High school sweethearts find each other again, marry lakeside at 87
Story by Carol Pappas Photos by Stillwell Photography
Sixty-six years after they ate cotton candy, rode the Ferris wheel and had their picture taken as high school sweethearts at a carnival, love found its way back to them.
Those attending turn chairs around for a group photo of the final walk
Life, as it often does, had taken Tom Johnson and Linda Rayfield down different paths since his senior year at Sylacauga High School in 1958. When those paths crossed again six decades later, the romance began anew.
Tom recalled the original romance. “I saw Linda first at church and then later at school as a teen. My first impression was that she was a tall, skinny, very beautiful girl. We went to the movies. I took her to the church in Hollins that she had not seen before. We went to the teenage restaurant to see the cars and have a burger on the tray hanging from the car window. Memories never forgotten.”
Linda was in the band. Tom was in the Glee Club. They drifted apart when Tom left for college at Faulkner University.
“For over 60 years, we were actually not very far apart in miles, but our paths did not cross,” Tom said. He lived in Conyers, Ga. She lived in Sylacauga.
“I married Shirley from Eufaula, Alabama, and Linda married Sonny. We both raised wonderful Christian families. We both were caretakers for our mates for many years before they passed. We both have great respect for each other’s former mates.”
But as fate would have it, they met again when he was visiting his brother, Clay County Commissioner Roy Johnson, who spends a lot of time in Talladega County. “I didn’t know who he was. I hadn’t seen him in 65 years,” Linda said.
Couple sporting their cowboy hats after the big event
Tom asked Linda if he could take her out for a meal together. “I was assuming she would suggest one of the steak restaurants, but she suggested the Old Town Grill in Childersburg. We learned quickly that we had a lot in common. I love her very much.”
That rekindled love was mutual, and those different paths they forged years ago finally merged into a wedding aisle on the banks of Logan Martin Lake. Tom’s niece, Rhonda Zorn Fernandez, and husband, Halo, hosted the afternoon celebration at their home.
“It was precious to honor two worthy people that have served others their entire lives,” Rhonda said. About 65 friends and family gathered for the wedding with the lake as a stunning backdrop.
As the bride readied just before the service, she said the two were “real excited” to have found each other again and were getting married.
A bluegrass band played in the background as wedding guests arrived and found their seats. At the appointed time, Linda descended the outdoor staircase. She and Tom came together under a beautifully decorated arch, perfectly framing the couple and the water just beyond, shimmering in the afternoon sun.
Flower girls – bride’s great granddaughters – drop petals
Rhonda had reasoned a time as special as this was meant to be shared, and they opened their home and began planning a celebration fit for an epic love story.
Jordan Alker, a preacher and Linda’s grandson, married them. His two daughters, Jaidyn and Avery, served as flower girls.
The bride and groom exchanged vows and rings and sealed it with the traditional kiss. “We planned to have it simple,” Linda said, as she prepared to walk down the aisle. “It turned out not to be.”
And that was just fine with her and Tom. Even a health scare couldn’t keep them apart this time around.
“I found out I had breast cancer two months before the wedding,” Linda said. “I was scared. I didn’t want to be another caregiver burden for Tom. He told me right off the bat, ‘I’m not going anywhere, we’ll face it together,’ and we did. We trusted our faith in God to help us, and we are together strong.”
If it’s a holiday or her father’s birthday, chances are Brooke Tollison is making a pie. An apple pie, to be precise, that’s baked in her grandparents’ cast-iron skillet.
Brooke shows off her cooking skills
They’ve developed quite a system. Once her dad has eaten his fill, “he gives the skillet back to me, all cleaned and seasoned and ready to go,” she said.
The fact that she and her parents, Gary and Lynn Williams, have houses next door to each other on Neely Henry Lake makes the process a little bit easier and a lot more fun. “I love that they are right there,” Brooke said. “Being next to my parents was a big selling point for me. My family has been on this part of the Coosa River for generations.”
That’s probably why, for Brooke, “lake” has always been synonymous with family.
As a child, it meant long summer days swimming with her cousins, learning to ski and kneeboard, and endless hours of boat rides and tubing. As an adult, it means drinking coffee or hot chocolate around the fire pit while watching the stars with her husband and kids on a crisp fall evening.
