Porky Pirate Barbecue, Logan Martin’s newest eatery, is dropping anchor at Coosa Island.
Offering a bounty of smoked delights and hearty fare, the new restaurant is expected to be open in May after months of extensive renovations and improvements.
Owners Brandon and Amy MacDonald plan a soft opening around Cinco de Mayo, debuting a brand-new look, feel and dining experience at their waterfront location.
“We’re excited about this family friendly restaurant,” said Brandon. “It’s not a bar first and food secondary,” although alcohol will be served.
The menu is “scratch made and upscale” with most cooked on a fire. “We’ll smoke all our own meats out there. Our smoker holds 700 pounds of meat at time,” he said.
Chef Lee Wiggins
Inside, you’ll find a new, 54-seat dining area and full-service bar. Outside is covered deck dining, an open lawn and a rooftop patio with a spectacular view. The rooftop patio is available for private events. The lawn features a place for games, uncovered seating and even a pirate ship playset for the kids.
Their motto is “Island Vibes with a Southern Soul,” and from the sound of the plans, it’s an ideal descriptor.
They’ll have live music during the day on weekends, and the whole place is open and inviting, giving it a communal feel.
It’s not the MacDonalds’ first venture in the restaurant and hospitality business. Brandon owned seven restaurants in the Birmingham area. Amy managed one of the restaurants, and that’s how they met. They’ve been together for 16 years and have two daughters they home school. Brandon has a son who is a freshman at Mississippi State and is a counselor at Camp Cosby in the summers.
An entrepreneur by nature, Brandon said he can see a location or space and ideas start to flow, and a concept materializes. “I like designing or creating something and making it come to fruition.”
That’s the momentum behind the Porky Pirate – laid back, but exceptional food and service. Amy’s dad was a commercial fisherman, and she “grew up” on a shrimp boat. Fast forward, and they were keeping their own boat at Coosa Island.
The old restaurant space was available, and the wheels began to turn. He used his own experiences as a company director of operations traveling around the country to develop the menu.
It will have Texas style brisket like you would find in Dallas – “the same caliber.” There’s smoked pork, Carolina style, mopped during cooking with a vinegar sauce, pulled and then served with a mustard-based sauce.
Smoked wings and chicken will feature a white sauce. St. Louis ribs will be smoked with a dry rub.
Other dishes include catfish, chili lime dusted shrimp, smoked sausage and grits, reverse seared steaks, rum glazed salmon and three different smash-style burgers. A Caribbean-Southern slaw is on the menu, too. “We have unique takes on things,” he said, noting the creativity behind such dishes as fried Oreos and smoked bacon maple bread pudding or the bacon wrapped smoked honey buns and smoked bologna.
They have a full kids’ menu with healthier options than normal children’s fare, and on Mondays, they eat for free.
Island parties can be held on the rooftop, which seats 10-12 people, and it has fixed menus to choose from. Reservations are already coming in.
Weekly specials are planned, including Bingo and BOGO Tacos on Tuesdays and half price wings on Wednesdays.
And for convenience for busy lifestyles, they’ll feature a grab and go menu with dinners for four – meat and two sides, dessert and sauces – for $38. Smoked turkeys and hams will be available during the holidays.
Chef is Lee Wiggins, who was on the leadership team of Dave & Buster’s. While his specialty is desserts, he has extensive experience in catering.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and on weekends, breakfast and brunch will be served in season beginning at 8 a.m. Plans call for being open year-round.
They’re even providing space on the patio deck for church services on Sunday. “You have to meet people where they’re at,” Brandon said, giving them a place to worship if they’re not into traditional church. He likened it to the church services held at the coast’s Flora-Bama that are growing in popularity.
“This will be more casual and less intimidating but give an opportunity for the Lord to touch your heart. We’re doing things the right way – putting the Lord first,” he said.
Amy agreed. The restaurant is a place to “break bread together – fellowship. We want this place to be a blessing to all those around us.”
Southside Landing and Coosa Landing kayaking and paddle boats
Pedal Boats are back!
Just in time for Spring Break in March, a parade of pedal boats made their second season appearance, returning to their home base at Gadsden’s Coosa Landing.
Brightly colored swans, a duck and even a dragon can be seen making their way around the harbor area near the River Walk and the bait shop, powered by pedalers.
The boats can hold five people – two pedalers up front and three on the fully enclosed, rear bench seating.
Anyone interested in renting the boats can visit the Coosa Landing bait shop, located at 200 Lake Street, starting at 9 a.m. The last rental of the day is at 4 p.m. Rentals are available Monday through Sunday.
Renters must be at least 18 years old and bring an ID. Life jackets are required, and the city has some available for approved passengers. The rental fee is $20, which provides access for up to one hour. If multiple hours are needed, the first hour is $20, and each hour thereafter is $15.
No rentals with winds higher than 10 mph.
For more information, call 256-549-4677.
Kayaks for rent in Southside & Gadsden
Want something a little more challenging? Try something new at Southside Landing and Coosa Landing in Gadsden for seasoned kayakers and novices alike.
