectors got going in1964.”

Duncan had a similar expe-rience, recalling, “I listenedto true country music – WebbPierce, Cowboy Copas,Hawkshaw Hawkins, HankWilliams. A guy who livedbehind our house showed me

three ole-timey chords andgave me a Mel Bay chordbook.”

The other band memberswere Larry’s cousin John ondrums and Freddie Smith onbass. As was usually the casefor garage bands (so namedbecause that’s where many ofthem rehearsed), they beganwith inexpensive equipmentbut were able to purchasebetter-grade instruments asthey began to garner payingperformances.

According to both gui-tarists, the idea for a name forthe band – which, along withwhether or not to wearmatching outfits, was one of

the most important decisionsfor most ’60s teenage bands –came from a schoolmatenamed Danny Dupriest, whowas briefly in the band at thebeginning, and came up withthe HerRectors. The second“R” was capitalized becausethe “T” in the Beatles’ logowas also capitalized.

“Larry was probably theonly true musician in thegroup, and he still is,” Dun-can recalled with a chuckle,“So he played lead and Iplayed rhythm. I had learnedto keep time pretty well.”

“We were just a coverband, (playing) whateversongs were on the radio,”

Love of music spans decadesByWillie G.Moseley

Nearly a half-century old, this battered photo shows the HerRectors in 1964. From left, Larry Hoyle, John Hoyle, Bryant Duncan and Freddie Smith.CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

F


Hoyle said.The two guitarists credited Ned Butler

Sr., Ned Butler Jr. and Jack Mitchellwith WTLS, a local radio station, forhelping to nurture their dreams. Mitchellwould end up as the band’s manager.

“On Friday afternoon, from 4 to 4:30,we had a live radio show,” Hoyle said.“We’d go up to the station after school,and would take telephone requests. Thatwas really a thrill for us.”

Travel to performances was accom-plished in a vehicle provided by a parentof one of the band members.

“John’s father had a bread route andhe used a black Chevrolet panel truck,”Duncan remembered. “When we’d goout of town to play, we’d use that truck,and we’d take white shoe polish andwrite the name of the band on the side.When we got back, we’d wash it off.”

The band received enough of a localreputation to motivate them to record asingle in May 1965 at Fame Studios inMuscle Shoals. The “A” side was“You’re My Girl,” written by Hoyle, andthe flip-side was an instrumental, “Sum-mer Place ‘65.” The record was distrib-uted to radio stations throughout the

Southeast and did receive airplay, but itnever did break out, as had been the casearound the same time for the K-Otics,another band with members from Tal-lassee, and their version of “DoubleShot.”

The July 1, 1965, issue of The Tal-lassee Tribune noted the area success ofthe band and its single, and even alludedto the possibility of the HerRectors ap-pearing at a WBAM radio “Big Bam”concert in Montgomery, but that neverhappened, according to Hoyle.

The HerRectors broke up in late 1965,and in February 1966, Hoyle and Smithwere the Tallassee musicians whofounded a band known as the Bootleg-gers. Smith left that band, which laterevolved into the Sweet Young’Uns. Helater died in an automobile accident.

Duncan graduated from TallasseeHigh School in 1965. He joined the Na-tional Guard and attended Auburn Mont-gomery, beginning his studies when thatfacility was still on Bell Street nearMaxwell Air Force Base.

He also became a State Trooper, andwould ultimately retire from the Guardas a colonel, and from the Troopers as a

captain. Duncan now works part-timefor the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA).

Hoyle graduated from THS in 1966and attended Alexander City Junior Col-lege, settling into a lineman job and su-pervisory position with Alabama PowerCompany that lasted for decades in cen-tral Alabama until he retired.

“I was an outdoor person,” he ex-plained. “Having grown up in the coun-try, I knew I didn’t want a desk job.”

Hoyle still holds down the lead guitarslot in the Sweet Young’Uns. Duncanplays with a band called Cowboy Bill &Company that specializes in classiccountry music and performs on a casualbasis in the Lake Martin area.

As is the case for an untold number ofother Baby Boomers who played in am-ateur bands in the ’60s, Hoyle and Dun-can look back on their days with theHerRectors as an important experiencefor a love of music and playing that con-tinues to this day.