The one thing that has never changed is that “the lake” means Neely Henry. She and her husband, Jim, live and work in the Pell City area – she just opened The Brooke Tollison agency, an ALFA Independent Agency, and he is the regional manager for Alabama Farm Credit.
“Pell City has been so good to us,” she said. But in the 21 years they’ve lived there, Brooke said she’s only been to Logan Martin Lake three or four times.
“This is the lake I grew up on,” she said, standing at the water’s edge of the house they bought nearly two years ago. “I made so many wonderful memories here.”
Peaceful oasis
Brooke said she wasn’t actively looking for a lake house when the opportunity presented itself, but it had been in the back of her mind for a while, so she was keeping her eyes and ears open. “I knew I wanted a lake house for retirement,” she said. “I’ve still got 15 or 20 years to work, but I also had been watching prices appreciate.”
That’s why, when she learned that the 3-bedroom, 2-bath house on Palmetto Creek was hitting the market, she jumped at the chance. In addition to her parents, her uncle and several cousins have homes on Neely Henry, and she loved the idea of being close to her extended family. “I wanted my kids to have a similar experience to what I had growing up,” she said.
The perfect place to gather and watch the game
That means lazy days surrounded by family and friends. Brooke, who grew up in Hokes Bluff, gets nostalgic watching 16-year-old Claire and her friends having fun on the lily pad float because it reminds her of lake days with her own high school friends, who are frequent visitors to the lake house. Jim and their son, Jay, 19, love to fish, and Jay enjoys canoeing and kayaking, as well.
“This is the perfect spot for that,” she said, adding that the creek has smooth water and meanders about a mile past their house. Although there are several homes nearby, their area of the lake has a peaceful, secluded feel. “It’s private, but it’s not isolated,” she said.
Buying the lake house was kind of a full circle moment for Brooke. Her parents bought their house from her sister in the late ‘90s, and then they also bought the adjacent lot where her house now stands. Her father eventually sold the 3-acre lot to another family member, however, and it’s changed hands a couple of times since.
At some point, one of the owners built the house, and when Brooke bought it, the property became part of the family again. Since then, it’s been put to good use.
She’s helped her parents host a family reunion, and with two docks and two big yards, there was plenty of room for parking and for everyone to spread out. Last summer, she even hosted a wedding with 50 or 60 guests when a cousin exchanged vows by the water’s edge. “It was such a beautiful day,” Brooke said.
Let’s eat
Entertaining at the lake means lots of good food, so what’s on the menu when crowds gather?
“We live on a cattle farm, so we grill a lot,” Brooke said. “We’ll have steak or hamburgers, and my dad likes to smoke wings and briskets. When friends come, everybody brings sides, dips, cakes, potato salad and appetizers, and we all dig in. We love desserts, so there are always plenty of desserts.” Often, they include a tray of Brooke’s no-bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
When it’s just family, they usually take a more relaxed approach. “If we come up on a weekend, we go to Local Joe’s, get some food, eat on the pier, and then we go for a boat ride and watch the moon rise. And the stars – oh my gosh, the stars are fabulous,” Brooke said.
Relaxed getaway
Bedrooms let in plenty of natural light and are decorated in lakeside themes
Although the Tollisons escape to their getaway fairly often, Brooke has listed the home on Airbnb so that others can enjoy it when they can’t. So far, it’s been a great experience, she said, and she loves having the opportunity to help others fall in love with the lake that has meant so much to her and her family.
She wanted to create an inviting environment, so Brooke chose light colors and a mix of old and new furniture pieces to create the perfect oasis. There are some personal touches, as well. A family friend, Terry Lee, built the bed swing on the dock, and the artwork of two other friends, Jimmie Nell Miller and Shannon Abbott adorn the walls.
“I wanted it to feel like a lake house, a place that is comfy, welcoming and relaxing,” Brooke said. “Hopefully we achieved that.”
There’s plenty of things to entertain guests and friends who gather. Outdoor games like bocce ball and cornhole are favorites, and the Tollisons have a shed full of water toys like paddleboards, kayaks and a double canoe.
The area is a great spot for fishing, Brooke said, and the chances of spotting wildlife are pretty good. “We have ospreys here and the occasional bald eagle,” she said. “We’ve got bunny rabbits and deer. I grew up with creatures.”
It’s part of what makes lake life so special, she said. “This is my happy place, and I want everyone to love it as much as I do. Go kayaking, go paddleboarding, have a cup of coffee on the pier, sit in the sunshine, get some Vitamin D and just enjoy it. It’s a beautiful, beautiful spot.”
