FREE August/September 2011 August/September 2011 • • www.LakeWedoweeLife.net www.LakeWedoweeLife.net • •

www.lakesidewedowee.com

Special Features 10. News to Know: Living the Lake Wedowee Life Model Search 12. Flat Rock: A Day at Lake Wedowee’s Rock Beach 14. Small Town Life: Lake Wedowee Means to Us 16. News to Know: Family Fun Day at French Hammond Park 19. News to Know: Local Collection on Display at Regional Museum 22. American Spirit: Boat Parade Draws Crowds, Creativity 32. Hot Dog: Tips to keep your pet safe on Lake Wedowee 50. Reader’s Photos: Enjoying Fun in the Summer

In Every Issue 8. Enjoy Life! - Letter from the Editor 9. Lake Wedowee At a Glance 30. Lake Map 34. Creative Crafting 36. Simply Fabulous 40. Charley’s Treasures 43. Hooked on Lake Wedowee 49. Southern Living House Plan 53. Chamber Chatter 54. Where in the World? 58. Built on the Lake

August/September 2011

Vol. 4 No. 4

On the Cover

Fourth of July is a great experience for participants and spectators. Join us again next year!

Lake Wedowee Life magazine is published six times a year and available around the Lake Wedowee area which includes Randolph and Clay Counties in Alabama as well as parts of West Georgia. Paid mail subscriptions are available for $18 a year. All content in this publication is protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Neighborhood Publishing.

© 2008 Neighborhood Publishing

contributing writers

Darlene Bailey

Max Fulbright

Erica Huddleston

Reed Montgomery

Charley Norton

Dorothy Tidwell

General Manager LEISEL CALDWELL

info@lakewedoweelife.com

Editor KELLY CALDWELL

news@lakewedoweelife.com (256) 276-7959

Writer AMANDA CAUSEY

leighcausey@hotmail.com

Advertising Sales LAVOY CALDWELL

ads@lakewedoweelife.com (334) 863-0737

Lake Wedowee Life 877.959.LAKE (5253)

18285 Highway 431 � Wedowee, AL www.LakeWedoweeLife.net

Lake Wedowee Life 7

I have always said Halloween is my fa-vorite non-religious holiday, but I have to say Fourth of July is gaining ground at a lightening pace. Fourth of July on Lake Wedowee is

something to experience! Considering the size of our town, it amazes me how much there is to do during that holiday period. We had the rodeo, two street dances

and numerous firework displays (some planned and promoted, some by word of mouth). However, the best display of American Pride (in my opinion of course)

came on Fourth of July during our 3rd Annual Lake We-dowee Patriotic Boat Parade. This year we saw 28 entries decorated in their season’s best and let me tell you, the boats did not disappoint. The creativity was so extraordinary, we launched a People’s Choice Award through our facebook.com fan page. Let’s just say that people took that voting seriously! We had accusations of it being rigged and I know of at least one fake profile created during the voting period… (Regina Fa-langi...Come on… Really?) We had 357 votes cast for the finalists which were Fantastic Fourth, Gilligan’s Island and Mickey Mouse. In the end the Judges and the People agreed and named the Fantastic

Fourth not only the Pride of Wedowee, but also the first ever People’s Choice Winner. And their message was quite simple, “Our Soldiers are the Real Super Heroes!” Thank you to all the people involved in making the boat parade a success and

to see all the boats from the parade see pages 22-29 of this issue!

Kelly Caldwell Enjoy Life!

Lake Wedowee is the Place for Me on 4th of July

8 Lake Wedowee Life

10 Lake Wedowee Life

Lake Wedowee Life 11

If you go online and search Flat Rock Park, you won’t get too many results. It’s no secret that Flat Rock sees many visitors though. On any pretty summer day the park is bursting with ac-tivity.

“We had 813 visitors on Fourth of July weekend.” Park attendant John Powell said.

He and Bob Wood were keep-ing their eye on things the day I stopped by to speak to park visi-tors. Since May of this year the park has seen 22,265 visitors.

“About 40 percent of our peo-ple are from Georgia. You’d be amazed of how many people come from that area.”, Wood said. As he spoke those words a

vehicle from Heard County, Geor-gia passed through the gates.

Flat Rock Park is part of the Piedmont Plateau region located in the eastern United States be-tween the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Moun-tains, stretching from New Jersey to central Alabama.

On the day of my visit it was overcast and the chance of rain was looming in the air. That did not stop visitors from piling in.

“We come about an hour early so we can get a good spot.” Daniel Smith, of Anniston, said. “The people here are always nice and everyone keeps to themselves here. You don’t have to worry about your kids here, you can re-lax and enjoy.”

This is the Smith Family’s sec-ond visit to the park.

“Flat Rock Park is a lot nicer than some of the parks closer to our house. It’s very clean." said Daniel’s wife Amber.

“It’s also easier for disabled

Cousins Dakota & Brittney have fun playing in the waters around Flat Rock.

News to Know Story by Amanda Causey

12 Lake Wedowee Life

Lake Wedowee Life 13

people to come and enjoy. They can drive their cars right down and it’s easy to get in and out of the water. That’s another reason we like coming here.” Brittany Green enjoys bringing

her small children to Flat Rock. “It’s a great place to come and

have a birthday party for your

children, or to come and grill hotdogs and ham-burgers.” Green said. “We came out on Memorial Day to let the kids swim. We were out boating and pulled up so they could have a shal-low area to stand.” Flat Rock is a

day-use park with swimming, pic-nicking, fishing, and nature trail. It is open open May-September 9 am-8 pm. The park is located at 7115 Co. Rd. 870, in Lineville. Re-gardless if you are a property owner or not, Flat Rock Park is a wonderful way to spend an after-

noon with the family on Lake We-dowee. The park is managed by The

Alabama Power Company. Call 256-396-2338 for more informa-tion.

Brittany Green & Family splash around at Flat Rock on Memorial Day Weekend.

This graphic shows the Piedmont Plateau region.