“Those two years we played togetherwere probably the greatest days of ourlives,” Duncan said with a smile. “Wewere all friends, and we still are.”


From

GOATto

GOURMET

Aric Adams takesout a few of thefinished wheels

of cheese from acooler at hiscreamery in

Millbrook, wherehe turns goat’s

milk (foreground)into fine

cheeses. PHOTO BY DAVID

GOODWIN

ByDavidGoodwin

Millbrookfarmer producesfine cheeses

uring a careerspent in thekitchens of manyrestaurants in thearea, Aric Adams

noticed something. He noticed that when

finer gourmet cheese wascalled for in a dish, rarelywas the selection locallyprepared.

“I was seeing what theindustry used, and what Ifelt like was lacking in ourcountry, as opposed toother countries in Europethat focused on usinglocal, fresh-grown pro-duce,” he said.

Adams kept that in theback of his mind. Later hebought a piece of propertybehind Timberlake subdi-vision on Deatsville High-way. Wanting to clear theunderbrush and make adeep ravine in his backyard useable, he bought aherd of goats. After awhile, the herd accom-plished that first goal.

“As I was learningabout them, I decided thatif I was going to havethem, they ought to payfor their keep,” Adamssaid over the high-pitchedhum of the milk pump at-tached to four of his girls.

“So I decided to makecheese.”

So his family’s home inMillbrook’s rural out-skirts became the AAFarm Creamery, creating

D


Located in the Historic Landcaster Hotelacross from Old Fain Theater

We mean BUSINESS with your printing!


“European-style aged goatand cow cheeses.”

“Old-world style artisanalcheeses with Southern fla-vor,” is Adams’ slogan.

Using only fresh milk har-vested daily from his herd ofSwiss dairy goats and oneJersey cow, AA Creamery en-sures the freshest ingredientsare used to make each batchof artisan cheese.

Adams built out his dairyand kitchen bit by bit overfour years, he said. It’s in-spected regularly by the Ala-bama Department of PublicHealth, just like any othercommercial kitchen.

Every morning andevening, the female goatsgather eagerly around thedoor of the milking house,waiting for Adams to relievetheir bulging udders.

Each goat’s name is hand-written on a post next to thedoor they enter twice a dayfor milking: Lanelle, Butter-cup, Milkface and Crimson,No. 23 and Lanette, just toname a few.

They know the routine,hopping up on a table to graba bite to eat while Adamsmilks them with a pump,hoses attached to each one’sudders.

Adams said his pump is afarmer’s market find, proba-bly close to 80 years old, butit runs fine, if you don’t mindthe noise. “Now you’ve gotto have each one’s correctname under her picture, youknow?” Adams said, laugh-ing, as he released four moreback into the yard after milk-ing.

“Goats are people, too.”After all 17 have finished

their oats and milking,Adams takes the shiny kettleof milk out of the machineand pours it into the pasteur-izer, step one in the process.

Further down the hill, hismilk cow gets the same treat-

ment in her stable. The cow’s milk, he said,

makes for a smoother cheesethat can be aged longer. Thegoats’ milk has a sharper,tangy flavor, like a goodparmesan.

“By mixing the two to-gether you get the lipid-con-tent of goat milk plus therichness from the cow,” hesaid. “And you can age themlonger.”

The best time of the yearfor his cheeses is comingsoon, he said. As the acornsstart popping and droppingfrom trees, their fatty contentand extra protein “kicks themilk up to a whole new level.

“It changes the flavor andtexture,” he said.

Adams said he’ll use theautumn milk for bigger hardcheese that he’ll keep overthe winter and age foraround six months. In an oldrefrigerator off the mainkitchen, there are cheeses atvarious stages of the agingprocess. They’re not prettyto look at there, but “theyget brushed down andcleaned up after they’re fin-

ished aging,” he said.Some of them will stay

there around a year. A Span-ish-style wheel he pulls out,called Shepherd’s reserve,has a little more time leftafter sitting around threemonths. In a cooler at onecorner of the kitchen, market-ready cheeses line theshelves.

He sells most of hischeeses at two farmers mar-kets in Tuscaloosa. TheHomegrown Market everyThursday at the CanteburyEpiscopal Student Center oncampus at the University ofAlabama and at the RiverMarket in the newTuscaloosa Amphitheater onthe banks of the Black War-rior River.

