franklin living

FranklinSUMMER 2011 . ISSUE NO. I, VOL. 1 LIVING

summer fun• Hobby turns to passion for

local man

• Comfortable patio living

• Kayaking popular on area

waterways

FRANKLIN LIVING2

TTeerrrraaccee MMaannoorrNNuurrssiinngg && RReehhaabbiilliittaattiioonn CCeenntteerr,, IInncc.

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Dedicated to Hope, Healing

and Recovery

Phillip & Sherene Wade

Medicare or private insurance may cover these stays.

Quality Care from a staff who respects yourhealth care needs.

Offering: Activities andenjoyable social programs.

Large private rooms for short term care.

FRANKLIN LIVING 3

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any of the memories I have as a child growingup in Franklin County are of times spent rid-ing bicycles and playing kickball with myclose friends, and my parents, at camp-

grounds across the Southeast.We traveled to various sites across the region in our 30-

foot long travel trailer that became a second home to us.Fortunately, we had many great friends who did thesame.

But the memories I cherish most are the times spentcamping right here at home, in Franklin County. Thelakes we enjoy, the amenities of the campgrounds wehave, they are all second to none as far as I am con-cerned.

Franklin County is a special place. The natural beauty ofthe area provides fishermen and others countless out-door opportunities.

But what I have learned as I have gotten older is thatthe people are what make this a special place to live andto raise our families. I hope that you will all see thatthrough this new adventure we have set out on.

Our staff will be producing this exciting new product,

Franklin Living, on a quarterly basis. We will focus on thepeople, places and ways of life here in this wonderfulplace we call home. There will be a section dedicated tothe outdoors, cooking, faith, history and just everydaylife in each edition of Franklin Living.

Our intention was to release the inaugural issue in May2011, but following the devastating tornado that hit ourcounty on April 27, we made the decision to push therelease date back.

The timing did not seem appropriate considering whatso many people were facing. This is, after all, a truelifestyles magazine and people were not enjoying thelifestyles they had once known.

But, as a little time has passed, the spirit of FranklinCounty residents has shown like it has at no other time.Day by day, people are picking up their lives and gettingback to normal.

That is what makes Franklin County special and I hopethat we can provide you a lifestyles magazine of yourown, something that we can all be proud of.

— Jonathan Willis, Publisher

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41Floatingalong

In the Kitchenwith...

Full SteamAhead

SummertimeSafety

GoldenGospel

Art of thePig

PatioPerfection

What’s goingon?

Kayaking through FranklinCounty’s waters

Suzanne Langcuster prepares agreat Fourth of July meal

Sam Kimbrough turns toy trainsinto life-long hobby

There are many precautions totake while enjoying the outdoors

‘Peaches” Winston finds his calling as music minister

Simple recipies for tasty porkdishes to serve at your parties

See the Calendar of Events forcan’t miss summer activities

Jeff and Nancy Bowling createan outside oasis

FRANKLIN LIVING

P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883

www.franklincountytimes.com

Publisher Jonathan WillisEditorial Scot Beard and Kellie SingletonPhotography Heather MouserSales Peggy Hyde and Nicole PellComposition Karen McAfeeCirculation Terri Pounders and Thomas DouglasPress Room Tommy Nichols, Alton Zills, BettyJo Bray and Courtney Honey

6 FRANKLIN LIVING

FranklinLIVING

Franklin Living is published four times peryear by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc.

Copyright 2011 by Franklin CountyNewspapers, Inc.

2710 Waterloo Road • Russellville, AL

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WHAT TO DO

FRANKLIN LIVING

Jam on Sloss LakeJuly 4One of north Alabama’s largest fire-works displays takes place eachFourth of July at Sloss Lake onAlabama 24 in Russellville. Anafternoon filled with music gamesand fun is highlighted by a spectacu-lar fireworks show to cap off theIndependence Day holiday. TheCotton Flats Cruisers will host theirsecond annual car show as well, fea-turing an assortment of classic carsand trucks from across the area.

Vina FestJuly 30The annual Vina Fest attracts visi-tors from all over the area andincludes games, crafts and analways exciting big give-awaydrawing.

Watermelon FestivalAugust 19 & 20The Franklin County WatermelonFestival has been featured in numer-ous publications and recognized as

one of the top attractions in the stateof Alabama each August. The two-day festival includes concerts,games, crafts and all the watermelonyou can eat. The Franklin CountyChamber of Commerce hosts theevent each August in downtownRussellville.