Lake We-dowee is more than just a place to fish, lay out and vacation. All that is great, but it's the hidden meaning that folks need to know about. We have a very close family...Just the folks and me. Being an only child has made me grow up fast. My family moved to We-dowee in the late nineties. My mother and fa-ther opened up a business here on the lake and at the ripe old age of 14 I was thrown into a small school I had only heard about from my grandmother who taught there. Randolph County High School was not the most welcoming atmos-phere for me was an adjustment for me, but my classmates eventually took me in. My mother enjoyed new friends and a cozy church, but at the same time she missed the quick trip to Walmart when we ran out of TP. My father was right at home. He graduated from RCHS (a really long time ago) so the change from Birmingham to Wedowee was no culture shock for him as it was for the two ladies in his life. By the time I received my high school di-ploma I was ready to get out of here and head back to the "Magic City". I did just that and later

graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Since my graduation in 2008, I have moved five times. Of all those places, there is one place that is always in my heart and soul. There is one place I call home. That's Lake Wedowee. Now that I'm older I can't help but think of how I used to try so hard to get out of the small town. It's ironic that now I am trying even harder to get back in.

For my mother, times have not always been the easiest. She is cur-rently dealing with cancer for the second time. The first time, she had breast cancer, it was removed, she

had chemother-apy, then recov-ered. This time, things are not going along that simply. She had chemo and ra-diation already, and now we are waiting for her to see a surgeon. After a compli-cated surgery the doctors tell us she will have to have more chemo. Al-though the can-cer has already taken so much from my mother and father, there has been a con-

sistent flow of friends and ac-quaintances who have replaced some of the sadness with love. I am really amazed every time I go home at all the things people do for my family. We have had all sorts of homegrown tomatoes, squash, corn, and other vegetables sent to us. At least once a week, someone cooks an entire meal and brings it by for dinner. Greeting cards line my mother's office from floor to ceiling. It is truly amazing.

Thanks to Wedowee and the wonderful people around, we have gotten through this nightmare situation and are looking forward in a positive light. We all believe that we would not get the love and attention if we were anywhere else. Lake Wedowee is more than a com-munity, it is a family.

In times of crisis, the true meaning of community has presented itself in extraordinary ways to Erica Huddleston, left, and her mom Bonny.

Small Town Life by Erica Huddleston

http://www.lakewedoweeandmore.com

French-Hammond Family Fun day is getting a face lift of sorts thanks to new managers Wendy and Jake Moore.

“There will be a lot of things that are the same, but we are going to sneak a few surprises in as well,” Wendy Moore said.

The fifth annual event is a fund raiser for French-Hammond Park which is used by Randolph County High School baseball and softball teams and the Moores became in-volved in the park because of their children.

“The future of the park is impor-tant to us,” Wendy said. “Our chil-dren go to school at Randolph County and right now the park does not have permanent lighting. Some-times our teams cannot complete games because it gets dark.”

Wendy's husband Jake grew up in Wedowee, in fact he played baseball for Randolph County and hit the first two homeruns at French-Hammond Park. He knows the importance of the community support needed to com-plete a project such as lighting for the fields.

“I volunteer as a baseball coach at RCHS, and it will take the commu-nity to complete the fields,” Jake said. “This fund-raiser will be the first step

in accomplishing our goals.”

In the past Family Fun day fea-tured inflatable rides and obstacle courses.

“There will still be a lot of the same events as years past because we know the children enjoy them,” Wendy said. “But we want to get the whole family involved and have de-cided to add a few things for adults to enjoy as well.... As long as they don't take themselves too seriously.”

Some of the new events will be family-oriented games reminiscent of old-fashioned field day events like three-legged races, watermelon eat-ing contests, wheelbarrow races and egg toss.

“We are going to set these games up throughout the day and it will be broken down into age categories,” Wendy said. “These games are not about prizes but about having fun and of course bragging rights.”

Face painting and twisty hair booths have become a staple at Fam-ily Fun Day and this year is no excep-tion.

“It is always fun to see how funky children can get after going through those two booths,” Wendy said.

There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available for Family-Fun Day. All the events and rides are available for sponsors to promote their business through custom signs at each event location.

“We feel it is important for those businesses that support this cause to get the recognition they deserve,” Wendy said. “We are very apprecia-tive of the support from our local business owners and we want the community to know that.”

Sponsorship opportunities on the rides and events are limited but there are other ways people can help.

“We need all the volunteers we can get,” Wendy said. “And, there are plenty of ways people can help physi-cally or monetarily.”

Family Fun Day will be Sept. 4 which is the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. It will begin at 4 p.m. and last until 8 p.m.

“We are really excited about this event and hopefully the community will come out and have a fun-filled Sunday afternoon and in the process help support the improvements to our sports fields.”

16 Lake Wedowee Life

News to Know by Kelly Caldwell

http://www.ilovelakewedowee.com Lake Wedowee Life 17

http://www.docksetc.com

http://www.josephine-lakewedowee.com

Lake Wedowee Life 19

Local resi-dents Gary and Martha Price are collectors. It doesn't matter if its sports memorabilia, Barbie Dolls, glassware or hats... If they think it has value either now or in the future, they keep it. How-ever, they take more pride in one collection more than the rest.

The pair be-gan collecting folk pottery from East Ala-bama in the 1980s and haven't stopped since.

There collec-tion of pottery from Rock Mills, Bacon Level and Hickory Flats will be show-cased at the Julie Smith Collins Mu-seum of Fine Art in Auburn begin-ning August 6 and running through November 26.

“Alabama Folk Pottery has been around for more than 200 years,” Gary Price said. “The early settlers to this area came from the Carolinas and Georgia and with them they brought their trades.”

The first settlers came to what

would be Alabama after the re-moval of the Native Americans in the 1830s. Back then, pottery was made to be used and the style was reflective of the purpose.

“Most of the pottery from this

area is utilitar-ian in nature,” Price said. “Churns, jugs, pitchers and other crockery were made for the potter’s family and community. All of the pottery was meant to be used and very little of it was decora-tive.” Some of the more well-known potters from the area include Wil-liam Hudson Boggs, “Charley” Brown, Cicero Demosthenes Hudson, John Frederick Leh-man, John Davis Leopard, William Davis Pound, Zach-ary Taylor Ussery and Jesse James Weathers. “These potters used home-

made glazes in the early days, which included whatever they could find,” Price said. “The ash glazes were used until the railroad came to the area. Then salt was added to the mix to give a differ-ent effect.”