“I think people up there doa little more world travelling,and they’re more open towhat we do,” he said.

A few restaurants inTuscaloosa buy his cheesesfor their menus and he sellsto the kitchen at MontgomeryCountry Club as well.

“But I like making finecheeses the everyday man

can eat and enjoy,” Adamssaid.

AA Farm Creamery’swholesale cheese list for the2012 spring and summer lineincludes:

• Smoked Tomme, a hardgoat cheese smoked withcherry and peach wood.

• Big Blue, a “very boldand flavorful” Stilton-stylebleu made with cow and goatmilk.

• Princess, a soft ripenedcow cheese washed withKentucky bourbon.

• Tomato Basil, a fresh goatcheese with sundried toma-toes, roasted garlic and basil.

They run from $15 to $22per pound.

Adams said he’s planning araspberry and chocolatechunk cheese for the Christ-mas season. Other batchesare accented with currants,hickory smoke or sundriedtomatoes. He’s even willingto whip up a custom batch ifrequested.

For more information, orto order, call Adams at 334-730-3471.

The 17 Swiss milk goats at AA Farm Creamery have to be milked twice a day. The goat milk, and that of a cowAric Adams also owns, is used to make fine European-style cheeses. PHOTO BY DAVID GOODWIN


Out and about at ...Wetumpka River & Blues


Tallassee Pep Rally

Elmore County JAKES

Tallassee Arts& Crafts


Wetumpka 4th of July


Mark Your CalendarWetumpka Chamber Building FundCharitable Golf TournamentWhen: Oct. 4, 1 p.m.Where: Emerald Mountain GolfCourseDetails: Cost $65 per player or$240 per foursome. Gifts, prizes,food, cold beverages, hole in onecompetition to win a car. Proceedswill help support renovation of thechamber property in downtownWetumpka. For registration orsponsorship info, call 334-567-4811 or email [email protected].

Wetumpka Depot Players: Seeing Stars in DixieWhen: Oct. 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20,7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14, 2 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Depot TheatreDetails: A charming Southerncomedy is set in 1956 Natchez,Mississippi, where Elizabeth Tay-lor and Montgomery Clift have ar-rived to film Raintree County.Meanwhile at Clemmie's, aNatchez tea room, the widowedproprietor who has a fascinationwith movies and a secret admirer,oversees her own cast of charac-ters. Competition for a small rolein the movie brings out the best -and worst - of the town's colorfulcharacters. Tickets $10 at the boxoffice, $12 online. For info, call334-868-1440, [email protected] orvisit wetumpkadepot.com.

Titus Maze of TerrorWhen: Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and26-27, 7 p.m. to midnight; Oct. 31,7 to 10 p.m.Where: Grays Ferry Road, TitusDetails: Nine rooms of horror andan Enchanted Forest of the dead.Concessions and T-shirt salesavailable for purchase. $10 perperson. All proceeds benefit theTitus Volunteer Fire Department.For info, call 334-399-0623 or334-300-6857, visittitusfiredept.com or find Maze ofTerror sponsored by Titus VFD onFacebook.

Pumpkin Patch and HayrideWhen: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2 to 6p.m.; Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, 9 a.m. to 6pm.; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, 1 to 6 p.m.Where: Barber Berry Farm, Mill-brookDetails: Pumpkin patch andhayride for young families on abudget. A small admission fee in-cludes a hayride and then another

small fee covers picking somepumpkins in the patch. The cornpit, popular with young childrenfrom 2 years, and walking aroundthe farm and checking out the hy-droponic garden are free. For info,call 334-322-2118. or visitwww.barberberryfarm.com.

WYFCL Pancake BreakfastWhen: Oct. 6, 7 to 10 a.m.Where: Calvary Baptist Church,WetumpkaDetails: Hosted by WetumpkaYouth Football and CheerleadingLeague. Dine in or take home pan-cake and sausage plates for $5 perperson. Proceeds will be split50/50 between the Breast CancerResearch Foundation andWYFCL. Tickets available fromanyone with WYFCL or at thedoor.