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
½ cup cocoa
½ cup milk
½ cup butter
¼ teaspoon salt
3-4 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup crunchy peanut butter
Directions
Combine sugar, cocoa, milk, butter and salt in a boiler and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter, vanilla and 3 cups of oatmeal. Mix thoroughly. Add more oatmeal for a thicker consistency. Drop onto wax paper and let cool.
Skillet Apple Pie
Ingredients
2 pounds Granny Smith apples
1 pound firm, red apples like Gala
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pie crusts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the brown sugar and ¾ of the stick of butter in a cast iron skillet (I use a 12-inch skillet) and melt them together. Peel and slice apples in ¼ inch pieces. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning. Add 1 cup of sugar minus 1 tablespoon to the peeled apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Add salt and vanilla to bowl. Mix to coat. Place one flat piece of crust in the skillet, on top of the brown sugar and butter mixture. Top with apple mixture. Put slices of remaining butter on top of apples. Top with second pie crust and slice vents in the crust. Brush milk across the top of the crust and sprinkle remaining sugar on top. Cover and bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
The path Erik and Erica Grieve followed to make their dream of living on Logan Martin Lake a reality is really a tale of two countries.
Moving to Central Mexico for Erik’s job helped them sock away enough money to make it happen, but after they fell in love with the life they created there, leaving it all behind when they returned to the United States and Pell City was harder than they imagined.
The lure of the water, though, was still a strong one, and the tranquility they’ve found at the lake was exactly what they needed. In the six years they’ve lived there, they’ve been treated to glorious sunsets, magical wildlife encounters and the peaceful calm that only life on the water can bring.
“We love our life here,” said Erica. “When we’re at home, and we walk out on the deck, we can just relax. We can find that peace we need to find.”
The lake provides the perfect backdrop for entertaining family and friends, including some they met during the years they lived abroad. It’s even more perfect for enjoying quiet evenings at home with their 16-year-old daughter, Sadie. “We love our homemade pizza nights,” Erica said.
Long-distance house hunt
The Grieves first moved to Pell City in 2010. The Calhoun County natives, who were introduced by mutual friends, had been married for four years, and Sadie had just turned a year old. They lived in Twin Oaks, and they could hear the boats on the lake, but they couldn’t see them. “We knew that if we ever got the chance, we wanted to live on the water.”
Cathedral ceilings show off home’s mid-century lines and a painting from Mexico
They weren’t sure it would happen, but then Erik’s supply chain job with Honda Manufacturing of Alabama took them to Central Mexico for several years. Because they had a housing allowance and the cost of living was lower there, the Grieves were able to put some money away in anticipation of their move back home. That came in fits and starts, however, because the family moved back and forth between Mexico and Pell City several times over the next few years.
They first moved to Celaya, about three hours northwest of Mexico City, in 2015. About two years later, Erik returned to Pell City on a business trip and did a little house-hunting while he was there. Their time in Mexico was coming to an end, and they had been looking at homes on Logan Martin online, so he checked out a few of their favorites while he was in town. When he got to the Skyline house they eventually bought, “I FaceTimed her from here during the walk through,” he said.
Erica loved the house and after seeing it in person, she only had one concern. “I’m not a big gardener,” she said, adding that the house sits on nearly two acres. “I said, ‘That’s a lot of yard to keep up. As long as you’re game, I’m in.’”
He was, they bought the house, and they started coordinating renovations from Mexico a short while later. In addition to updating the kitchen and primary bathroom, the Grieves replaced the existing roof and added a new one over the deck, changed the siding, got new paint and floors throughout the home, and built a new dock and boathouse. “We slowly kind of re-did everything from there,” Erica said.
The family moved back to Pell City in the fall of 2017 but had to live in a hotel for three months until the renovations were complete. They finally moved in just before Christmas 2017. “I told Erik if we can live at the Holiday Inn for 90 days with two adults and a child, we can get through anything,” Erica said with a laugh.
They got a chance to prove that theory because after enjoying their new home for about four months, they got word they needed to go back to Mexico. This time, Erica and Sadie stayed about a year before moving back to the lake for good in 2019 while Erik was back and forth until June of 2022.