The cities have partnered with Rent.Fun to launch a self-service kayak rental program at both landings
Available for rent are kayaks with paddles and vests. The cost is $25 for two hours and $15 per hour thereafter.
Just use the mobile app online at rent.fun for each city, pick your kayak, grab your vest and paddle away!
League of extraordinary citizens offer lake protection
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by David Smith Submitted photos
The water’s up, and the boats are out. We’ve been missing the warm days splashing in the water with friends and family, the cookouts and gatherings on the lake, the nighttime cruises and the early mornings fishing on the lake.
If you live on or near Logan Martin Lake, you may want to take a moment to thank a small group of people who have helped to make all that possible.
These agents of change are a league of ordinary people who are truly extraordinary citizens. Their shirt says Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA), but “League of Lake Protectors” might be more fitting. In the nearly 30 years of LMLPA’s existence, these lake protection superheroes have been working to keep lake life great 24/7 for all who live near, work near, or play near the waters of Logan Martin.
If you’re confidently splashing in the water with friends and family, you may not realize that LMLPA constantly conducts water testing to ensure that it is safe for swimming.
Board member Isabella Trussell oversees that project and has since 1996. “At that time there were no women on the board, so I joined and said I’d take up water quality testing,” said Trussell. “We got ahold of the people doing Lake Watch at Lake Martin and learned how their program worked. Now we have 25 monitors who do chemical and physical tests monthly with an EPA-approved protocol and sponsored by Alabama Water Watch out of Auburn University.”
Lighted buoy program has greatly enhanced safety on lake
The cookouts and gatherings on the lake can happen for more months of the year now that the winter water level only goes down three feet, instead of five. More areas are still accessible by water, with fewer mud flats in the late fall and early spring when the weather might still be favorable for outdoor activities.
Linda Reuthemann has been a member of LMLPA for 23 years and currently serves as treasurer. She says the association was heavily involved in discussions about the changes in the winter lake level. “People didn’t want the lake to drop five feet in the winter,” Reuthemann said. “They wanted to be like Neely Henry and just drop one foot. We’ve been to the dam and have talked to everyone who would listen at the Army Corps of Engineers. We ended up with the three-foot drop based on these discussions.”
The higher lake levels have made some areas previously inaccessible by water in the winter available for fishing and for winter tournaments. Tournament fishing typically begins while it is still dark, so lighted buoys are a great safety feature on Logan Martin. Nighttime pontoon cruisers also benefit from being able to see lake hazards heralded by the presence of a lighted buoy.
Former LMLPA president Bud Kitchin works on the buoy program, kicked off in 2019. “We got the first one in the water in the latter part of 2020,” Kitchin says. “We knew our sister association on Lake Martin had started a program three or four years earlier, so we talked to them, then brought the idea here. We launched the program in conjunction with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) marine division.”
The group started by asking for buoy sponsors to raise the money to purchase and maintain the buoys. In the beginning, they were only able to purchase a few buoys, and none were lighted. Those have since been replaced with lighted ones. Right now, they have 70 lighted buoys installed and have ordered 15 more.
“The cost of the buoys has gone up significantly this year,” says Kitchin. “Each buoy, including maintenance is costing about $700 and every summer, we have to replace two or three that get hit or vandalized.” They have yet to reach their initial goal of 100 buoys installed. Placement of the buoys, he adds, is determined by recommendations, accidents or issues and is decided by ALEA.
Lake Cleanup
Safety for people is not the only focus for the work of the LMLPA. They help to protect wildlife as well, through their fishing line collection and recycling program. Eagles, osprey, ducks and other birds around the lake can get caught in the fishing line left in the water or along the shorelines.
Randy Sparks manages the six fishing line stations set up at Riverside, Lakeside Park, Town and Country, General Lee, Poor House and Clear Creek. “We collect it and ship it to a company in Iowa that recycles it,” says Sparks. “The spools are also recycled and most of this is made into plastic tackle boxes.”
Managing the annual lake cleanup is also a major project for LMLPA. Each March, for the last 26 years, they have worked with “Renew Our Rivers,” a lake cleanup program sponsored by Southern Company on each of their hydroelectric dam lakes. Each year, a staggering 10 to 12 tons of trash and other large debris are removed from Logan Martin. Volunteers meet at one of six locations from Clear Creek near the dam to Lincoln to pick up bags and gloves and return the trash to the same location.
Lincoln’s Landing is the first site to see the benefit of the association’s latest project to obtain and install accessibility lifts. “I’d seen an article on these lifts,” says project coordinator Arlene Johnson, “and I thought we might need to do some of these. I thought of Lincoln’s Landing. The idea is to provide access to people who are handicapped to be able to use a boat and enjoy the lake.”
Johnson found a vendor and a local supplier, got board approval and in May of 2022, the lift was installed at Lincoln’s Landing. The lift itself was paid for through a grant from The Noble Foundation and the City of Lincoln.