House of Holidays BazaarWhen: Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Where: First United MethodistChurch, WetumpkaDetails: Handcrafted creations,art, yarn barn, jewelry, sweet shop,casseroles, soup, unique clothing,costumes, flower shop and secondtime around. Lunch available forpurchase.

Tecumseh at TuckabatcheeWhen: Oct. 6, 7 p.m.Where: Patterson Log Cabin, 355Sims Ave., TallasseeDetails: A historical drama set 200years ago when Tecumseh visitedTuckabatchee in 1811. Tickets $8in advance, $10 on site. Seatingprovided. Handicapped accessible.Presented by Talisi HistoricalPreservation Society Friends ofTuckabatchee. For info, visitwww.TallasseeChamber.com.

WMS PTO Fall BazaarWhen: Oct. 6, 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.Where: Wetumpka MiddleDetails: Crafters, artists, bakersand other vendors.

2nd Annual Camo Season KickoffWhen: Oct. 6Details: Morning events - 3DArchery Tournament at Bennett’sArchery, 8 a.m., $10, classes foreveryone 8 and older; Turkey Talkat Bennett’s Archery, 11 a.m., free.Evening event - Dinner at the We-tumpka Civic Center, 6 p.m., $15,children 11 and younger free,guest speaker Billy Yargus. Therewill be door prizes (including

deer, turkey and truck gear), ven-dors, whitetail display and more.For info, visit www.ontargetout-doorministries.com.

Coosa Canoe and Kayak Fishing TournamentWhen: Oct. 6, safe light to 3 p.m.Where: Coosa River, WetumpkaDetails: No-motor bass tourna-ment. Tournament waters alongthe Coosa River from Jordan Damto Gold Star Park. Catch, photo-graph and release format - noweigh-in. Prizes in six categories.Awards ceremony 4:30 p.m. atCoosa Outdoor Center. Entry fee$75. Register at www.coosakayak-fishing.com. Forms also availableat Coosa Outdoor Center. Hostedby Coosa Riverkeeper, a nonprofitclean water advocacy group.

Christmas Card MakingWhen: Oct. 6, 12 to 2 p.m.Where: Alabama River RegionArts Center, WetumpkaDetails: $25 includes materialsfee. Learn to make beautifulChristmas cards with new tech-niques (stamping, quilling, inking,embellishing and more). For info,call 334-578-9485 or visitwww.arrac.org.

Eclectic Trade DayWhen: Oct. 6, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Where: Downtown EclecticDetails: Arts and craft, food andyard sale vendors. Free financialreadiness training by the AlabamaSecurities Commission at 9, 10and 11 a.m. For info on rentingbooth space, call Ted McGinty at334-650-4772 or 334-568-3301 oremail [email protected] [email protected].

Bluegrass JamWhen: Oct. 6 and Nov. 3, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m.Where: Alabama River RegionArts Center, WetumpkaDetails: All acoustic instrumentswelcome - guitar, banjo, mandolin,fiddle, bass, singers. Beginner, in-termediate, advanced and listen-ers. For info, call 334-578-9485.

Santuck Flea MarketWhen: Oct. 6 and Nov. 3, dawn to2 p.m.Where: Area surrounding SantuckBaptist ChurchDetails: An outdoor flea marketwith booths featuring arts, crafts,antiques, novelties, imports, food

and more. Free admission to thepublic with free parking available.For info, call 334-567-7400.

Sit and ScrapWhen: Oct. 6 and Nov. 3, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m.Where: Alabama River RegionArts Center, WetumpkaDetails: All scrappers and papercrafters welcome. Bring your proj-ect and supplies. Free. For info,call 334-578-9485 or visitwww.arrac.org.

Sit and SewWhen: Oct. 6 and Nov. 3, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m.Where: Alabama River RegionArts Center, WetumpkaDetails: All sewers and knitterswelcome. Bring your sewing ma-chine or hand-sewing project. As-sistance and encouragement tohelp with projects. Ironing boardand iron provided. Free. For info,call 334-578-9485 or visitwww.arrac.org.

Ladies Can Workshop: Carpentry 101When: Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Elmore County ExtensionOffice, WetumpkaDetails: Topics include the righttool, screw, nail and technique forthe job; safety tips. hang a door;change a doorknob or lock. $5 fee.Preregistration required. Attendeesshould bring their lunch. TheLadies Can series is sponsored bythe local Extension Office andWetumpka Russell Do-It Center.For info or to preregister, call 334-567-6301.