Red Bay Founders FestSeptember 17The annual Red Bay Founders Festcontinues to grow each year andpromises to be filled with plenty ofexcitement and entertainment in2011. Plans are being made to addseveral contests in 2011, includingthe addition of a fried pie cookingcontest. You won’t want to miss thisspecial treat in one of Alabama’sgreatest small towns.

Rockin’ at the RoxySecond Saturday each monthThe Franklin County Arts andHumanities Council hosts theRockin’ at the Roxy concert seriesthe second Saturday night of each

month featuring the popular KGBband and special musical guests.Visit the historic Roxy Theater for anight filled with great live localmusic.

Franklin CountyMarketplaceFirst Saturday each monthLocal arts vendors and farmers gath-er the second Saturday each monthat the Farmers Market in downtownRussellville to showcase their home-made products. This is a great wayto pick up some fresh, locally grownproduce or some of the most beauti-fully handcrafted pottery and art-work you can find anywhere.

8 FRANKLIN LIVING

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9FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUT

Many Franklin County teens take part inactivities with their church youth groups,such as these area students at Russellville’sCalvary Baptist Church. Calvary’sWednesday evening worship services havegrown to attract students from across thecounty.

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14 FRANKLIN LIVING

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16 FRANKLIN LIVING

ome people try on hobbies like they try onshoes. One day they’re interested and thenext day they’re not. But Franklin County res-ident Sam Kimbrough isn’t one of those peo-ple. When it comes to his hobby, Kimbrough

knows the meaning of the phrase “in it for the longhaul.”

Kimbrough has had a fascination with trains sincehe was a young boy growing up next to the traintracks in Haleyville.

“I always loved the steam trains,” Kimbrough said.“Ihave childhood memories of men covered in dust

near the tracks and watching thosebig engines blow off that steam. Itwas very impressive to a child.”

Kimbrough’s two uncles bothworked for the Central Railroad so

he not only observed the trains, he learned a lotabout them and about the railroad business from lis-tening to their stories and advice.

“I thought I would work for the railroad one day butafter my uncle got hurt, he talked me out of it realquick,” he said.

Even though he wasn’t going to have a careerinvolving trains, the memories he had from his child-hood kept Kimbrough interested enough to pursue ahobby that would eventually span a 16-year timeperiod.

This hobby took the form of a scale model railroadcomplete with a surrounding city, coal mine, train sta-

S

STORY BYKELLIE SINGLETON

PHOTOS BY HEATHER MOUSER

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Above, Sam Kimbrough shows off part ofhis vast model to a visitor.

Left, Louis Ertz Hardware is one of themany detailed miniature buildings thatgives Kimbrough’s model town a realisticatmosphere.

FRANKLIN LIVING

tion and countryside that takes up the entiresecond floor of the home he shares with hiswife, Martha.

Nearly 500 feet of railroad, purchased inthree-foot sections, winds through thesprawling second-story of Kimbrough’shome that makes you feel like you’vestepped into a different world and a differ-ent era. A large mountain rises up in the cen-ter of the open room and nestled in its faceis a mining company. The railroad curvesthrough the room so the train can make astop at the elaborate train station, completewith turntables handmade by Kimbrough,before continuing on to the train depot nearthe town where a boy and girl enjoy hot-dogs outside the drug store. A small countrychurch, shaded by trees, sits atop a hill over-looking the town.

No detail has been spared in making thisalternate world as authentic and as close toscale as possible, and Kimbrough hand-craft-ed most of the details himself.

Kimbrough said he has worked on thisproject on and off for the past 16 years, buthe never knew when he first got interestedin the project that it would take so muchtime and energy.

“Several years ago, I went to a Line L trainshow in Memphis and while I was there, Iheard some of the guys saying there was aman who opened up his home for people tosee the scale railroad he had built,”Kimbrough said,“but I thought I had seenenough trains that day and I didn’t go.”

Kimbrough said he kept thinking aboutthis man’s scale model railroad, so he decid-ed he would give him a call on the offchance he might allow Kimbrough to comehave a look.

“I found out his name was Louis Ertz andhe was a big-name architect,” Kimbrough

Kimbrough spent countless hours building the model. It takes about four hours to crafteach of these trees by hand.

The mountain and depot Kimbrough built are big features in the model.

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said.“When I called him heagreed to let me come see whathe had and that’s really where Ilearned most of my tricks.”