Making pottery was a family tradition for these people and it was something that was passed

Local collection on display at regional Museum

These are a few pieces of local folk pottery Gary and Martha Price have col-lected over the years. Their collection will be on display at the Julie Smith Collins Museum of Fine Arts in Auburn beginning August 6.

News to Know by Kelly Caldwell

20 Lake Wedowee Life

down from generation to gen-eration with little deviation. “The Ussery family was

one of the best known pottery-making families in Alabama,” Price said. “The heirs of Robert Ussery learned the trade and continued to pass it down to their children and grandchildren.” Zachary Taylor Ussery,

grandson of Robert, remained in Randolph County and was known to use the potters mark ZTU. He also made “Alabama Churns” which have two strap handles on one side. “Alabama Folk Pottery is

distinctive and highly collecti-ble,” Price said. “We first be-gan collecting in the '80s and have learned so much about the families that created these pieces.” Pieces of Alabama Folk

Pottery from this area are on

display at the High Museum in Atlanta as well as the Bir-mingham Museum of Art. “Collectors began coming to the area and 'picking' proba-bly in the early '70s when folk art became popular,” Price said. “At that time, most of the people around here didn't think much of the old pitcher in the cabinet so they would sell it for a couple of hundred dollars... Then those 'pickers' would turn around and sell it for thousands of dollars. “I know there have been pieces of Rock Mills pottery to sell at auction for more than $75,000,” he said. “So my best advice to people that think they have Alabama Folk Pottery is not to sell it to the first person that comes calling. Do your homework and it could be worth a lot more than you think.”

Gary and Martha Price have been collecting Rock Mills Pottery as well as other local pot-tery since the 1980s.

http://www.lakewedoweeleaders.com Lake Wedowee Life 27

With a record crowd of spectators lin-ing the way by boat and land, the 3rd Annual Fourth of July Boat Pa-rade capped off cele-brating America's birth-day on Lake Wedowee.

“We were a little worried about the turn-out this year because it was the first time we haven't had the parade on a Saturday,” Kelly Caldwell, editor of Lake Wedowee Life and or-ganizer of the event, said. “And we were down a little bit in numbers, but our en-tries more than made up for it with their creativity.”

In addition to the spectators, the parade featured special appearances by a cast of characters including Un-cle Sam, Lady Liberty, Super Heroes, characters from Gilligan's Island and even Mickey Mouse. However, the most outrageous entry of the day came courtesy of the Shell, Turner and Wiggins family.

“I received a message before the parade from them asking if they could enter two boats as one if they paid separate entry fees,” Caldwell said. “I said go for it and didn't think much about it until that day.”

Their entry consisted of two pon-toon boats attached to each other as if it was in a traditional parade. However, the twist was the first boat was decorated like a 1957 Chevy. The boats won the “Most Outra-geous” award for their creativity.

“This year we changed things up a good bit,” Caldwell said. “We de-cided to go with an overall winner

known as the Pride of Wedowee and we added individual category win-ners.”

Other Award winners included Salute to our Troops (Entry 3) by the Valeria Garner family; Most Spirited (Entry 5) by Josh Welch; Best Mascot (Entry 20) by Jimmy and Mary Ann Ward; Star Spangled Celebration (Entry 18) by Scott Deering family.

The overall winner now known as “Pride of Wedowee” will have a picture of their boat displayed at sponsor locations for the next year.

“We really wanted to do some-thing special to honor the overall winner because I can only imagine the work that goes into decorating the boats,” Caldwell said.

With a theme that could have won in every category Entry 10 by the Cindy Moss family truly is the Pride of Wedowee for 2011.

The highly decorated pontoon boat captured the judges’ attentions quickly with a unique approach to patriotism. “Have a Fantastic

Fourth” adorned the cus-tom banners that decorated the sides of the boat and costumed super heroes hap-pily waved to the crowds. Playing off the movie Fan-tastic Four, the boat also had cardboard cutouts of char-acters from the movie. However, it was the banner draped on the side that en-compassed the message the Moss family in-tended...”Soldiers are the Real Super Heroes.” The boat, nicknamed Fan-tastic Fourth, also won the People's Choice Award which was chosen through facebook.com voting.

“There were so many people coming up to me after the parade saying different boats should have won,” Caldwell said. “So we de-cided to do a People's Choice Award, to give the spectators a say... Well, after two rounds of voting the people agreed with the judges. We really appreciated people's passion for their favorites and can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next year.”

Each year the entry fee for each boat is donated to a charity of the organizers choosing and considering the devastation the state of Alabama has experienced since the April 27th tornadoes, it was only fitting to do-nate the proceeds to the American Red Cross Tornado Recovery Effort.

“With additional donations, we were able to raise $695 for tornado relief,” Caldwell said.

Kelly Caldwell, Amanda Causey,

Gayle Gordon and Patricia Guinn provided photographs for this story.

Thirty boats participated in the Third Annual Boat Parade on Lake Wedowee. The event raised $695 for the American Red Cross.

Lake Wedowee Life 23

Boat Parade

Award Winners (Top, clockwise) Pride of Wedowee, Best Masot, Most Outrageous, Most Spirit, Star Spangled Celebration and Salute to our Troops.

Lake Wedowee Life 31

1

2

3

4

5 6

Information is deemed to be correct but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and is subject to change.

7 8

9

10

11

Locations on the map are approximate, for directions to proper-ties displayed, call the listing agent.

Does your dog tag along with you wherever you

go? For many dog owners, their dogs go where they go because they are a member of the family, whether it’s on their motorcycle, in their wedding, or on the boat. Boating with your dog seems a safe and enjoyable activity; how-ever, it can be quite dangerous for your four-legged friend. Prac-tice these dog safety tips while enjoying summertime activities with man’s best friend.