WES FestWhen: Oct. 11, 5 to 7:30 p.m.Where: Wetumpka ElementaryDetails: An evening of carnivalgames, fun and food to raisemoney for teachers’ classrooms.

Coosa River Challenge XWhen: Oct. 13Details: The race consists of 3-6hours of mountain biking, trailrunning and river paddling plusspecial tests throughout. Format istwo-person teams male/female/co-ed or individual. The course isfriendly enough to be finished bythe novice racer, while challengingenough for the veteran adventureracer. The route incorporates thelast of the whitewater of Al-abama’s major river systems andfinishes in historic downtown We-


tumpka.For info, email [email protected].

Elegant Night of JazzWhen: Oct. 13, 7 to 11 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Civic CenterDetails: Enjoy the sounds of VanIngram. Semi-formal. Tickets $25single, $40 couple or $175 table ofeight. Ice, setups and heavy horsd'oeuvres provided. Proceeds ben-efit the Emanon Group scholarshipfund. For tickets or info, [email protected].

Alabama Cotton FestivalWhen: Oct. 13, 7:30 a.m. untilWhere: Downtown EclecticDetails: A free family-orientedfestival featuring activities all day- Miss Alabama Cotton Pageant,Cotton Run, Kids Zone, photocontest, art show, pet parade,sweet treats contest, cotton ex-hibit, antique/classic car show,Rook Tournament Championship,vendors and more. Live entertain-ment - Keith Moody Band, TheShiloh Spirituals, Laurel Taylor,Clint Darby and 4Js. Drawings for$50 gas cards. For info, call 334-568-3301.

Sandtown Alumni Fall FestivalWhen: Oct. 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.Where: 3080 Sandtown Rd, Mill-brookDetails: Offerings will includefried fish and camp stew, home-made treats, canned vegetables,jellies and more. For vendorspace, call 334-285-3946. Bring achair and fishing pole and enjoythe lake. Also celebrating the 50thanniversary of the Class of 1962.For info, call 334-285-3942 or334-285-5116

By The Creek FestWhen: Oct. 13, 11 a.m.Where: 3511 Shirley Lane, Mill-brookDetails: All day Christian musicfestival includes all genres ofChristian music. Performers - MattLittlejohn Band, After the Day,Disowning Kaleb, Harris Brothers,Chunky Son, Solid Rock, Cal-vary’s Call, Exclusive, The LarchFamily, Final Harvest and DennisFamily. There will be inflatablesand concessions. Admission isfree. For info, call 334-320-0534or visit bythecreekfest on Face-book.

Elmore County Historical Society MeetingWhen: Oct. 14, 2 p.m.Where: Elmore County MuseumDetails: Guest speaker, followedby fellowship and refreshments.

Visitors welcome.

ECEDA Fall Unity LuncheonWhen: Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Civic CenterDetails: Guest speaker Jim ByardJr., director of the Alabama De-partment of Economic and Com-munity Affairs (ADECA). Joingovernment, business and commu-nity leaders from the River Re-gion. $20 per person. Deadline toregister is Oct. 12. For info, callthe Elmore County Economic De-velopment Association at 334-514-5843 or [email protected].

Ladies Can Workshop: HouseholdMaintenance and RepairWhen: Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Elmore County ExtensionOffice, WetumpkaDetails: Topics include repairing ahole in the wall; painting tips; carefor heat and air units; hot waterheater and more. $5 fee. Preregis-tration required. Attendees shouldbring their lunch. The Ladies Canseries is sponsored by the localExtension Office and WetumpkaRussell Do-It Center. For info orto preregister, call 334-567-6301.

Color the Town Pink WalkWhen: Oct. 18, 12 p.m.Where: Meet at the WetumpkaCivic Center fountainDetails: An annual event spon-sored by The Wetumpka Heraldand co-sponsored by the City ofWetumpka to help raise awarenessof breast cancer.

Voters ForumWhen: Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Civic CenterDetails: Legislators will discussthe relevant initiatives on the Nov6 ballot. Moderator Dan Morris.All voters encouraged to attend.