Kimbrough said he developeda friendship with Ertz over theyears and Ertz even drew upplans for the home Kimbroughbuilt more than 16 years ago soit could accommodate themind-boggling scale railroadupstairs.

“I actually got up there aboutsix months before we moved inand started working on it,”Kimbrough said.“It’s taken a lotof hours to get it to where it isnow.”

“A lot of hours” is an under-statement considering it takesKimbrough approximately fourhours to make one tree and themock countryside is completelycovered in them. Not to men-

tion the hundreds and hun-dreds of tiny details Kimbroughmust pay specific attention to ifhe’s going to achieve theauthenticity he’s striving for.

“The theme I chose was theyear 1938, so everything isgeared toward that time peri-od,” Kimbrough said.“The rea-son is because the SouthernRailroad had their first dieselengines in 1939 and I never

liked the diesels.”Such an impressive tribute to

the “iron horses” has no doubtdrawn some attention over theyears from people who heardabout the scale model andwanted to see it for themselves,but Kimbrough said he neverdid it for the attention.

“This all started because of thelove I had for trains and it’s justsomething I enjoy doing.”

Above left, Sam Kimbrough displays theinside of one of the train cars.

Above right, the frieght depot features aman unloading a car and a horse andbuggy picking up supplies.

Left, a steam locomotive pulls a train pastthe mountain.

FRANKLIN LIVING

20 FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUTOne of the annual highlights for many FranklinCounty residents is the American CancerSociety’s Relay for Life. The event was post-poned for several weeks this year due to theApril 27 tornado, but still attracted many resi-dents when it was finaly held on May 31.

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OUT & ABOUT

FRANKLIN LIVING 21

Tiffin Motorhomes:Building a SuccessStoryMickey Collum has

made the short drivefrom his FranklinCounty home to TiffinMotorhomes in RedBay for more than 37years. He startedworking for the com-pany in 1974, buildingsidewalls and insulat-ing coaches backwhen Bob Tiffin wastrying to get his thentwo-year-old companyin gear. Collum is stillwith Tiffin today asone of nearly 1,300employees for thecountry’s leadingmanufacturer of ClassA motorhomes.“It’s a whole lot dif-

ferent,” says Collum,who now works in theplant’s woodworkingdepartment where hebuilds lavatories, cabi-nets and more. “It’s alot more high-tech.The biggest changehas been with all of the

technology that’scome in.”But while Collum has

seen many changes atTiffin Motorhomes,one thing hasn’tchanged. It’s still afamily-owned, family-oriented business.“I’ve known theTiffins all my life andthere’s not a betterfamily,” says Collum.“You can’t beat BobTiffin and the worldshould be full of peo-ple like him.”Collum uses words

like honesty and loyal-ty when describing thefounder of TiffinMotorhomes. He talksabout how the compa-ny has always tried itsbest to make superiormotorhomes, whilealso providing goodjobs to support fami-lies in FranklinCounty and through-out the area. “It hasn’talways been easy, butBob Tiffin had a visionand stuck with it.”

Now with sons Tim,Van and Lex Tiffinworking with theirfather to guide thecompany as it nears its40th anniversary,Collum expects moresuccess and growth inthe future. “In BobTiffin, they have thebest role model in theworld to follow.”

Home Is Where It Takes You!

TiffinMotorhomes

105 2nd Street N.W. • Red Bay, AL • 256-356-8661FRANKLIN LIVING22

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WELLNESS

Eat right! Fortify your health with a nutritiousdiet. Many people don’t know it, but one ofthe most important things you can do to pro-tect yourself from life-threatening diseases isto eat a healthy diet.

As a matter of fact, if you are one of themany Americans who do not smoke, eatingwell – along with being active and maintain-ing a healthy weight – is your best defenseagainst disease.

Limit sun exposure! Try to stay out of thesun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is thetime the sun’s rays are strongest. Sunburn isthe No. 1 summer health problem.

Our advice is to use sun block if you’re goingto be exposed to the sun for an extendedperiod of time. And for those men who shavetheir heads, wear a hat.

Avoid heat stroke! Protect yourself fromheat stroke and dehydration by wearingloose-fitting, light-colored clothing, etc.If you work outside make sure you stayhydrated by drinking plenty of water orGatorade and stay away from sodas that have

caffeine as well as alcoholic beverages.If you do become overheated, be alert to

symptoms of heat stroke, such as dizziness,headache, nausea, rapid pulse or body tem-perature of 104 degrees or more.