Pell City’s Lakeside Park is the next location to receive an accessibility lift. “We just have to figure out where to put it,” explains Johnson. “It has to have a non-floating dock to be attached to, so we’ll either need to find a place or build one.”
The goal is for LMLPA to be able to add a third lift, which would be installed on the lower part of the lake at Double Cove Park.
Superhero work sometimes comes from regular folks. These are ordinary people, but through the LMLPA, these residents and friends of Logan Martin are showing their extraordinary passion for this body of water and the people who love it.
The group is small with just 175 members, so the workload is heavy. If you would like to show your dedication to protecting Logan Martin, they would appreciate your help. Support their efforts or join the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association at www.lmlpa.org.
Membership is $25 per family. You’ll feel like a superhero, or at the very least, extraordinary.
If you can’t imagine a Fourth of July celebration without fireworks, that’s because it has been part of the tradition since nearly the beginning of America’s birth as a nation.
During the early months of the Revolutionary War in 1776, delegates to the Continental Congress debated whether the 13 colonies should declare independence from Britain and King George.
On July 1, 12 of the colonies did so. New York, the 13th, would follow suit on July 9. On July 2, with independence plainly in sight and final drafts of the Declaration of Independence being revised, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:
“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival … It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
And as Adams predicted, it was. On July 4, 1777, the first organized 4th of July celebration was held in Philadelphia. The next day, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”
Two hundred and forty-eight years later, the tradition continues. Our lakes are popular venues for the nighttime show beautifully illuminating the waters below. Here’s a roundup of fireworks shows throughout the lake region:
Logan Martin Lake
City of Pell City, Pell City Lakeside Park, July 4, around 9 p.m.
River’s Edge Marina, July 5, Event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks after dark
Back Porch Grill/Clear Creek Marina, July 3, after dark
City of Lincoln, July 5, Lincoln’s Landing, after dark
City of Talladega, July 4, Battery Park, after dark
Neely Henry Lake
City of Rainbow City, June 28 event starts at 5 p.m. with food trucks, live music, Kia Sports Complex, 625 Kinizie Lane; Drone Show begins at 9 p.m. (ideal for sensory sensitive audience).
City of Gadsden, July 4 event starts at 6 p.m. with vendors, live music, and fireworks visible after dark; First Street, Riverside Drive. Fireworks show hosted by Gadsden-Etowah Patriots at Riverwalk Park at Coosa Landing, 108 North Hood Avenue
Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
Logan Martin’s water levels will be changing during the months of May and June, and in turn, the patterns of bass will be changing during these months as well.
Early on in May, you can still see bass on beds and also catch fish out deep. Typically, in May, bass will be very spread out and in very different phases of the spawn. However, for the majority of the time in May, your better fish are still going to be shallow.
The water on Logan Martin is just starting to rise and get to summer pool. The fish will follow this water up and stay shallow during May. There are a couple of key baits I like to use in order to catch fish while they’re in their post spawn funk.
The first bait I’m going to reach for early, especially in the morning, is a swim jig. What I like about the swim jig is that it is very versatile. This bait is great around almost any kind of shallow structure, such as docks, trees and grass. The swim jig allows me to cover water fast and efficiently in order to capitalize on the daylight bite.
Once the sun finally starts to get up, I’ll start casting to isolated structure with a wacky rigged worm. This is a great way to just get bites and get those post spawn fish to bite. I usually target really shallow docks with this bait, along with casting to what bedding fish might be left.
Once we start getting into the month of June, the water temps will begin to rise, and the shallows will begin to slowly lose oxygen, especially if there is a lack of rain. The fish will start schooling up on the end of long points and humps anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of water.
I also like to target brush piles in this depth as well. My favorite bait to target these fish are a deep diving crankbait and drop shot rig. Some of the biggest offshore fish I catch all year will come on the crank bait most of the time. The crankbait is an awesome way to really fire up a school of bass and get more fish to bite in the school.
The drop shot seems to excel a lot more in brush piles because it is more of a reaction type bite if you drop it right in the brush pile. I feel like the drop shot is always my best chance to get bit in the brush pile no matter what size of fish might be in the pile.
These fish are typically more lethargic since they’re usually pretty beaten up from the spawn.
Give these techniques a try and you will find success during these months on Logan Martin.
Neely Henry
Neely Henry is a shallow fisherman’s paradise during the months of May and June. On top of that, a few deep fish will start showing up as well.
During these months, you will still catch your better fish shallow. I love to fish around shallow grass in the mid-lake region with a swim jig and frog. I typically keep my eyes peeled for bream beds as well.
Also, another great way to catch fish on Neely Henry is super shallow docks. When I say shallow docks, I’m talking any docks with five-foot depth or less of water.
I let the weather tell me what I need to throw around them. If it’s in and out clouds, typically I like to throw more of a moving bait like a bladed jig or squarebill crankbait. If it’s slick calm and sunny, I’ll pick up some type of Texas rigged worm and drag it on the bottom around the docks.