Millbrook Community Players: Vintage Hitchcock Dinner TheatreWhen: Oct. 18-20, 7:30 p.m.; Oct.21, 2 p.m.Where: Millbrook CommunityTheatreDetails: Four shows only of Vin-tage Hitchcock - A Live RadioPlay. Spies, murder, love and othertrademarks of Alfred Hitchcockcome to life in the style of a 1940sradio broadcast of the master ofsuspense's earlier films. Ticketsare $22 and include dinner. Forinfo and tickets, call 334-782-7317 or visit www.millbrookthe-atre.com.

Night in Old Redland Fall FestivalWhen: Oct. 19, 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: Redland ElementaryDetails: The event is a fundraiserfor RES.

Handmade Craft MarketWhen: Oct. 20, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Bethel Worship Center,WetumpkaDetails: More than 100 vendorswith items including food. Give-aways every 30 minutes. Breakfastand lunch available. For info,email [email protected].

Annual Halloween CarnivalWhen: Oct. 20, 5 to 8 p.m.Where: Camp Chandler, We-tumpkaDetails: Carnival games, littlepumpkin playhouse, hauntedhouse, cake walk, raffle, inflata-bles, face painting, hayrides, con-cessions, big screen football, silentauction, trick-or-treating, a cos-tume contest, McGilvery Planta-tion haunted hike and more.Admission $5 per child (proceedsgo to the Camper ScholarshipFund). For info, call 334-538-4658, email [email protected] or visitwww.camp chandler.org.

SonShine 5K and 1-Mile Fun RunWhen: Oct. 20, 8 a.m.Where: Mulder United MethodistChurch, WetumpkaDetails: 5K starts at 8 a.m.; FunRun starts at 9 a.m. 5K $20; FunRun $10. Features a mostly flatcourse. Registration and packetpick-up on race day 7 to 7:30 a.m.No strollers or pets. Nursery pro-vided for children five andyounger. Deadline to enter Oct.13. All proceeds benefit MulderChurch's ministries to families inneed during the holiday season.For info or to sponsor, [email protected].

Tallassee Trade DayWhen: Oct. 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Where: Tallassee Historical Dis-trict, King StreetDetails: Arts and crafts fair, ven-dors. Free to attendees. Boothspace $25. For info, call 334-283-5151 or visit www.tallasseecham-ber.com.

Good 'Ole DaysWhen: Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m.Where: Alabama Nature Center,MillbrookDetails: Step back in time. Fromhayrides to antique tractors, visi-tors will enjoy a time when lifemoved a little slower. Those whohave a special old timey skill toshowcase or period wares to sell,

are invited to join this celebrationof yesteryear. For info about par-ticipating, email Jimmy Harris [email protected]. Reg-ular ANC admission charged to at-tend.

15th Annual Angel FestWhen: Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: St. Michael and All An-gels Episcopal Church, MillbrookDetails: Activities will includeHost of Angels Craft Fair, silentauction, Slice of Heaven BakeSale, children’s carnival, HolySmoke Grill, entertainment,Boston butts and more. For vendorinfo, call 334-285-0451. All pro-ceeds benefit the less fortunate.For info, call the church at 334-285-3905.

Alabama Nature Center General Public WeekendWhen: Oct. 20 and 21, Nov. 17and 18; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.Where: Alabama Nature Center,MillbrookDetails: Enjoy five miles of scenicANC trails while learning aboutthe natural history of central Ala-bama. Admission charged. Forinfo, call 334-285-4550 or visitwww.alabamawildlife.org.

River Region Fall Family Fun DayWhen: Oct. 21, 2 to 5 p.m.Where: Lanark, MillbrookDetails: A fun day event for chil-dren living with diabetes and theirfamilies. There will be food, fish-ing, tree top walk, team buildingactivities, diabetes education andmore. Cost $10 for immediatefamily of child with diabetes. $5each for extended family membersor friends. Presented by the South-eastern Diabetes Education Serv-ices and River Region LionsClubs. Register by Oct. 17. Forinfo, call 205402-0415 or [email protected].