Be safe in water! More than 300 childrenunder the age of five drown in residentialswimming pools each year in the U.S. The fol-lowing safety tips can help improve the odds:avoid swimming past your ability in roughwater; never swim alone or leave young chil-dren unattended; make certain the pool isdeep enough before diving into the water;fence all home pools with a latch out of thereach of small children; and learn CPR.

Watch out for poison ivy! Poison ivy andpoison oak are everywhere this time of theyear and they can cause serious health issues.Keep a distance from them, if possible.

If you think you’ve been exposed to it, youcan use Ivy Block, an over-the-counter med-ication to protect yourself. After exposure,wash the skin with soap and water. Calaminelotion can be used to relieve the itching.

Beware ofbugs! Insectbites are com-mon in summer-time and havethe potential ofcausing serioushealth prob-lems.

Bite or stingwounds shouldbe kept cleanand dry and ifred streaksappear a physi-cian should beconsulted. Persons who are highly allergicshould always have their medication whenoutdoors.

Practice safety with lawn and gardentools! Accidents involving chainsaws, lawn-mowers and other cutting tools occur oftenduring the summer months.

All precautions should be taken to avoidthem.

SummerHealth TipsHow to keep yourself healthy duringthe tough Alabama summer months

About the expert:

Martha Henderson is aregistered nurse in theemergency servicesdepartment at RussellvilleHospital, where she hasworked for more thanseven years.At Russellville Hospital, theEmergency Department isstaffed with emergencymedical professionals andis available 24-hours everyday.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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our home is supposed to be a place where you can be your-self – where you can kick off your shoes, relax and enjoy afew peaceful moments in your own personal haven.

For Russellville couple Jeff and Nancy Bowling, their havencomes in the form of their outdoor living space, which includes theirrefurbished sunroom and a sprawling deck area with plenty of ameni-ties to keep the couple and their friends and family entertained forhours.

The Bowlings started their outdoor living remodel in May of 2004when they made the decision to turn the screened-in back porch intothe spacious sunroom they have now.

“We never used the screened-in porch because there wasn’t really away to control the temperature and the pollen and dust alwaysseemed to be a problem,” Jeff Bowling said.“The sunroom was theperfect choice because it would be functional and comfortable whileallowing us to still be close to the outdoors.”

The wall-to-wall windows in the sunroom look out onto the

PatioPerfection

Y


PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WILLIS

Jeff and Nancy Bowling, of Russellville, do most of their cooking in their outdoor kitchen.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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Bowlings’ impressive deck area and thedense wooded setting that makes thehome seem to be tucked away from thehustle and bustle.

“The sunroom and deck just blend fromone to the other, so it’s hard to separatethe two spaces in your mind,” NancyBowling said.“We have each area set upso when we entertain, we can have peo-ple in both places and still feel like we’reall together.”

In the sunroom, a big-screen TV, neatlyhidden behind a dark brown cabinetwhen not in use, can be seen from thedeck area when the blinds are raised.Surround sound that carries throughoutthe entire house also extends outdoors,which allows those who are cooking in

the outdoor kitchen or relaxing in thestylish deck chairs to watch what the oth-ers are watching inside.

“We really spend most of our time inone of these two areas during the spring,summer and fall months,” Jeff Bowlingsaid.“There is a grill with side burners, adeep fryer and a sink in the outdoorkitchen so we can even do most of ourcooking out there when the weather isnice.”

Also in the couple’s outdoor living spaceis Nancy Bowling’s eclectic collection ofgarden art gathered from several placesin the U.S. An elaborate chain-link candle-holder – handmade by a friend of thefamily – a colorful metal turtle and twobottle trees (one standing seven feet tall)

are a few of the items that give color andpersonality to the space.

“I love things that are different,” NancyBowling said.“It’s nice to be surroundedby all these pieces that have a story andmean something to me when I am spend-ing my time out here.”

The Bowlings said they both enjoyspending time together cooking andrelaxing in the outdoor living area theyhave created, but they said they alsoenjoy entertaining.

“For us, remodeling this area gave us aplace to spend time together and withour family and friends,” Jeff Bowling said.“It’s our favorite spot in the house andprobably the best investment we couldhave made.”

Left, a grill is an essential part of everypatio.