Dr. Sam Shelnutt of Main Street Animal Hospital in Roa-noke is our local veterinarian. When there are emergencies after hours he refers all his patients to his former classmate Dr. Barry Nicholls with Animal Medical Center in Anniston, Alabama. I visited Dr. Nicholls to get some expert advise on how to keep your pet safe during the hot sum-mer months.

The first topic of discussion was heat exhaustion. Dr. Nicholls stated that he sees a lot of pets who are suffering from the symp-toms of heat stroke. Warning signs of heat exhaustion are heavy panting, pale gums, in-creased heart rate, and disorienta-tion. If your dog starts to experi-ence these symptoms immedi-ately cool your dog down by sub-merging them into water and keeping them cool. Seek medical help if symptoms do not lessen.

Another great tip Dr. Nicholls practices with his own pets is to groom your pets every summer,

even if your breed does not typi-cally need grooming. “I like sum-mer haircuts,” he stated. “It lets us see fleas and ticks easily.” Looking for fleas and ticks, and keeping your pet cool are not the

only reasons to trim the winter coat. Venomous snakes are a ma-jor threat to dogs, especially those who spend time around and on the water. Having a shorter mane will allow you to easily see if there is a bite. “Last year we lost 5 animals to venomous snake bites.” said Nicholls. The three snakes that would cause a threat in this area are the Water Mocca-

Tips to keeping pets safe while visiting Lake Wedowee

Rob & Magnolia Germany enjoy a sunny afternoon on Lake Wedowee.

News to Know Story by Amanda Causey

32 Lake Wedowee Life

Lake Wedowee Life 33

sin, Copperhead, and Coral snakes. If you see a snake near your pet and suspect a snake bite, take a photo of the snake and head to the vet. Knowing what type of snake will help in the treatment of your dog or cat. If you can catch the snake to bring along with you that will also help. Symp-toms of a snake bite are swelling and pain.

More specific to boat safety is the is-sue of life jackets. Is it a necessity? Dr. Nicholls recom-mends that all dogs who are going to spend time on a boat have a life jacket. “Knowing if your dog can swim is the first step to protecting your pet. Get in the pool or shallow area of the lake and practice, just like you would with your child.” Also having a doggy boat ladder will help your pet be less anxious in the water. “Practice getting onto the boat and they will remember the way.” explained Nicholls. When buying a life vest ensure that you get one brightly colored so other boaters will be able to see your pet. Watch out for fish hooks and lures while on the boat. Keep any hazard out of their reach. Particu-larly fishing lines for cats.

Another good point that Dr. Nicholls made was “Be cautious

when your pet jumps from the front of the boat into shallow wa-ter. There could be broken glass or sticks that can hurt their paws. We do tend to see a lot of foot lac-erations.” Being around the wa-ter is not always some dogs’ favorite thing to do. In the event you have a dog that gets anxious about boat rides there are solutions. Most anxiety can be controlled by behav-ioral training. There are also medications that can help, but it is always best to try other options. Nicholls said there is a new product called a “Thunder Shirt” that helps a

dog feel secure and has a calming effect. He stated that he had seen a differ-ence in behavior during thunderstorms and boat rides. Dr. Shelnut and his staff are available for your small animal needs Mon-day through Thursday 8:30 a.m.—12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. and on Fridays 8:30 a.m.—12 p.m. (334) 863-7111 Dr. Nicholls and his team of veterinarians and tech-nicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have an emergency give them a call while you are in tran-sit to let them be prepared

for your situation. 256-236-8387.

Dr. Nicholls advising his technician during surgery.

Howie Carter relaxes in the shade after a morning of fishing on Lake Wedowee.

Years back when the major dog food companies recalled their dog food and snacks my family, like many others in the country, did not feel safe letting their four legged family members eat just any old dog treat out there.

We found this recipe in a neighborhood cook book and made them for our dogs. Yes, it is much easier to go buy dog biscuits at the store, but knowing that your pet is getting a healthy treat is just as important as your child

having one!

http://www.wmgrocery.com

Just how much higher will the temperature gage go? Man oh man is it hot or what? Flowers,grass and gardens are pleading for rain and pets are hid-ing in every shade they can find. The place to be is on the lake either splashing in the water or in a boat with the breeze in your face. Cooking is not my friend right now. By the time I sweat to death in the kitchen, I've lost my appetite. Something light and cool is on the menu at my house.

My family looks forward to summer because when May arrives I break out the ice-cream freezer. Every Sunday night I make a homemade freezer of ice-cream. By summer's end everyone has had their turn at their favorite flavor. I will be sharing a recipe for Orange Sherbet. It is the easiest and most re-freshing pleasure ever! So break out the freezer and Let's Get Chillin’.

Please let us know what you think of our recipes.

You can email me directly at baileydp1@aol.com. I love feedback.

Glass Slipper Events 256.449.2946

Simply Fabulous Story by Darlene Bailey ���� Photo by Kelly Caldwell

1 2 liter bottle Sunkist Orange Soda 1 can eagle brand milk Blend together well in a blender. Pour up and

freeze as usual. (see easy!) *you can also use other flavors like pineapple, strawberry or lime.

Homemade Orange Sherbert

Www.ScottHewittLaw.com

http://www.aemetalroofing.com

http://www.mckinneybuilders.com/

40 Lake Wedowee Life

It was an ominous day. The clouds were so heavy that in places, it seemed as though they were dragging along the mountainous skyline of Lake Wedowee. The air was thick with humidity and there was a feeling of anx-iousness that I can’t quite de-scribe. I strain to hear the little voice screaming in the back of my head telling me to stop, but I’m not quite able to over the wind moaning, no, howling through the trees. As I stand there on the 48 dock looking out at the angry sea, I could see the uninviting waters staring at me, dar-ing me to venture on. Waves were slapping the dock in an effort to knock me off balance and the white caps clapped in the distance as though laughing at its effort to do so. It was an ominous day indeed.

So I stood there with my brave two crew members, fighting with the little voice and building the courage to board the spirited Polaris twins and take them out into the heart of

the beast. I look back at my faithful deckhands and could see the adrena-line in their eyes. They were ready, despite the weather, to complete the mission at hand.