Ask the Experts Series: Legally SpeakingWhen: Oct. 23, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Where: Jeanette Barrett CivicRoom, Wharf Street, WetumpkaDetails: Hosted by the Minorityand Women Owned Business De-velopment Task Force (MWB) ofthe Wetumpka Area Chamber ofCommerce. The purpose of theworkshop series is to help buildrelationships between chambersmall businesses and resources lo-cated in the community. Industryprofessionals will be on hand tooffer tips, answer questions anddevelop working relationshipswith member businesses that mayneed their services. This session


will discuss pre-defined legal top-ics that benefit all small busi-nesses. For info, call the chamberat 334-567-4811.

Ladies Can Workshop: Plumbing BasicsWhen: Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Elmore County ExtensionOffice, WetumpkaDetails: Topics include fixing aleaky faucet; clearing a clog; fix-ing a commode; installing afaucet; protecting pipes and more.$5 fee. Preregistration required.Attendees should bring theirlunch. The Ladies Can series issponsored by the local ExtensionOffice and Wetumpka Russell Do-It Center. For info or to preregis-ter, call 334-567-6301.

WMS Fall FestivalWhen: Oct. 25, 5 to 7 p.m.Where: Wetumpka MiddleDetails: There will be a variety ofgames and food concessions. Pro-ceeds will be placed in teachers’classroom accounts to buy itemsfor use in the classrooms. Every-one is encouraged to attend andsupport this school/communityevent.

EA Fall FestivalWhen: Oct. 25, 5 to 8 p.m.Where: Edgewood AcademyDetails: Enjoy family fun, gamesand more. For info, call 334-567-5102

ACTFest ’13When: Oct. 26-28Where: Wetumpka Depot TheatreDetails: The Alabama Conferenceof Theatre will hold its annualCommunity Theatre Festival fea-turing eight community theater en-tries from around the state.Productions will be adjudicatedand awards given to acknowledgeexceptional theatrical work in avariety of areas both on and offstage. In addition to the popularone-act festival competition, therewill be workshops.

Mistletoe MarketWhen: Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Mulder United MethodistChurch, Wetumpka Details: Get a jump on Christmasshopping or buy baked goods tosupport Children’s Missions at thechurch.

Candy WalkWhen: Oct 30, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.Where: Park behind WetumpkaAdministrative BuildingDetails: Local businesses providegoodies to children through fourthgrade. Free. Children are encour-

aged to dress up in their favoritecostume. For info or to reserve aspace (businesses/organizations)to give away treats/toys, callTiffany Robinson at 334-567-5147or email [email protected].

Ladies Can Workshop: ElectricityMaintenance and RepairWhen: Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Elmore County ExtensionOffice, WetumpkaDetails: Topics include safety withelectricity; hanging a ceiling fan;changing a switch or outlet andmore. $5 fee. Preregistration re-quired. Attendees should bringtheir lunch. The Ladies Can seriesis sponsored by the local Exten-sion Office and Wetumpka RussellDo-It Center. For info or to pre-register, call 334-567-6301.

Christmas on the Coosa PageantsWhen: Nov. 2 and 3Where: Wetumpka Civic CenterDetails: Girls in four age divisionswill compete. Pageant dates andtimes - Nov. 2, 7 p.m., JuniorMiss; Nov. 3, 12 p.m., Petite Miss;Nov. 3, 3 p.m., Little Miss; Nov. 3,7 p.m., Miss. Admission $5 perperson.

Chris Davis MemorialCar/Truck/Bike ShowWhen: Nov. 3, Registration 8 to11 a.m.; awards 1 p.m.Where: Wetumpka High SchoolDetails: $20 donation for registra-tion. Grill raffle tickets $5 each.Door prizes, cake sale, hamburg-ers and hot dogs, cold drinks. Peo-ple’s Choice Award, Pastor’sChoice Award, Best of Show. Allproceeds benefit Faith BaptistChurch building fund. For info,call Jack Davis at 334-202-3027or Gerald Wood at 334-567-4417.

WES PTO Yard SaleWhen: Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.Where: Wetumpka ElementaryDetails: Featuring a variety ofvendors.

Wetumpka Gridiron Race 10K/5K/1 MileWhen: Nov. 3, 7 a.m.Where: Wetumpka HighDetails: A fundraiser to supportthe Wetumpka Indians footballprogram. Registration 7 a.m., 10K 8 a.m., 5K 8:10 a.m, 1-Mile Run 9:10 a.m. Awards fol-lowing 1-Mile Run. Early registra-tion (by Oct. 24) - 10K $25, 5K$20, 1-Mile $15. Race day registration - 10K $30, 5K $25, 1-Mile $20. Register at www.on-estoprace.com. For info or tosponsor, call 334-567-3737, 662-

609-6933 or email [email protected] [email protected].