Below, the Bowlings have installed an out-door cooking area complete with grill,sink, prep area and storage, which makeshosting parties on the patio much easier.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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The Bowlings have twosets of patio furniture toaccomodate largercrowds. One set is openand promotes conversa-tion.The other is covered,which makes it an idealeating area.

The scenery around thearea is as important asthe patio itself.TheBowlings have a pavedwalkway leading to a setof benches near an arborto give the area addedbeauty.

FRANKLIN LIVING

Decorations play a key role in setting the atmosphere for your outdoor space.The Bowlings have placed a pair of benches below a tree and added abottle tree to generate conversation.They have also used flowers to add color to the area, a metal sculpture for character and a candle stand for a tradi-tional touch.

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30 FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUT

(256) 331-0208Jackson Ave., Russellville

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The Franklin Civic Social Club does a number of projects through-out the year, including helping needy families at the holidays andhost the annual Fun Day for Kids at the Chucky Mullins Center inRussellville. The group promotes the importance of education andleadership to students in the community.

HEATHER MOUSER PHOTOGRAPHYHEATHER MOUSER PHOTOGRAPHY256.606.8261

[email protected]

32

FOOD

Art of the PigTry these recipes to spice up yoursummertime barbecue

Chili-Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled PineappleSalsa

Serves 4

4 pork bone-in rib chops, about 3/4-inch thick, trimmed

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Pineapple Salsa*:

3 slices pineapple, cut crosswise about 1/2-inch thick,

trimmed OR 3 slices canned pineapple, drained

1 jalapeño pepper, halved lengthwise, seeds and veins

removed

1 tablespoon lime juice

In a shallow bowl, combine chili powder, brown sugar,

garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Sprinkle both

sides of pork with spice mixture.

Prepare a grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the

grate. Grill pork until internal temperature reaches 160F,

4 to 5 minutes per side. Grill pineapple (if using fresh)

and jalapeño until lightly charred, two to three minutes

per side. Remove chops from grill and let rest five min-

utes.

Meanwhile, dice pineapple and finely dice jalapeño. In

a medium bowl, combine pineapple, jalapeño, and lime

juice. Season to taste with salt.

Sweet & Smoky "Pork and Beans"

1/2 Honey

2 tablespoons premium fish sauce

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

2 1/2 teaspoons paprika, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pounds)

2 slices bacon, diced

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon coarse grind black pepper

1 can (15 ounces) adzuki beans, drained and rinsed

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix honey, fish sauce, lime

juice, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic

powder and red pepper in small bowl until well blended.

Brush pork with glaze.

2. Roast 20 to 30 minutes or until desired doneness,

brushing with glaze halfway through cooking time. Let

pork stand 5 minutes before slicing.

3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large skillet on medium

heat until crisp. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, remaining

1/2 teaspoon each smoked paprika and garlic powder,

ginger, sea salt and pepper; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until

slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in

beans. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Slice

pork on an angle into thin slices and serve over bean mix-

ture. Garnish with green onions.

FRANKLIN LIVING

33

Know your cuts of meat

It’s important to know which cuts of the pigare better than others when cooking pork.Some parts are fatter than others. Whenyou’re getting ready to barbecue, it’s impor-tant to know what’s best for your situation.

HEAD: This can be used to make stocks andsoups.

SPARE RIBS: Pork butt is in fact from theupper part of the shoulder. Boston Butt, orBoston-Style Shoulder, cut comes from thisarea, and may contain the shoulder blade.

LOIN: This can be cured to give back baconor Canadian-style bacon. The loin and bellycan be cured together to give a side ofbacon. The loin can also be divided up intoroasts. This is the cut where baby back ribsare derived. You can also get pork cutletsand pork chops. Pork tenderloin is usuallyalmost free of fat.

BELLY: The belly is a fatter meat that can beused for steaks or diced stir-fry meat. Bellypork may be rolled for roasting or cut forstreaky bacon.

BACK LEGS: Although any cut of pork can becured, technically speaking only the back legis entitled to be called a ham. Legs and shoul-ders, when used fresh, are usually cut bone-infor roasting, or leg steaks can be cut from thebone.

Almond Crusted Pork with Mango Relish

Mango Relish:

2 large, ripe mangos, peeled, pitted and diced

1/4 cup minced red onion

1/4 cup minced red bell pepper

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Almond Crusted Pork:

3/4 cup chopped, toasted almonds, divided

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 pounds pork tenderloin

1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

For relish, stir together mangos, onion, bell pepper, vine-

gar, mint, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl; cover and

refrigerate until ready to serve.