Maggie was the most experienced of the crew. Although female, she always rose to a challenge and was a worthy pilot. Luke, who was new, seemed eager to prove himself and anxious to get started. They both

were blinded by youth and inexperience as was I in the possibility of their disap-pointment. So I reluctantly gave the com-mand and we loaded the Po-laris twins for a night on the Peninsula. Into the twins we stuffed the provisions needed to sur-vive, pulling out the com-partments of the vessels so that the hulls could be stuffed with

all the basic necessities such as a tent, cooler, chairs, lantern, radio, fishing poles, food, sleeping bags, blankets, towels, first aide stuff (I’m accident prone), inflatable Kayak and paddle, toilet paper, floats to sleep on and a few other things. I piloted the twin known as dismay and Maggie on faithful. We pressed the start buttons and the engines rumbled to life. We idled at first, warming up the en-gines as we crept out of the no wake zone but increased the throttle mak-ing the boats rise out of the water as though accepting the challenge of the angry lake.

This time of year lake weather can change from good to bad and bad to worse in a matter of minutes. But, when the clouds clear for a sunset like this, it makes for a great day on Lake Wedowee.

Charley’s Treasures by Charley Norton

http://aluminumboatdocks.com

Lake Wedowee Life 41

We rounded the corner and went under the bridge. There before us was the open water. It was too late to turn back. We were committed, so we throttled up and pushed on. Lake spray misted over the bows at first then turning to blankets of vengeful waves. The twins seemed unim-pressed and pounded back into the surge with all their might. Minutes seemed like hours but spirits rose when Shiland island came into view. We knew we were close. We navi-gated the shallow waters between Shiland and the mainland and found safety on the tapered shore of the peninsula.

Quickly, we unloaded the provi-sions for the night. Although the weather had cleared, we knew how easily that could change and we had to be prepared so we set up the tent and chairs and gathered up wood we found littering the banks along

the shore. Just then we were struck by a light from the west. The sun had broken through and danced across the sky turning the intimidat-ing clouds into a canvas of color. Or-ange and red dominated the sky with beams of light streaking down to the ground. The glow of amber flooded the landscape and we could feel the suns warmth easing the ten-sions from our perilous journey. We then realized why we came. We came to witness the beauty and awe of Earth, unfiltered or edited by man. We were there to burn a mem-ory that we will revisit every time we feel a storm wind blow or see a sunsets glow.

There is no substitute to experi-encing the power and beauty of na-ture in its raw form. To witness it first hand without the safety of a roof or satellite cable. It’s a blessing to be part of such a wondrous place,

to feel so small but so fortunate at the same time and to sample its greatness and power. When the sun goes down and the amber fades, the night sky breaks out a panoramic view of stars, unencumbered by street lights. Stars that are so bright that they create their own light that shimmers on the water and high-lights the treetops. There is no beauty like the beauty of nature and although this camping trip is a small segment in our life, its one that won’t be forgotten when so many are. This truly is life at its best.

When not entertaining Lake We-

dowee Life readers with his wit and wis-dom, Charley is a co-owner of Norton’s Flooring with his brother, Tom. The company was started in 1976 by his mother and father. Norton’s Flooring

product are in countless homes on Lake Wedowee and throughout the county.

http://www.lakewedoweeleaders.com

http://facebook.com/lakewedoweebaitandtackle

The deeper bass of sum-mer are the bass that spend their time -- both during the day and at night – either resting, or foraging for food in and around the Lake We-dowee’s deeper waters.

Big bass of summer have various hang-outs they pre-fer throughout Lake We-dowee. To the summertime angler on a quest for these “big bass of summer” he / she can usually begin their search along deep creek channels or along old river channel drop-offs.

Make no second guesses. There is an abundance of summertime bass to be discovered while simply fishing in or near deep water…all summer long.

Applying yourself and learning what it takes to fool these bass into accepting your tempting offerings (with good results), is what sepa-rates the deep water angler from the shallow water angler. There are certain lures and techniques that appeal to these big bass.

Often, there are schools of Big bass that will remain tightly bunched, holding right on the depth change from shallow to deep water or they may be suspended very near these deep water drop-offs.

Summertime bass, those relat-ing to these depth changes, are al-ways near the security of deeper water nearby. Most of these bass are here for the next few months. They will remain here until condi-tions change in the fall. (Lake We-dowee is dropped each fall season for winter pool).

These changes -- such as falling water levels or cooling water -- will

take place from the late summer period on into the early fall period. This is when the lake’s major feeder creeks, the main lake’s wa-ter temperatures and the lake’s headwaters (usually situated be-low some upstream dam) will slowly begin to cool. Then these bass move shallow.

Traditionally, as fall progresses, the bass will follow the shad

schools into the shallows. They will continue to feed and fatten up, storing built up fat reserves for the upcoming winter months ahead, until the very cold water of winter slows their metabolism and they begin to eat far less food each day.

* Some bass of summer on Lake Wedowee are attracted to timbered main lake flats. Places that are shal-low, providing a comfort zone that features a sudden drop-off into deeper water nearby. Here, they can search for food and retreat to deep water fast, if they need to.

* Standing timber left here during impound-ment in 1983 is an excel-lent source for finding schools of summer bass. The numerous types of baitfish that come their way on a daily basis and meals such as crayfish often found scrounging the lake’s bottom, gives these bass of summer no reason to leave the secu-rity of their deep water sanctuary.

Places to begin your search of these big bass, summertime hang outs, can be found throughout Lake Wedowee along old river channel drop-offs (some are often far from the lake’s shoreline), or they can be easily marked on a depth finder when found on the mid-to-lower lake, where clear wa-ter is more evident and summer time bass traditionally gather in select locations.

There are many hidden places for targeting deep, summertime bass. They exist all throughout on all of Alabama’s Lake We-dowee…places many anglers fail to discover. Places like submerged islands, rock piles, hidden under-water humps and ridges, around mid-to- lower lake high spots and other irregular bottom features.

Some bass may even be buried in deep holes or found in deep de-pressions (such as old ponds, ditches, inundated creeks and streams). At times these are Big bass!