“We’ll always look back on our time over there as some of the best times of our life,” Erica said. “God was working in our lives for sure during that time. We made some wonderful friends.” One family, in particular, served as their tour guides. “We got to experience so much more than we would have,” Erica said.
Mission-style dining room table and chairs
Their 4-bedroom, 3-bath home is filled with handmade furniture and artwork they collected while living in Mexico. “Almost every room has pieces from Mexico that we brought back,” Erica said. “We love mixing it in with our other pieces. It’s all part of our story.”
Peaceful, easy feeling
As much as they enjoyed Mexico, the Grieves love this chapter of their lives on Logan Martin, as well. They cook most nights and love being in the kitchen together. “We try to cook really healthy and still make it taste delicious” Erica said.
Veggie turkey burgers are a go-to, and they earn rave reviews from anyone who tastes them. “My mom would never normally eat something like that, but she loves them,” Erica said.
They eat a lot of fish, including red snapper and salmon, and Erik enjoys making fajitas on the Blackstone or cooking wings or chicken breasts on the smoker. Everyone’s favorite, however, is their homemade pizza nights.
“We do that almost every single week,” Erica said. “We have a playlist we listen to, we have a glass of wine and talk about the week. We love our pizza nights. It’s such a nice time to talk and connect.”
Daughter Sadie joins her parents at the front door
With a busy teenager in the house, the Grieves love any chance they get to be at home together. A junior at The Donoho School and a member of the band and jazz band, Sadie plays the piano, flute, guitar and drums. In addition to music lessons, she is in theater and participates in two plays a year, enjoys painting and drawing, and also juggles a part-time job.
Their crazy schedules make the simple things, like afternoon boat rides or time spent kayaking and paddle boarding, even more special. They love sitting on the deck at the farmhouse table Erik built and enjoying the view of Bird Island.
“The sunsets are unbelievable,” Erik said. “We see purples, pinks, blues, oranges, reds, every color you can imagine,” Erica added.
They also enjoy watching the birds – everything from herons to hummingbirds, red birds and blue birds – and other wildlife. “We’ve got a family of foxes that lives here,” Erik said. “Just about every morning, they’re rolling and playing on the hill in the yard.”
And that’s why Erik and Erica said they are thrilled they were able to make their dream of living on the water come true. “We love it here,” Erik said. “It’s even better than we imagined.”
Veggie Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
2 lbs. lean ground turkey
1 small zucchini, grated and excess liquid squeezed out
3 baby portobello mushrooms, finely minced
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Allegro Honey Garlic Marinade
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
⅕ tsp salt (or a scant ¼ tsp)
¼ tsp black pepper
Panko breadcrumbs, as needed
Brioche buns
Cheese slices of your choice
Directions
In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, zucchini, mushrooms, Worcestershire, marinade, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined – do not overmix.
If the mixture is too sticky to form patties, add 1-2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. Continue adding a little at a time until the mixture holds together.
Shape into 8-12 patties, depending on desired size, and place them on a wax paper–lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Preheat a Blackstone grill (or griddle) to medium-high heat (375–400°F). Lightly oil the surface with avocado oil to prevent sticking.
Place patties on the hot griddle and press lightly with a grill press for even cooking. Cook 4–5 minutes per side, flipping once, until golden brown.
Check doneness with a meat thermometer: the internal temperature should reach 165°F. (Tip: remove at 158°F; the burgers will rise to 165°F as they rest.)
During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with cheese if desired. Cover with a dome lid to melt.
Toast buns cut-side down on the griddle for 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.
Assemble burgers with your favorite toppings and serve hot.
The Grieve Signature White
Ingredients
1 Publix Parmesan pizza dough (bakery section)
6-7 Tbsp Alfredo sauce of your choice
1 Tbsp Epicurean Specialty Truffle Parmesan Black Garlic Seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup sliced mushrooms
¾ cup roasted red bell pepper strips, chopped
⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Stretch or roll pizza dough to desired thickness and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Spread Alfredo sauce evenly over the dough.
Sprinkle seasoning over the sauce, then add 1½ cups shredded mozzarella as the base layer of cheese.
Layer on mushrooms, roasted red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and spinach. Top with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella.
Bake for about 15 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
Remove from oven, let rest 2-3 minutes, then slice and serve.
Oxford and Pell City Shine Bright for the Holidays
Two East Alabama communities are set to dazzle once again this holiday season, each offering its own take on the magic of Christmas lights — from snow tubing and Santa’s Village in Oxford to a community-driven wonderland along the shores of Pell City’s Lakeside Park.