Now, moving into the month of June, some fish will make their move out to deeper water. Most of the time on Neely, I’ll find fish in that mid-range depth around the 10 to 15-foot mark. You will most of the time find these fish off the end of long points or in brush piles.
I will use my electronics in order to find these fish as well. I will keep my bait selection simple if I’m wanting to figure out fast if the fish are doing this pattern.
One of my favorite baits to pick up first is a football jig. The football jig is a very versatile bait for offshore angling. I like to either keep it close to the bottom or if I’m wanting to cover water fast, I’ll just swim it close to the bottom.
Another great option if things are tough is a drop shot. A drop shot will produce bites when nothing else will.
Keep an open mind this time of year and don’t be afraid to try something new. It might surprise you how good the fish can really bite on Neely Henry even when the fish might be in in their post spawn funk.
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
It’s here! It’s one of the first signs that lake season has officially arrived on Logan Martin. The ever-popular River’s Edge Marina, featuring Tiki Hut and Burgers & Breakfast, opens May 3, Saturday and Sundays only. Friday nights will come back the first week of June.
Hours for Saturday and Sunday will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Last call is at 8:30 p.m. Manager Michael Emerick noted that on Friday nights, “we will have either a band, Bingo or maybe even Karaoke!”
The new building that houses the marina and River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast made its debut along with an expanded and renovated Tiki Hut in 2024. “It was a very great year for us. People seemed to love the building. We were able to cook faster with our bigger fryers and grills. The flow seemed a lot better, and we had a lot of positive feedback that we are looking forward to growing off of in 2025,” Emerick said.
Fun at 2024 season kickoff
“We saw huge growth in 2024, and we hope to build off that. We think the new building and the positivity surrounding The Tiki Hut is something great and definitely helped boost our day-to-day.”
For the 2025 season, “we are actually renovating the Tiki Hut once again. This bar renovation will make for smoother and faster ordering, we hope, along with more machines. We will now have two Bushwacker machines. We have upgraded the Blue Hawaiian machine to keep up with the demand, along with the Pina Colada machine. We are officially bringing back Frose on an every weekend basis.”
Plans call for adding a small area inside the Tiki Hut to serve as the “Beer and Mixed Drink” Bar so the main bar can focus on the frozen drinks, “and you can snag your beer or mixed drinks from its own place,” he said. “We hope this helps the line and keeps drinks flowing.”
Another huge draw is the creation of Tiki Hut Jr. “This is something we are very excited about. Previously, we served Virgin drinks for the kids out of the Tiki Hut. We will be removing those from the main bar and putting them in its own dedicated ‘non-alcoholic’ bar underneath the building,” which is a covered patio with plenty of seating, he said.
Tiki Hut Jr. will serve Virgin Drinks, Ice Cream, Sodas, snacks and will be the main location for apparel sales. It may also serve a few more items.
During Halloween’s Boo Bash event
Also on tap as a new addition this year is a self-serve kiosk, where you can order food off of it downstairs at the Tiki Hut Jr., which Emerick hopes will “eliminate the line and starts faster ordering processes for people so they can enjoy all the things we have to offer while they wait on their food as such as our swim area, playground, games, music, and more.”
Other changes at the marina include wet slips for the boat parking, which will have about 10 more slips this year for parking.
The summer kickoff is the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, May 17. It will feature three bands performing, starting at 3 p.m. BuckWIld Band is headlining the event. Tyler Nichols Band is in the middle slot, and David Howard from Kudzu is opening with a solo. This event is presented by ABC Towing, and sponsored by Capps Painting, A Plus Tire & Auto, Woods Surfside Marina, Stone Concepts and ERA King.
“We do have some pretty special events planned or in the planning,” Emerick says. Memorial Day Weekend, Cruisin performs on Saturday, and then Kudzu on Sunday. These performances will be from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on a small stage.
On opening day, May 3, Skiers Marine will be hosting an in-water boat show at the marina.
“We do not have an exact date, but we are working with the Birmingham Homebuilders Association to plan a poker run that leaves from the marina with maybe a small band after the event at the Tiki Hut. This will be sometime in June,” according to Emerick.
On June 28, they will be sponsoring the annual Dam-Palooza, a boat tie-up near Logan Martin Dam, by supplying a band on top of a houseboat. “We will have 90 Proof performing for us, with DJIV doing the DJ music between sets,” he says.
Of course, no summer season is complete without fireworks. July 5 will be its annual fireworks show event with bounce houses, snow cones, bands and more. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at “dark:30.”
Plans also call for sponsoring Boo Bash in October and hosting a special event in conjunction with the dock-to-dock trick-or-treating activities.
Do you know where it’s safe to swim on the Coosa River?
Summer is just around the bend which means that pretty soon folks will begin jumping into their favorite swimming holes around the Coosa! Check out Coosa Riverkeeper’s website or social media every Friday to see the latest water quality results each week of the summer, starting the week before Memorial Day, for our summer Swim Guide program so that you and your family can make informed decisions on where it’s safe to swim.