A good map of the lake will help remedy any doubts about what’s down there.

Maps are great tools for aiding anglers in deciphering a particular

Hooked on Lake Wedowee by Reed Montgomery

Lake Wedowee Life 43

Deep Summer Bass on Lake Wedowee

http://www.Lakewedoweecustombuilthomes.com 52 Lake Wedowee Life

deep water situation. They are a must when angling deep water for these summertime bass. So are marker buoys and GPS units.

These bass -- those that prefer the security and comfort of deeper wa-ter nearby -- are not always limited to spending their summers far from the lake’s shoreline. Neither should the anglers that pursue them.

Main lake points and deep creek points, around islands, along rocky bluff-type banks or secondary ledges in deeper water. Even obvi-ous looking banks, like those featur-ing scattered rocks or boulders, or man made rip-rap rocks lining the shoreline, can be excellent haunts for finding these deeper bass this summer.

These can be good spots all sum-mer long, places other anglers often overlook. Where discovering some hidden schools of big bass, all your own, may be possible!

Bridge pilings, standing timber

and even along man made piers and boat houses are just a few of the places lining Lake Wedowee’s shoreline, to begin your search for targeting some great summertime, big bass hang-outs.

KEEPING YOUR COOL

By the late summer month of August and even on into the month of September, its as hot as it gets. These are about sixty of the year’s hottest days and this almost unbear-able hot, summer weather…can ac-tually kill.

* Anglers attempting to target these late summer bass must be pre-pared for the worst.

Midday heat in the upper nine-

ties is common in Alabama during the late summer / early fall period. Then there are those sweltering hot summer days exceeding one hun-dred degrees, when anglers should take extra precautions.

These are very necessary precau-

tions and they are absolutely im-perative for anglers to avoid sum-mer heat stroke and to even hope for any degree of success, when your fishing deep water this sum-mer season. You can’t fish if your sick from the hot, summer sun!

* Prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer or help create permanent skin damage. Even stroke or heart attacks are pos-sible in extreme heat.

Sunscreen is a must. So is replen-ishing your sweated out body with plenty of water. Caffeine or sugar-related drinks should be avoided.

Eating plenty of fruit will help supply your body with some quick relief from the summer heat. Often this nourishment can provide an extra amount of fluids.

Avoid consuming alcohol and taking prescription drugs while in the sun. Some drugs can even in-crease your chances of getting sun-burned…even when sunscreen has

http://thepowerofadvocacy.com

Lake Wedowee Life 45

been applied beforehand! Always drink plenty of water. Take plenty of breaks, perhaps in

a shaded area not far from where you are fishing. This does wonders at midday, in helping you cool down. Or you can fish early morn-ings and late evenings avoiding the midday heat. Any other ways to help cool you down? How about a jump into the lake!

Immersing yourself in the lake sev-eral times during the day, can help cool you down tremendously. Al-ways wear shorts or have a change of clothes handy. * Always remember to re-apply

sunscreen after a dip in the lake! Towels help too! Having two small hand towels

on board, (means a set for each an-gler) can help too! Cool down these small hand towels by placing them on ice in the cooler, having one around your neck (or on your head under your hat) at all times. Then

you can alternate between the two cool towels every 15-30 minutes! Wearing thin, light colored cloth-

ing helps cool you down a lot and it helps you avoid getting sunburned this summer season. Hats and po-larized sunglasses are a must.

LURES, TECHNIQUES and

EQUIPMENT FOR DEEP, SUM-

MER BASS

There are many ways for anglers to fool these Lake Wedowee bass hidden in the lake’s deep, dark depths this summer season and there are many lures to choose from too! Not only does it take many dif-

ferent types of lures and various techniques to hope to even have a chance at successfully fooling one of these often, “non-feeding bass” into attacking your lures, but it takes the right equipment as well. Having several rod and reel

combos armed with various strengths of fishing line (and all

kinds of lures ready to be fished from top to bottom), requires plenty of preparation beforehand.

Lures are Tools

When you have a job to do, you can’t get it done without the use of the right tools. Think of each lure you plan to use as a tool and then attach that lure, to the right line, rigged on the right rod. Then learn to use each outfit properly. Fishing deep water on a daily

basis will require the use of a least a half dozen rods. Anglers need to acquire several rods that will range in lengths of 6 feet up to lengths of 7 ½ feet…or even longer. Each of these rods can be rigged

with lures such as big, 10-12 inch long Texas-rigged worms, lizards or oversized jig combos, mid-to-deep diving crankbaits, small to large size lipless crankbaits or swim baits in various lengths. Plenty of heavy, ½ ounce to 2 ounce single, Colorado blade spinnerbaits will be needed as

http://www.wedoweelandscape.com

well. Even a few topwaters! Not only can your lures be de-

scribed as tools, but rod and reel combos and fishing line are some very needed tools as well! Tools, when combined properly, will al-ways help you get the job done.

Techniques are as Individual as Each Angler. How you fish each and every lure is up to you. Some anglers are content with just one technique or two for catching these deep water bass during the sum-mer. Other more avid anglers will experiment.

Matching Your Equipment for Each Fishing Situation

Throwing big, deep diving crankbaits all day on a wimpy, six foot rod will usually result in lost bass and plenty of fatigue, from not properly matching up your lures to the right rod and reel out-fits.

You need good, strong rods with plenty of good, hook-setting

backbone built right in. Coupled with dependable wide-spooled reels, strong line and sharp hooks. This combo makes everything more in your favor for landing these bass, once you fool them into biting your lures. Make no mistake about it…there are some big bass in Lake Wedowee!

Its hard to get a good hook set, achieve maximum distance when casting your lures and get the hooked bass in the boat, when us-ing the wrong rod and reel outfit. Anglers usually miss the opportu-nity of even landing these big bass, with anything less.

Experiment - Be Versatile No matter how many deep wa-

ter spots you have located, marked on a map, or saved on your GPS unit, it’s a sure fire bet that every time you fish each spot you will have to adjust accordingly.