Oxford Festival of Lights
The 2025 Oxford Festival of Lights returns for its sixth season with more sparkle, more snow, and an extended calendar that gives families extra time to take in the show.
New this year are two winter attractions inside Santa’s Village, the grand finale after visitors drive through more than 2.5 million lights arranged in glowing displays around Choccolocco Park.
Snow Mountain Tubing will deliver the thrill of a multi-lane, 20-foot slide built on a blanket of real snow, while Frosty’s Playground offers a hands-on winter experience where children can make snow angels, build snowmen or toss snowballs.
With more to do, organizers have extended the normal run of the festival which will now begin November 21, 2025, and run through January 4, 2026, with new select weekday daytime hours and 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on weekends for Santa’s Village.
Tickets for the drive-through and Santa’s Village are available beginning Oct. 1 at oxfordlights.com. Passes purchased in October will be discounted to $20 and automatically entered into a “Golden Ticket” drawing, which includes full admission and extra amenities from Santa’s Village.
“Over the past five years, we have had almost 250,000 come through the show,” said special events coordinator Madison Gardner. “We are looking forward to being bigger and better this year with more to do and the opportunity to come multiple times. We look forward to seeing everyone there and making memories with this special holiday experience.”
First Bank of Alabama returns as the primary sponsor for the Oxford Festival of Lights, which takes place at Choccolocco Park, 954 Leon Smith Parkway.
Pell City Lights in the Park
About 40 miles west, the glow of holiday cheer will also illuminate Lakeside Park in Pell City, where the 2025 Lights in the Park event will showcase more than 70 holiday displays and thousands of twinkling bulbs.
This year’s event opens Saturday, Nov. 29, and runs nightly through Dec. 31, with lights on until 9 p.m. each evening. Admission is free, and community members are already registering to take part in the display.
According to the city’s website, “We are thrilled with the growing excitement and dedication of our participants, which is what makes Lights in the Park such a cherished holiday tradition. As the event continues to grow, we are introducing a new Sustainability Initiative. This change ensures a spectacular and reliable event that brings joy to our entire community for years to come.”
The Sustainability Initiative encourages participants to help maintain and expand the light displays in one of two ways. They can pay a $50 non-refundable contribution fee at registration – funds the Parks and Recreation Department will use to purchase new displays – or provide a receipt showing at least $50 in new lights or display materials purchased within the past six months.
“Participants think of this as a direct investment in the event’s longevity and quality,” the city’s statement read. “Your contribution increases the number of lights in the park, either through your own display or by supporting the Pell City Parks & Recreation display.”
The city hopes the initiative will keep the event growing without losing its community spirit. Lights in the Park is hosted at Lakeside Park, 2801 Stemley Bridge Road in Cropwell, with entry through the Civic Center parking lot. For details or registration, visit pellcity.recdesk.com or follow Pell City Parks & Recreation and the city on Facebook.
Economically speaking, this Coosa River town is hotter than free Taylor Swift tickets in a junior high lunchroom.
Kay Moore remembers not terribly long ago, when Gadsden, especially downtown, seemed to have practically given up the ghost. Back then, she worked at a local bank. The city’s two major employers, Goodyear and Republic Steel, closed. Retail mainstays like Ike Saks, Hagedorn’s and Rutenberg’s tried but did not survive.
But the script has flipped in Gadsden. From downtown to the Coosa riverfront and Noccalula Falls, the city is flourishing. And while others may bill their cities as “comeback towns,” few Alabama municipalities have experienced a resurgence like Gadsden.
Mural artist William Bebee poses with finished product
For the past 18 years, Kay Moore has served as the director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc., the local arm of the Alabama Main Street program, charged with promoting Alabama cities and towns.
DGI sponsors events, promotes downtown via social media, events and in collaboration with local merchants.
“We all work together to make things happen,” she said. “That’s the most positive part of this whole thing. We’ve got a lot of great people here, and we’re continuing to work together. We’ve come a long way in 18 years.”
She added, “My job is to promote what (merchants) do, both individually and as a group.”
And it’s attracting notice well beyond its borders. In August, Downtown Gadsden, Inc., received three Awards of Excellence from Main Street Alabama:
Excellence in Marketing for its banner project.