Finely chop 1/2 cup almonds and stir in brown sugar and

seasonings. Brush pork with oil then season with salt and

pepper; roll in almond mixture, pressing into the surface.

Transfer to a piece of heavy-duty foil and press any remain-

ing nuts onto the top. Grill over medium heat, turning occa-

sionally to brown each side, for 35 to 40 minutes or until the

internal temperature reads 160°F on a meat thermometer.

Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

FRANKLIN LIVING

34

In the Kitchenwith...

Suzanne Langcuster

ith the Fourth of July around the corner, SuzanneLangcuster fires up the grill to prepare ham slices tohighlight a light summer meal and heads to the ovento bake an All-American cake for dessert.

Suzanne’s ham slices can be served with a variety of side dish-es, but she recommends summertime favorites such as coleslaw and corn on the cob for a true Fourth of July experience.

After feasting on the fine meal, enjoy a slice of Momma’sStrawberry Cake — decorated in the traditional Red, White andBlue theme with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries.

WPHOTOS BY SCOT BEARD

FRANKLIN LIVING

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2 Fully cooked center-cut ham slices, 1 inch thick1 cup brown sugar (packed)1/3 cup horseradish1/4 cup lemon juice

Score each side of the ham slices ? inch deep in a diamondpattern. Combine remaining ingredients in saucepan, heat toboiling, stirring constantly.

Place ham slices on grill three inches above medium coals.Cook for 15 minutes on each side, basting frequently withbrown sugar mixture.

1 box Duncan Hines cake mix (strawberry or yellow)

1 pint of heavy whipping cream 4 tablespoons sugar1/2 cup sugar2 medium packages of strawberries

(slice the strawberries from one package, and cut the strawberries in the other package in half ).

1 small package of blueberries

Slice one package of strawberries andmix with 1/2 cup of sugar, allowing themixture to sit in the refrigeratorovernight.

Prepare cake in two round pansaccording to directions on box.

Whip cream and 4 tablespoons ofsugar into whipped cream (storebought whipped cream can also beused).

When cake cools, place strawberryslices and liquid in bowl on bottomlayer. Top with whipped cream then addthe second layer of cake. Top secondlayer with whipped cream. Decorate topof cake with strawberry halves andblueberries.

Momma’sStrawberry

Cake

Sugar Ham Slices

FRANKLIN LIVING

36 FRANKLIN LIVING

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37FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUTThe Phil Campbell Hoe Down is held each June and includesgames, crafts and plenty of music. The 2011 event took on specialmeaning as it marked the 100th anniversary of the town’s incorpo-ration and was held just two months after a devastating EF 5 tor-nado ripped through the town, leaving 26 county residents deadand hundreds more homeless. The 100th anniversary celebrationshowed a town filled with strength, hope, faith and resilience.

38

FAITH MATTERS

ong-time Russellville residentHarlan “Peaches”Winston wasn’tsure how much he would enjoymusic when his parents signed

him up for piano lessons when he waseight years old.

A bout with rheumatic fever left theboy who loved athletics unable to playcontact sports, and while his parentsthought music lessons would be a goodalternative, Winston said he felt other-wise.

“I thought it was stupid at the timebecause it was just me and a bunch ofgirls,”Winston said.“All my friends wereplaying football and I was stuck with thegirls playing piano.”

Winston said he wanted to quit, but histeacher said she saw something in him –a talent she thought was rare.

“I just thank God for the experiencenow,”Winston said.“I thank Him for myparents and my music teacher making

L

GoldenGospel


PHOTOS BY HEATHER MOUSER

“I never thought I would be a full-time ministerof music, but it is one of the greatest joys of mylife. I enjoy adding my flavor to the songs and

seeing how God will work through the music.”

FRANKLIN LIVING

me stick it out.”Winston said, looking back on the experience,

he is proud of his musical training because itbrought him to his passion – worshipping theLord through music on a daily basis.

Winston has served as the full-time music minis-ter at Mt. Pleasant Ministries in Leighton for thepast 15 years, a position he accepted when heretired from his job at the Russellville Park andRec Department.

“I never thought I would be a full-time ministerof music, but it is one of the greatest joys of mylife,”Winston said.“I enjoy adding my flavor to thesongs and seeing how God will work through themusic. You just have to surrender yourself to Godand let Him work through you.”