Swim Guide is our organization’s water quality monitoring alert service that we conduct each summer since 2015! Samples are collected from all around the watershed, delivered to our office lab, processed and analyzed, and then we issue alerts based on the E. coli levels we detected in our samples. We issue these alerts using a simple green, yellow, or red indicator meaning that if we detect elevated levels of E. coli in the waterway above the safe swimming limit for humans, we issue a yellow or red alert depending on how high the E. coli is elevated in a particular sample.
We’ve got a great team of Environmental Technicians this year that are all ready to gather this important water quality data across 50 sampling sites. Our Environmental Technicians play a vital role in conducting this program as they serve as our “boots on the ground” and process these samples for staff to report to the public on Fridays. We hope we see y’all out on the river this summer, and give a wave if you see one of our Environmental Technicians out and about around the river!
No one should have to gamble with their health when it comes to splashing in the river! That’s why we conduct this program each year, every week of the summer, so that you and your community can make informed decisions on where you choose to recreate. Check out where we test and learn more about what our data means by following our social media or visiting our website at CoosaRiver.org/SwimGuide!
Lake cabin central to generations of family, friends
Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Mackenzie Free Submitted Photos
Anyone who knows Lyman Lovejoy – and the number is a large one since he’s never met a stranger – can testify that the real estate mogul who has called St. Clair County home for more than 50 years, has the perfect last name.
Granddaughter Niah gets an early start at the lake
Known as the “Mayor of St. Clair County,” Lovejoy loves people and radiates joy. Factor in his fondness for the water and being outdoors, and it’s no surprise that one of his favorite things is spending time with family and friends at his weekend home on Neely Henry Lake.
“If I don’t do a thing but sit right here and throw me a fishing line out there, I’d be fine,” Lovejoy said from one of three wooden swings hanging in his boathouse. “The view doesn’t get any better than this.”
There’s a lot of view to enjoy since Lovejoy’s three lots boast about 800 feet of sparkling waterfront. “Over the years, a lot of people have asked me if I would sell the place,” he said of the A-frame cottage and 3 acres surrounding it. “The answer is no. My kids and grandkids have known this all their lives. It’s not for sale.”
Another generation is learning to love lake life, as well. In addition to his two children and six grandkids, the 84-year-old Lovejoy now has two great-grandchildren.
Chances are, they’ll learn to ski much like their parents and grandparents did. Lovejoy taught them all in an untraditional manner. Before they were ready to test their new skill behind a boat, Lovejoy gave them skis and a rope, and he ran down the riverbank, pulling them along. “I did that until they were ready to get behind the pontoon,” he said with a grin.
When the family gets together, it’s a pretty big crowd, but Lovejoy said he and his special friend, Sheila Moore, love hosting them, as well as friends, church groups and anyone else who wants to join the festivities.
“There’s always room for more,” Lovejoy said. “We’ve grilled many a hamburger here, and we just love to sit and eat and talk.”
His eyes light up with the memories – the ones he and his family have created, as well as the ones he has from his childhood in Clay. “I grew up with camping, Boy Scouts, fishing,” Lovejoy said. “I’ve always enjoyed being around the water and wildlife.”
Born for it
Lovejoy’s affection for the outdoors comes naturally. Growing up, his parents, Sim and Lucille Lovejoy, were caretakers at YMCA Camp Cosby. As superintendent, his father “kept everything going” at the camp, which was originally located north of Trussville before moving to Logan Martin Lake in 1972. As a result, Lovejoy spent many a summer lifeguarding.
A-frame cabin he’s had for 40 years
After graduating from Hewitt High School, now Hewitt-Trussville, Lovejoy got a job with an office equipment company before he and his late wife, Catherine, decided to get their real estate licenses.
They bought an office in Odenville, moved to St. Clair County, and Lovejoy has been here ever since. He now lives on a farm in Ashville, about 15 or 20 minutes from his lake home. Lovejoy Realty specializes in selling land for recreation, hunting and farming, as well as residential and commercial development, home sales and new construction.
It’s hard to know what Lovejoy has enjoyed most – his career or the place where he developed it. Either way, whether he’s closing a deal or simply telling a visitor about the virtues of “a quiet life” in the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, Lovejoy is always selling St. Clair County and working to make it better.
“I’m probably the only one in the county that’s got every commissioner, councilman and mayor in my phone, and I work it,” he said. Lovejoy has served on the St. Clair County Economic Development Council and is a former chair and member of UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair. A past member of the Alabama Real Estate Commission, which is a gubernatorial appointment, Lovejoy is active in his church, First Baptist of Ashville, and has held leadership positions in the St. Clair Association of Realtors.
“There’s not a better place anywhere,” he said. “Folks have been good to us here.”
Down by the water
Although Lovejoy has made many real estate transactions, one of the best ones he made was when he and his wife bought the cottage in the Shoal Valley Creek area of Neely Henry almost five decades ago.
“A couple came in and said they wanted us to sell their house on the river,” he recalled. “We’d been wanting to get a place on the water, so we said, ‘We’ve got to get that.’”