Excellence in Building Design in the non-historic division, for the renovation of the Mary G. Hardin Cultural Arts Center, and
Excellence in Public Art for the Pitman Hands mural.
Reimagining downtown
What’s now DGI began in 1972 as the Downtown Action Council. Shopping malls were springing up across the country, hurting downtown merchants.
“Back in that day I was just working a block down the street at what was then Central Bank, she recalled. “They got together a group of businessmen to save the downtown, because they could see what was going to happen.”
Despite best efforts, the larger downtown stores closed. Belk Hudson moved to the mall as did Budd’s Men’s Store, Ike Saks, Rutenbergs and Hagedorns.
There are more than 40 lofts in the downtown area
“Belk was the center of downtown. And when that huge store left, it left a big hole downtown.”
The building sat vacant for years until the Cultural Arts Center moved in.
“In the mid-1970s when the mall took off, and downtown became pretty much a ghost town, I was thinking, ‘If I didn’t work downtown, I wouldn’t come downtown. There was nothing. The occupancy rate was about 40 percent. Places were boarded up. It was not a fun thing.”
All that has changed. Gadsden’s downtown is on a roll. Moore, a lifelong resident of the city, says the city center is reminiscent of an earlier, prosperous time. Families are coming to Gadsden. While fathers fish for trout at Noccalula Falls or for crappie and bass on the Coosa, moms and their kids shop and eat, or visit Imagination Place or the Gadsden Museum of Art.
“People who grew up here say, it’s like it was a long time ago. And it kind of is … Retail stores are very, very vibrant, and we’ve got good restaurants downtown.”
Those once-empty storefronts are mostly filled with an occupancy rate of about 90 percent, she added. “The ones not occupied are just not ready to be occupied. It’s a cycle.”
A turning point came in 1998 when the city built a downtown streetscape and businesses began to return. First Friday – a mix of food, music and classic cars celebrated on the first Friday of every month – also sparked a return to the city center.
Sylvia Smith, owner of the Stone Market on Court Street, started First Friday in January 2006.
“I give First Friday a lot of credit in bringing businesses and people back to downtown,” Moore said. “(Smith) started it to bring people into her store. Then, the other people on Broad Street started noticing.”
In 2007, First Friday grew, and it took off in 2008.
People aren’t just working, dining or shopping downtown. There are more than 40 loft apartments downtown, with 27 planned in the old Sears building on Forrest Avenue that looks down on Broad Street. Completion of those lofts is expected early next year. An additional 15 apartments are in their early stages. That more than doubles the number of lofts.
“What I’d like to see in the next five years is a huge population of younger people who want to live downtown and bring their friends. They are going to shop, and they’ re going to eat. It’s just a positive impact,” she said. “Young people are wanting to come back. You just see a more vibrant personality downtown.”
Other changes are four-way stops downtown to improve traffic flow and make the downtown more pedestrian friendly. Other plans to improve traffic flow are being considered.
One of DGI’s major fundraisers – the 13th annual Sunset Sips – was Oct. 21. There are 300 tickets available at $50 each. Memorial Bridge is blocked off, allowing revelers to enjoy music, wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres as the sun sets on the water. They are encouraged to continue the celebration by dining downtown. The money raised is reinvested downtown.
“We’re just trying to do things that will bring a positive look to downtown,” Moore said.
Riverfront, Recreation and Rebranding
Meanwhile, Coosa Harbor, the multiuse residential/commercial and entertainment development on the banks of the Coosa River, continues to move forward. The city is completing its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permit and grant applications, which when approved will allow construction of piers behind Coosa Harbor.
It’s hoped that the pier project will be completed by the late first quarter of 2027. Private sources have already invested some $20 million into the project that’s also being boosted by tax incentives from the city. Coosa Harbor is expected to break ground in 2026 and take two to three years to complete.
Vintage cars one of the many draws at Downtown Gadsden First Fridays
The city has also partnered with Gadsden State Community College to construct 10 tennis courts behind the Gadsden Sports Complex and a cross-country trail that in part, runs along the banks of the Coosa.
The city is also moving forward with its GROW Gadsden plan, and has invested in a $100 million RISE initiative, Reimagine, Invest, Strategic Planning and Economic Development. The initiative is expected to have a $190 million economic impact and create 2,400 jobs.
A gem of the plan is a new Gadsden Athletic Complex, featuring an aquatic center, 16 volleyball courts and 10 pickleball courts, eight basketball courts, four baseball/ softball diamonds and a walking track. The GAC is expected to be online in 2028-29.