WES PTO FundraiserWhen: Nov. 3, 6 to 10 a.m.Where: Belk’sDetails: The Wetumpka Elemen-tary PTO is selling $5 tickets thatwill allow purchasers to shop a“Better Than Black Friday Sale.”The PTO will receive all ticketproceeds, and shoppers will becredited the $5 on their purchasethat morning.

Daylight Savings Time EndsWhen: Nov. 4, 2 a.m.Details: Set clocks back one hour.

Alabama Frontier DaysWhen: Nov 7-11, 8:30 a.m. to4:30 p.m.Where: Fort Toulouse/Jackson,WetumpkaDetails: Reenactment of Al-abama's frontier days from FrenchColonial times to the Early Ameri-can period. Includes Native Amer-ican reenactors, period traders,merchants and entertainers, pot-tery making, dugout canoe con-struction, hide tanning and CreekIndian hunting camp. Admissioncharged. For info, call 334-567-3002 or visit www.fttoulousejack-son.org.

14th Annual Charis Crafters Craft Show and Tasting FairWhen: Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.;Nov. 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Civic CenterDetails: The yearly “Home for theHolidays” event will offer a widevariety of handmade crafted itemsand homemade delights for giftgiving or decorating. Admissioncharged. For info, call 334-399-0350.

15th Annual Battles for the Armory Civil War ReenactmentWhen: Nov. 9-11Where: Gibson’s View Plantation,TallasseeDetails: Admission charged.School Day Nov. 9. Battle ofCheaha Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. Battle ofFranklin Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. SpecialConfederate Armory tours Nov. 9.A family-oriented event. Other at-tractions include working black-smith shop, carriage rides, periodfoods, crafts, modern concessionstands. Gates open to public at 9a.m. Sponsored by Tallassee Ar-mory Guards SCV Camp 1921and hosted by the 53rd AlabamaCavalry. Proceeds benefit historicpreservation projects with empha-sis on the Confederate ArmoryProject in Tallassee. For info, call

334-283-6888.

Wetumpka VeteransDay ObservanceWhen: Nov. 11, 11 a.m.Where: Pine View Memorial Gar-densDetails: Join in recognizing U.S.military veterans. Local BoyScouts will place flags on veter-ans’ graves. Hosted by We-tumpka’s Smith-Leonard VFWPost 4572 and its Ladies Auxiliaryand Korean War Veterans Charter263.

McCraney-Cottle Arts Council: AWorld of Music with Todd GreenWhen: Nov. 17Details: Performance by instru-mentalist Todd Green, who playsmore than 40 string, wind and per-cussion instruments from aroundthe world. Prior to the publicshow, he will perform Nov. 15 atTallassee Elementary and Nov. 16at Southside Middle. For info, callMissy Jones at 334-252-8506 oremail [email protected].

Wetumpka Depot Players: The Legend of Santa PigWhen: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7 p.m.Where: Wetumpka Depot TheatreDetails: The Depot’s annualChristmas show is for the youngand young at heart. Tickets $10 inadvance and $12 online and at thedoor. For info, call 334-868-1440,email [email protected] or visit wetumpkadepot.com.

Millbrook Tree LightingWhen: Nov. 29, 6 p.m.Where: Village Green ParkDetails: Bring folding chairs andblankets and enjoy holiday musicto start the holiday season with theofficial tree lighting. For info, call334-322-9871 or visit www.city-ofmillbrook.org.

Wetumpka Tree Lighting, NativityProgram and Lights in MotionWhen: Nov. 30Where: Gold Star Park, riverwalkand downtownDetails: Photos with Santa forchildren, refreshments, entertain-ment, tree lighting, nativity play,lighting of special illuminations.

Compiled by Peggy Blackburn

To submit a calendar item (De-cember 2012 through February2013) for the Winter 2012 editionof Elmore County Living, email in-formation to [email protected] no later than Nov. 1.The edition will be published inlate November.

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