The 2-bedroom, 1-bath A-frame came with two lots, and a year or so ago, Lovejoy bought a third lot next door. “It’s real simple, but it’s all we need,” he said. “We have 30, 40, 50 people out here sometimes. I love it.”
Guests to the home walk into a cozy den that’s painted a bright white and has two sofas and several oversized chairs. There’s a basket of board games, which have gotten years of use, and a small kitchen, dining area and bathroom.
Upstairs are two small bedrooms – one with four twin beds and another with two. Navy and white striped comforters provide a nautical feel and contribute to the homey atmosphere.
“Most of the time we don’t even make it up to the house,” Lovejoy said, standing at the door of a large, free-standing screened porch that he eventually added on the property. “This is about as far as we go unless we’ve got to go to the bathroom.”
Lyman on boat with granddaughters, Tori and Bree Camp
The “cooking shed” has plenty of seating around a fire pit table, and Lovejoy built benches and ledges all around three sides of the outdoor living space. The fourth side is home to cabinets he made, as well as a sink, microwave and refrigerator. A collection of rods, reels and fishing gear is tucked away in the corner.
Lovejoy and Moore believe that the best part of entertaining is the fun and fellowship, so they make it as easy as possible. The menu is usually hamburgers and hotdogs with sides like potato salad, slaw, baked beans, chips and fruit. “There’s always plenty for everyone,” Lovejoy said. “We can seat about 50 in here,” he said. “We have a lot of fun.”
When they’re not eating, they’re playing. A shed next to the screened room holds all the toys – skis, tubes, floats, fishing poles, kayaks, a water mat and an assortment of life jackets for every age and size. “We’ve got them from infant size on up,” Lovejoy said.
Fishing is another big draw. “We’ve caught some 15- and 20-pounders,” he said. “We’ve caught carp, crappie, gar, catfish, bass, you name it.”
The dock and boathouse area is one of Lovejoy’s favorite places. He recently spent a breezy afternoon there with Moore and Herschel Morgan, a childhood friend who stopped by for a quick visit. “We’ve known each other all our lives,” Lovejoy said as Rascal, his 12-year-old mutt, jumped up to join them. “Look at us. We’re just three old dogs sitting on a swing.”
The two bantered back and forth, reminiscing, laughing and catching up on each other’s lives. When Moore got up to put something away, Lovejoy, just four weeks out from knee replacement surgery, was quick to quip, “We’d help you if we weren’t crippled.” Not to be outdone, Morgan quickly added, “We’ve got over 100,000 miles on these legs.”
For Lovejoy, it was a perfect afternoon: laughing with friends, sharing a beautiful view, and enjoying the peace and quiet. “A good portion (of the lake) is owned by Alabama Power, so it’s very sparsely built,” he said. “On a really busy day, there might be a few boats. It’s pretty quiet here.”
So what would it take to make Lovejoy leave St. Clair County and his slice of heaven on the water? “They make ’em about 6 feet long and it’s got a lid on it,” he joked. “If it’s a pine box, that’s OK, as long as it’s well-made.”
And since he doesn’t like any surprises when it comes to making a sale, he was quick to disclose an additional caveat. “And one more thing,” Lovejoy added, “I want a Cadillac hearse.”
Recipes for lake gatherings
Courtesy of Sheila Moore
Georgia Cornbread
Ingredients:
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups chopped pecans
1 ½ cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 dish. Beat eggs, oil and sugars. Stir in pecans, flour and vanilla. Bake 30 minutes and let cool in dish for 10 minutes on a rack. Serve with whipped cream or enjoy as is with a cup of coffee.
Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients:
2 cups canned chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes (do not drain)
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces of spaghetti, cooked
Parmesan cheese
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients, except for cheese, with the pasta. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes. Add cheese to top and return to oven until cheese is melted.
Logan Martin Dam Palooza boat tie-up returns June 28
It has been a dozen years since someone had the idea of a nontraditional get-together at Logan Martin Dam. It would be a boat tie-up, where boats tie to one another and enjoy the day on the lake – in the water, on their boats, on floats and mats, or from boat to boat.
It has become one giant floating party, and it’s returning June 28, when organizers are taking the 12th Annual Logan Martin Dam Palooza to the next level.
Live music by 90 Proof will entertain, and DJIV will be playing the tunes between sets. Sponsors of the free event are Tiki Hut and ABC Towing.
While organizers want everyone to enjoy the day at the dam, there are some reminders and guidelines that will ensure exactly that.
Here they are:
Have a responsible boat captain in charge of the boat and the safety of your crew
Bring enough ropes to properly secure your boat to your neighbor’s if you plan to tie up to the line of boats.
Have sufficient bumpers for the size and type of your boat.
Bring an anchor sufficient for the size boat you are operating. Wind will determine which way we toss anchors but please have one.
When approaching, please be aware of people in the water and the line of boats tied together. Any waves caused by your boat approaching can cause damage or disrupt the fun everyone else is trying to have.