A cobblestone hotel is located near the harbor site, but the city is looking for more hotels to meet the expected demand once the GAC comes online. “We don’t have enough hotels to meet the expected demand,” said John Moore, Gadsden’s director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs in Mayor Craig Ford’s office. “We’re three hotels short right now.”
For John Moore, all of this activity from downtown to the river comes down to one word –energy.
“It’s excitement,” he said. “People actually see the vision that the mayor has, that we are progressing, and that we’re a city on the move.”
That progress has even been noticed in America’s corridors of financial power. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s provide credit ratings for companies, cities and countries.
“Gadsden is no longer classified as an older city (by Moody’s and S&P),” Moore said. “We’re now classified a new and up and coming city. I thought that was absolutely beautiful.”
Changing an image
Had someone told Kay Moore back in the 1970s how Gadsden and its downtown would be in 2025, they would’ve been met with skepticism and a laugh.
“I would have probably thought you were a little bit crazy. It was so dead. You had boarded up places. Now we have so many people downtown. It’s a great problem to have.”
With this beehive of activity from the river to downtown and seemingly everywhere in between, the bottom line is that the city is poised to improve its citizens’ quality of life, John Moore said, not just in Gadsden, but in Etowah County and in northeast Alabama.
“We are making Gadsden a destination place where people come and spend time with the entertainment we’ll be able to offer, whether its walkability of our downtown or sitting on the Coosa River at Coosa Harbor, or when you’re actually playing night golf over at Twin Bridges once we finish that up,” he said. “There are so many things the city has to offer that aren’t available anywhere else in a 120-mile radius.”
In 2023, the city revamped its seal and logo. Gone are the Emma Sansom Monument, farmland, and the Republic Steel plant, replaced by the Coosa River, Noccalula Falls and downtown. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to create a fresh brand for Gadsden.
“Not only are we changing the culture, but we’re changing the image of Gadsden,” John Moore said. “What I say to our staff is, ‘How do we make the City of Gadsden a cool brand?’ and ‘If the city were a clothing line, would it be a high-end clothing line?’ I don’t know if we’re there yet, but we’re getting there.”
Chapel in the Pines celebrates 60 years of worship on the banks of Logan Martin Lake
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted Photos
The engine of the approaching personal watercraft quiets to idle speed, the unit plowing through the water headed for the pier. Arriving at the pier moments later, its driver allows it to spin and stop and begins to tie off.
Wearing T-shirts, shorts and visors, the driver and his passenger hop onto the pier, greeting passengers of another arriving boat. Walking past the parking lot, they follow the path into the woods. It’s Sunday on the lake, and they’re headed to church at Chapel in the Pines.
Pets are welcome at Chapel in the Pines
For 60 years now, residents of Logan Martin Lake, along with their guests and visitors to the area, have gathered at the river to worship at the outdoor chapel known as Chapel in the Pines. Since its inception, the plan has always been for the service to be short and informal, allowing both time to worship and time to play on Sunday mornings. Visitors are encouraged to come to the 30-minute non-denominational service in casual attire, then hit the water to continue lake-loving activities for the rest of the weekend. Services are held at 8:30 a.m. beginning the first Sunday in May and continuing through the September.
Weekly church services at Chapel in the Pines are a ministry of Pell City First United Methodist Church. “We are happy to be able to offer the community an opportunity to gather at a weekly ecumenical service,” said Pell City FUMC senior pastor Rachel Gonia. “People who are here visiting during the summer have a place to come when they’re away from their home church.”
The message is delivered by a different preacher each week, with a representation by each religious denomination in the local area. That was one of the unique things that drew Sue Pat DuBose and her late husband, John, to Chapel in the Pines in 1984, eventually serving on the chapel board for five years. “We lived across the street, and we’d hear people singing, but we couldn’t hear the speaker,” says DuBose. “So, we walked over, and we enjoyed it so much. It was exciting, because, at that time, you never knew who the preacher was going to be or who was going to do the music.”
These memories were among many shared at the end of this season of Chapel in the Pines during an anniversary celebration honoring the history of this Logan Martin tradition. Deanna Lawley, a former chapel board member, recounted events from its early years. “It was like a homecoming when the season began,” she remembers. “We’d go over there when it was still dark to sweep off and around the benches before the people arrived.”