This means experimenting with various lure sizes, all kinds of lure

colors, different lure weights, lure actions (both built in action and those actions you impart) lure re-trieves and lure depths. Setting up your boat to achieve the right cast to your intended target is impor-tant too.

Even experimenting with vari-ous types of fishing line such as monofilament line, fluorocarbon line or braided line is suggested. You should always include consid-eration for each specific pound test of each line you use. There is a spe-cific situation for every lure you choose to use.

Here are a few examples; Lures Fished on Bottom – There

is a variety of lures that sink to the bottom of the lake and the choice is really yours. Big Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged worms or lizards on heavy tackle outfits, or small worms, Senkos or shad imitations fished on light tackle outfits.

You may need small jig combos

54 Lake Wedowee Life

http://suscc.edu

or big, oversized, more gaudy type jig combos. Both small and large sized crayfish imitations, small and large tube baits, small or large sized creature baits, small single tailed grubs or oversized twin tailed grubs. Both sizes of these types of lures can be rigged Texas style or on a jig head.

Crankbaits or Lipless Lures – Crankbaits either float or suspend. Lipless lures sink. Crankbaits come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They can be huge, meaning more casting distance due to their size and weight.

Big, deep diving crankbaits are very wind resistant and they dive very deep upon retrieve. Especially when utilizing the use of long rods, light line and making very long casts.

Lipless lures come in all sizes, from very small 1/8 ounce light tackle models to 2 ounce heavier sizes. They too, are very wind re-

sistant. Lipless lures can be al-lowed to sink to the lake’s bottom, retrieved in the mid water column or burned real fast just beneath the surface of the water. So can spin-nerbaits.

Spinnerbaits – These flashing, vibrating oddities should always be included in your deep water arsenal. Especially having plenty of heavy 1-2 ounce versions, with a single Colorado blade, Willowleaf blade or a combination of both.

Colors can vary on spinnerbaits; its all according to water clarity. But keep in mind, deep water bass see darker colors like black or pur-ple better.

When fishing these deep water, big bass hangouts this summer and early fall season on Alabama’s youngest man made reservoir Lake Wedowee, always consider your boat position on each spot you fish. Where your boat should be sitting, and where you should be making

your casts, determines if you suc-cessfully catch any fish.

Remember to bring plenty of lures for they do hang up on the lake’s bottom and all the wood cover on Lake Wedowee. Include bringing plenty of various lure weights, all sizes of jig heads and hooks in various sizes.

Oh, and always bring your cam-era. Your gonna need it for taking pictures of all those bass you catch…when going deep for big bass this summer on Lake We-dowee!

Thanks and Good Fishing! Reed Montgomery / Reeds

Guide Service Birmingham, Alabama (205)

663-1504 Website:

www.fishingalabama.com

http://suscc.edu

http://www.traylorretirement.com

56 Lake Wedowee Life

Call McKinney Builders, Inc. at (770) 527-7355 The exclusive Newnan-based member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program

2,259 Square Feet Plan #1379 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths Ceiling heights: 8 feet 11 inches ground floor; 9 feet second level Basement foundation Pricing Category E

Designed by John Tee, Atlanta

Search over 800 exclusive Southern Living home de-signs @ www.southernlivinghouseplans.com

58 Lake Wedowee Life

Submitted photos by (Top, clock-wise) Kathy Peterson, Ronnie Un-derwood, Mary Ann Engstrom and Pam Haynes. If you would like to see your photos appear in Lake Wedowee Life, email hi-res images to news@lakewedoweelife.com.

Photos submit-ted by (Top, clockwise) Deb-bie Bailey, Gayle Gordon, Tracy Cochran, Gail Gordon, Pam Haynes, Rhonda Hall, Debbie Bailey, Gayle Gordon and Rhonda Hall

http://wedoweelakeandlands.com

60 Lake Wedowee Life

Fall is in the air bringing with it schedules packed full of activities. Whether you are enjoying the crisp cool temperatures, the beautiful autumn colors, or cheering for your favorite team on Friday night or Saturday afternoon, fall brings a sense of excitement. The Randolph County Chamber

of Commerce is also excited about its activities planned this fall. As part of our “Lunch and Learn” Se-ries that was started in the spring, we will offer a session on Emer-gency Preparedness August 18, at 12 noon at the First United Meth-odist Church in Roanoke. Speakers will address the importance of be-ing prepared for an emergency and what to do if an emergency, such as a natural disaster, strikes. Topics will range from services rendered by the American Red Cross to fil-ing an insurance claim after the fact. As the devastating storms that ripped through the state in April showed us, you can never tell when disaster will strike, so prepa-ration done ahead of time is vital. On a lighter note, the Chamber

is proud to once again be part of the Rock Mills Pottery Show, which will be held September 18. This event celebrates the deep heri-tage of what was once known as some of the South’s foremost pot-

teries. Ceramics produced in Rock Mills and neighboring towns dur-ing the mid- nineteenth and early twentieth century were distinctive and highly coveted pieces of art. In fact, some of these very pottery pieces made in Randolph county during this time will be showcased at an upcoming exhibition at Au-burn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The exhibit, entitled Bacon Level, Hick-ory Flat, and the Illustrious Potteries of Randolph and Chambers Counties, Alabama , will run August 6–November 26, 2011. The Rock Mills Pottery Show will no doubt prove to be a festive day for the whole family.

If fun and games are right up your alley, you will enjoy the new-est event the Chamber has planned, Business After Hours fea-turing Chamber Bingo. We invite you to enjoy an evening by the wa-ter as we gather at Lakeside Ma-rina on August 30 at 6 p.m. This event will feature networking op-portunities in a casual atmosphere followed by a game of Lakeside’s famous Bingo. All area businesses are invited to attend and see one of

the many ways the Chamber is working for you. And, finally, the Chamber will

end its year at our annual meeting scheduled for October 18. Plans are still being made for this event, but be on the lookout for more infor-mation and join us as we celebrate a successful year for the Randolph County Chamber. Thank you for all your support

of Chamber activities this past year. We especially want to say thank you for making our annual Summer on Main festival the best one to date! This was the third year for the festival and it was a huge success. We were proud to intro-duce Roanoke After Dark, an eve-ning concert event, featuring Soul Tymes Nine. Thank you to all of our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possi-ble. And, thank you to everyone who braved the heat and came out for the day. We continue striving to show-

case the fine attributes of our county and expand benefits for our membership. For more information on these or any Chamber activity, please call us at 334-863-6612 or email us at rancococ@teleclipse.net. We look forward to a productive fall!