Turn off music when approaching so any help offered for your docking can be heard, and you can easily be tied up.
Note there will be all ages attending this float so please refrain from any music that may be offensive to the little ones. We will have the loudest stereo(s) on the lake with us and will try to play general music everyone can enjoy but this is not a competition, if you want to play your music for a while we will let you.
We set up a swim area between the boats with big pads and ropes, etc., so please be aware of this area when coming and going.
Don’t be ‘that guy!’ When approaching, stop well before you get to the tie up and get your bumpers in place, ropes tied and ready to throw and turn the music down, so everyone can hear the captain’s commands.
This is an opportunity to make new friends on the lake and enjoy the day together. When someone approaches your boat, help them tie up safely and securely. If you are approaching, be considerate of who you are tying to, and have all of your bumpers and ropes ready. Return the favor for who ties to your boat.
“We hope to see everyone down at the dam,” organizers say with a final message: “Everyone be safe!”
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted photos from Alabama Outdoors
Top photo by Cathy Flynn
Katie Faught had no plans to take up photography. That is, until she moved to Logan Martin Lake almost six years ago. In that time, she says, she’s seen so many beautiful sights that she just had to pick up a camera and start shooting. Her lenses capture the images of osprey, hawks, and eagles that nest and fish the waters of the Coosa River.
“I got my first Nikon camera and first telephoto lens five years ago and started getting serious about it,” says Faught. “We live in the slough by Knox Landing in Pell City. We have bald eagles and osprey that both nest nearby.” She photographs them just outside her house when the water is down. When the water comes back up, she and her husband, Brian, head out by boat to look for them.
For Faught and other eagle enthusiasts, there is good news. There will be more sightings of bald eagles around Logan Martin Lake, as their numbers nationwide and in Alabama continue to rise. According to Robyn Miller, director of Auburn University’s Raptor Center, there are about 100 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Alabama.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) oversees a program called the “mid-winter bald eagle survey,” a joint effort by many state and federal environmental agencies that annually tracks the location of eagles across the U.S. Dylan Shaw is a biologist in environmental affairs for Alabama Power and participates in the survey each year.
“We have been a part of that effort since 1993,” Shaw explains. “We track the eagles on the Coosa River on a rotating basis over a three-year period, surveying the upper Coosa on Neely Henry, the middle Coosa on Logan Martin, and the lower Coosa on Lay, Mitchell and Jordan lakes. Logan Martin was surveyed in 2024 and Neely Henry in 2023.” That survey revealed at least 15 bald eagles on Logan Martin and five on Neely Henry.
Eagle and osprey in flight
Photo by Katie Wade Faught
The numbers could be much higher, though, since the crews only survey from the water. “We take crews and survey the entire shoreline with about six observers searching with binoculars,” Shaw continued. “It’s all done in one day, and it’s just a snapshot. It reflects the minimum numbers that exist but really indicates that there are many eagles on our lakes.”
It took a special effort to bring bald eagles back to Alabama. In 1985, according to Chris Sykes, executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Center, there were no nesting pairs in our state. “There was a big push by the Alabama Department of Conservation,” Sykes said, “and between 1984 and 1991, they released 91 juvenile bald eagles into Alabama wild lands.”
Logan Martin resident Barnett Lawley was a part of Alabama’s efforts to repopulate the bald eagle when he served as the state’s commissioner of conservation under Governor Bob Riley from 2003 to 2011. He remembers participating in a program in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that relocated eaglets to Alabama from Alaska and Florida, states where the species was abundant.
Specialized biologists would remove some young birds from nests in those two states, transport them to Alabama and put them into large, enclosed habitats referred to as “hacking stations.”
“I don’t remember exactly how many, but the hacking stations were all over the state,” says Lawley. “The young birds were fed by humans but would never see the hands that were feeding them. They thrived and would begin to test their wings. They would fly out of the station and come back. They would do that many times and when a bird left and didn’t come back, you’d know it was looking for a mate.”
Each year, conservationists and biologists would survey the state to look for bald eagle nests. “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a small airplane so we could use it in our department,” adds Lawley. “We’d take it to do the yearly bald eagle surveys, and when we were doing other projects and saw a nest, we would put that location in the GPS, too. By the time the program ended, we had identified the locations of over 100 nests.”
Success story
The comeback of the bald eagle from near extinction is largely considered one of the most notable victories in the conservation world. In 1963, there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles known to exist in the lower 48 states.
Fifteen years later, they were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The protections under that act, coupled with the banning of the synthetic pesticide DDT by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created more favorable conditions for the birds, and their populations began to increase. By 2007, they were no longer listed as endangered.
The same favorable conditions that other anglers enjoy have helped bald eagles thrive on the Coosa. The coves and inlets provide many favorite fishing spots, and since fish is the primary food in a bald eagle’s diet, there’s every reason to love lake life. Small rodents, turtles and waterfowl can also fall victim to the talons of a hungry eagle, though they prefer an easier meal.