Under Winston’s direction, the choir has sung atmany churches across Alabama and a few of themembers make up a praise team that performs at

Above,Winston leads the choir at Mt. Pleasant Ministries inLeighton through a practice.

Below, the choir finds its rhythm and will help the congregationpraise God through songs when services begin.

39FRANKLIN LIVING

40

the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations held in the area.“Whenever we get compliments, we just tell them to give the praise to God

because we wouldn’t be anything without Him. I just can’t say that enough,” hesaid.

Winston plans to continue his work in the music ministry for as long as he canbecause he said he has personally experienced what a joy it can be to others.

“When you sing and look out at the congregation, you can see how the musicblesses the people,”Winston said.“What we have at our church is the Word ofGod set to music. It is scripturally sound because if someone is touched by asong and wants to know more about it, we want it to be an opportunity forthem to learn more about the Lord because that’s really what it’s all about.”

FRANKLIN LIVING

41

“There are a lot of caves, caverns and waterfalls.You feel like you are somewhere else.”

ne of the best features of Franklin County for the residents whoenjoy the great outdoors is the abundance of water for variousrecreational activities.

While many the boats ripping through area waters are towingskiers or searching for a good spot to fish, there is a group of FranklinCounty residents who like to enjoy the waters at a slower pace.

Scottie Belue and several of his friends navigate the waters of FranklinCounty many times a year, enjoying nature from the view of theirkayaks.

“It is big-time stress relief and good exercise,” Belue said.“It is amazinghow beautiful it is.”

While Belue and his friends explore the waters outside of FranklinCounty, there is one journey they say is their favorite — the ride fromthe base of Big Bear Dam to Red Bay Bottoms. The journey takes aboutsix hours, but that is because the trip offers several diversions.

“There are a lot of caves, caverns and waterfalls,” Belue said.“It feels like

Scottie Belue begins his journeynear Big Bear Dam.

STORY AND PHOTOS BYSCOT BEARD

Floatingalong

OTHE GREAT OUTDOORS

FRANKLIN LIVING

you are somehere else.”In addition to the scenery, those who embark on the expedition

also have the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife. Duringprevious trips the group has seen several deer, eagles and a bob-cat napping on a limb as the kayaks glided a few feet underneaththe lazy feline.

Of course, there are some snakes, but Belue said there are nottoo many and the ones the group does encounter are easilyavoided.

Each journey begins with all the kayakers doing a brief check tomake sure they have applied bug spray, sunscreen and life jack-ets. The other thing each of the kayakers brings on the trip isgarbage bags.

“Our biggest pet peeve is seeing trash,” Belue said.“We alwaysbring extra bags so we don’t leave trash.”

The group makes several stops on the trip to explore the wilder-ness or eat. On some trips they will drop a fishing line in thewater to test their angling skills.

But the most important thing to the group about the trips is tohave a good time. Whether they are changing course to avoid asnake or pulling the paddle out of the water to allow the streamto carry them down the creek, the kayakers enjoy each journeydown the waters of Franklin County.

Members of the expedition line upto launch their kayaks.

The group rounds a bend in thecreek near the start of the trip.

42 FRANKLIN LIVING

“There is wildlife galore. We have seen deer, aneagle, a bobcat and a few snakes, but there are

not too many snakes.”

Kayaking can be anenjoyable experiencewhere you stop paddlingand allow the current totake you on your adven-ture.

Big Bear Dam is the start-ing point of a trip to RedBay that includes caves,caverns, waterfalls andwildlife.

With everyone safely inthe water, the day-longjourney to Red Baybegins.

43FRANKLIN LIVING

44

A stroll through time:A stroll through time:Downtown Russellvillethrough the years

Photos courtesy of the Franklin CountyArchives and Research Center

LOOKING BACK

FRANKLIN LIVING

45FRANKLIN LIVING

46

PARTING SHOTS

Throughout the years, many changes have taken place in Franklin County since its inception in the early1800’s. One thing that has remained constant for most of that time, however, has been the county’s abili-ty to depend on the Franklin County Times. We have been your neighbor and source for news since 1879.We look forward to embarking on this new journey, with the addition of Franklin Living to our publica-tions, and can’t wait to grow with you. Be sure to grab a copy of the next edition of Franklin Living inSeptember 2011.

FRANKLIN LIVING

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Proud to have been serving

Franklin County for more than

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256-277-0700FRANKLIN LIVING 47

48 FRANKLIN LIVING

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