Chamber Chatter by Dorothy Tidwell

Are you prepared if disaster strikes?

http://www.midwaytreasures.com

54 Lake Wedowee Life

Lake Wedowee Life 55

Miles Mathis (Opposite Page, left to right) thought to bring along Lake Wedowe Life before getting buried in the sand at Fort Morgan Beach; Cindy Poole Sumners and Kenneth Sumners brought Lake Wedowee Life to King’s Wharf Bermuda; Jeannie Huey and Margaret Traylor visited Stone Moun-tain, Ga. with Lake Wedowee Life; Tanya Nolen visited Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, India with Lake Wedowee Life; The Pass Family Eli, Cameron, Brannan, Matthew, Smith,

Mark, Seth and Carson visited the Beaches of Normandy France with Lake Wedowee Life. (This Page, left) Jett, Audra, baby Elise, Nella, Katie and Henry, Leigh, Alan, Kara, and Roy Jackson, Julie Gambill, John Pilcher brought Lake Wedowee Life to a Katie and Henry Jackson’s wedding in Lynchburg, Vir.; Katie, Abbey, David, Na-than & Paul Willis stopped by the World's Biggest Ball of Twine in Darwin, Minn. with their copy of Lake Wedowee Life.

64 Lake Wedowee Life

Lake Wedowee Life 65

Index of Advertisers

http://www.lakewedoweefishing.com http://www.flooringwholesale.com

A & E Metal 39

A & M Insulation 44

Affordable Tire 42

AGL 16

Bank of Wedowee 56

Brian Morris 57

C& M Building Services 38

Chad Lee, Attorney At Law 35

Charles Thompson Construction 11

Clay County CDJ 60

Cooks Pest Control 21

D & S Marine 46

Docks ETC 18

Dr. Michael Edwards 13

Dr. Barry Nicholls 20

Fiberglass Unlimited 13

First State Bank 7

Fishing Alabama 20

Friday Night Life 3

H& M Drugs 56

Halls Propane 52

Kesa Johnston, Attorney at Law 45

Lake view Auto 45

Lake Wedowee Bait and Tackle 42

Lakeside Grill 2

Mac McKinney Properties 39

Main Street Animal Hospital 55

Midway Treasures 52

Morning Sun Nursery 56

Norton's Floor Covering 57

Perryland Foods 52

RE/MAX Lakefront Grady & Linda Stone 42

RE/MAX Lakefront, Josephine McGuire 18

RE/MAX Lakefront, Kelly & Leisel Caldwell 17

REMAX Lakefront 15

Scott Hewitt, Attorney at Law 38

Sew Classy 37

Sheppard's Jewelry 20

SmallTown Bank 18

Southern Union 47

State Farm Insurance 38

Steele Chiropractic 21

Summit Storage 29

Superior Gas 48

Tallapoosa River Electric Coop 55

TEC Security 35

The Stuff Store 39

W & M Grocery 37

Wedowee Building Supply 48

Wedowee Dock Company 41

Wedowee Hospital 21

Wedowee Lake and Lands 52

Wedowee Landscape 46

Wedowee Marine 59

Wellborn Cabinet 35

Williamsburg Manor 48

I’ve been designing and building homes for literally half of my life now. That’s 24 ½ years of building for those of you that are curious. My wife is much younger than me, obviously. You would think that by this time I’ve seen it all. However, I’m reminded every day that I have not. Every customer is different, every house is different, and every sub contractor is different. There are literally thousands of decisions required to build one house and none of us think alike. All of these variables make each project interesting and VERY challenging.

I can easily remember the day I decided to become a builder. I was 24 years young, and I knew it all. I was watching a builder in my neighborhood. It looked to me as if he was riding around in his pick up truck all day with nothing to do. I was sure he was just raking in the money. I’m a few years older now and can assure you I was wrong on all counts.

From a builder’s perspective, building a house is a complicated process of managing homeowners, subcontractors, materials, and a maze of unknown factors. We all start out with the same visions and goals. The end result will be a

beautiful home that the owner will enjoy for years to come. It all seems fairly simple in the beginning, but the journey between clearing the lot and the final clean up of the house is anything but simple.

Subcontractors are the backbone of the building business. They will also break the back of a building business if not managed correctly. These guys are typically honest, hard working, and experienced. There is no way a builder can be an expert on every phase of the industry. The builder relies heavily on the knowledge and experience of the sub. However, subs do not think like a homeowner. They will not make the same decisions as a homeowner. Good communication between the sub, the homeowner, and the builder is critical.

Building materials are far from perfect and unexpected events and factors pop up in each and every project. All of these things can be very upsetting for the owner….VERY upsetting. The builder is there to remain calm, find

a solution, and assure everyone that this project really will end one day.

One thing I’ve definitely learned is that no two homeowners are exactly alike. I’ve designed hundreds of homes and EVERYONE wants something a little different. I’ve never designed the same house for two different customers...Not even close. Homeowners also vary widely in how they communicate with the builder and the subs. Some homeowners want to be very involved in every aspect of the process and some want no involvement at all. There are a myriad of decisions to make during the building process and I guarantee you if you ask ten different women what they think you’ll get ten different answers. I’ve built for Michelle, Robin, Ava, Ginger, Kay, Nicole, Kelly, Lisa, Candy, Katherine, Suzanne, Kristen, Cindy, Marsha, Vicki, Leigh, and others over the last several years and I guarantee you that they all have different tastes. But they’ve all been fun to work with, and they all have beautiful homes. Max Fulbright has designed and built dozens of homes on Lake

Wedowee.

Built on the Lake By Max Fulbright

So you want to build a home?

www.wedoweemarine.com

www.seeclayauto.com