Eagles are opportunistic hunters and will steal another bird’s catch when they can. One of Katie Faught’s favorite photos, captured a few years ago, involved an egret who experienced just such a loss to an eagle.
“I call the series, ‘Lose Your Dinner,’” Faust laughs. “It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had. I was photographing the egret who had caught dinner and was on the beach with his fish. Suddenly he flew off. I started to follow him with my camera, but then, for some reason, I looked back at the beach, and an eagle was there with the fish. He was eating the fish, swallows the head, then looks right at me. It just captured me. I was spellbound in that moment.”
The plentiful food supply and the abundance of tall, sturdy trees in which to build nests provides all that is necessary for eagles to thrive on Logan Martin and Neely Henry. Bald eagles are a migratory or semi-migratory species but always return to within 100 miles of the nest where they fledged.
“Birds only need nests for babies,” explains Sykes. “Outside of breeding season, birds just sleep in trees. Bald eagles come back because their nests are so durable, and it’s just easier to go back to that nest than to build a new one. Sometimes they may take a break from that one if it gets too dirty. They’ll let nature clean it up, then return another year.”
Up close and personal
Mike Wadsworth, owner of Wadsworth Blueberry Farm, has a bird’s eye view of a bald eagle’s nest on his property just off U.S. 231 South in Cropwell. The nesting pair, who showed up with their juvenile fledgling after the 2011 tornado that touched down near the Logan Martin dam, have returned every year since.
His family has watched them add to their nest or build one nearby each breeding season. “The other day I saw them working on it. They sometimes bring a limb so big they must work together to get it in,” Wadsworth says.
Bald eagles have a strong pair bond and will usually mate for life. And while they often return to the same nest each year for the breeding season, sometimes they have another nest nearby that they choose to use for a season or two.
Photo by
Katie Wade Faught
They will add to the nest each year to make repairs and make it stronger. In doing so, the nests grow larger and heavier, some as large as eight feet wide and weighing more than one ton. The weight of the nest, coupled with strong winds can sometimes break the tree or compromise the nest.
“The first year they nested here, they raised three fledglings,” recalls Wadsworth. “It was great to see how they strengthened their wings. They had three fledglings, and the third one didn’t want to hop out of the nest. The parent on the nest at the time was just fussing at the bird. It would cock its head and step toward it. It reminded me of a parent going after the teenage son who wasn’t doing right.”
Later, he watched as the birds hopped from limb to limb, a strength-building behavior called branching.
Wadsworth says he has learned a lot in the 14 years of having bald eagle neighbors. What surprised him most was the way bald eagles constantly talk to each other. Adults will call out in a scream, chatter or peal to each other, depending on what the circumstances dictate.
“They talk off and on, day and night,” says Wadsworth. “I can hear one of them call and look out across the lake toward River Oaks. That’s a good fishing spot. And you can see the juvenile coming home when he hears the call.”
Eagles’ nests have been spotted on Logan Martin near River Oaks, near the dam, near Riverside and near Ogletree Island. “I’ve tried to get photos of the ones near Ogletree Island,” said Faught. “I finally got pictures of two bald eagles not far from there. They were sitting on a plateau in the water, having just finished their dinner.”
Recognizing the difference
Being able to identify an eagle takes practice. Often osprey and hawks are misidentified as eagles and vice versa. Raptor Center’s Miller says identifying eagles can be tricky, especially with juveniles.
“We often think of bald eagles with distinctive white heads,” Miller explains, “but it takes four to five years for them to get their fully white feathers. Juveniles are uniformly brown and are commonly thought to be golden eagles. Bald eagles also have bald legs, while golden eagles are considered a booted species, meaning they have feathers that go all the way down to their feet.”
Eagles are quite large, weighing between seven and 10 pounds, with a wingspan of up to seven feet. They can be up to 40 inches tall, with males being slightly smaller than the females. Mature bald eagles have white heads and white tails, with yellow legs and feet and a bulky yellow beak.
An osprey is not as big and has a lot of white and brown colorations. Hawks have a shorter wingspan, with rounded wings and broad tails, as opposed to eagles who have straighter wings and longer tails.
Identifying the presence of nesting eagles is important because there are special precautions to take to protect the national bird. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, property building or tree cutting should be limited to permitted activities and not during breeding season.
Ideally, less human disturbance is best for these creatures that are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
“I talk to people all over the world,” says Faught of her photography contacts. “They are aghast that I can walk out my door and get pictures of these beautiful birds. The bad part is that I haven’t had to learn the extreme patience that so many photographers have had to.”
For the rest of us, enjoying the beauty of the bald eagles on the lake is just a time to live in the moment, unless you’re fast enough to grab your phone or your camera before they’ve soared away into a nearby tree or on down the river. But what a beautiful moment it is.
Editor’s Note: To report a bald eagle’s nest, contact the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s bald eagle coordinator (334) 242-3469.To report an injured bird, contact Game Warden Jason Bassett (256) 510-2467.