That was when Chapel in the Pines was in its first location in Pine Harbor Marina, where University Marine at Pine Harbor Marina is now. Pine Harbor Resort developer Thomas Casaday set aside land there with an outdoor chapel in mind to encourage lakeside residents, particularly those in Pine Harbor, to make time to worship while enjoying the lake.
For 49 years, the 16-foot tall cross at the marina at Pine Harbor drew people to the outdoor worship space. When the long-team lease expired in 2014 and negotiations to renew the lease with the new owners failed, the search was on for a new home.
A cross marks the way to the outdoor chapel
Sam Huffstutler, Pell City FUMC pastor at the time, worked with the Chapel in the Pines Board and found a partnership with city leaders in Pell City. The resulting deal with Pell City gave the church authorization to build a 300-seat outdoor amphitheater at Lakeside Park. The traditional Christmas Eve service that year was the first service held at the new location.
Chapel in the Pines welcomes believers from all denominations at any stage of their faith journey. Creating a community of faith in the lake community and serving local and global partners through acts of faith and service is their mission. Any money collected above small operating costs goes back to the community through grants given out to local nonprofits, such as the St. Clair County Boys Ranch, Gateway Community Garden, The Gideons International and First Priority.
Celebrating community and common ground is an important reason that Carl Wallace, author of Lake Ramblings, attends Chapel regularly. “Love of the lake provides us a common ground for a diverse community,” says Wallace. “Chapel in the Pines is an extension of the common ground and provides a predictably safe place, a place of encouragement, a place of worship.”
When the world went sideways during the height of COVID-19 when many places of worship shut their doors for a time, Chapel in the Pines became a place of spiritual peace for many in the Logan Martin area. Organizers found a way to still gather for worship, allowing seating in every other pew and encouraging social distancing.
During that time, Wallace was still writing his Saturday morning “Lake Ramblings” on Facebook and posted about the precautions he and his wife, Mar, would make to allow them to participate in chapel.
“We’d take our lawn chairs and sit up on the hill across from the entrance to the amphitheater. We’ll be socially distanced, but we’ll be part of the service,” Wallace recalls. “We talked about that experience in ‘Lake Ramblings’ the next week and comedically called the hill ‘Scaredy Cat Hill.’ The next Sunday, we had nine more on the hill, then 12 more, then a bunch of us. Scaredy Cat Hill allowed us to gather in that common ground of Chapel in the Pines and gave us the encouragement we so desperately needed.”
Scaredy Cat Hill is no longer necessary, thankfully. Still, Chapel in the Pines continues to be the source of encouragement to many families, even as they say their final goodbyes to loved ones. DuBose chose to hold the memorial for her husband at Chapel after he passed away in April. “My husband loved Chapel so much and always told me when he passed, he wanted his service held to be held there,” said DuBose.
Suellen and Jim Dargan chose the chapel as their wedding venue and left by personal watercraft after tying the knot
Suellen and Jim Dargan rented the spot for their wedding in May of 2022. Both were serving and volunteering at Chapel in the Pines and consider it a very special place. “We both wanted something special and unique for our wedding,” said (Jim) Dargan. “And we wanted it there so we could travel on our Sea-Doo to and from the ceremony.”
Traveling to church by boat or personal watercraft, whether for church or for special occasions, gives Logan Martin Lake lovers another way to make memories with family and friends. “We’ve made lifelong friends who are more like family through Chapel in the Pines,” says Chapel Board member Amy Stinson.
Chapel in the Pines will hold a Christmas Eve service again this year at 3 p.m. You’ll want to drive the car to that one and maybe bring a blanket or two.
Editor’s note: The amphitheater at Lakeside Park where Chapel in the Pines is held can be rented for weddings, birthdays, or other special events by contacting Pell City Parks and Recreation.
The home is decorated with a mix of antiques and new pieces
For most folks living on the water, entertaining large crowds of family and friends is part of summertime fun. For Lauren and Jason Ayres, who live on Neely Henry Lake in Southside, it’s just everyday life.
The couple has seven children, a son-in-law, and a grandchild on the way, so feeding big groups of people is nothing out of the ordinary. “We cook just about every meal we eat,” Lauren said. “They love to eat whatever we cook.”
The fact that some of the kids have dietary restrictions, coupled with the family’s desire to spend as much time outdoors as possible, means that mealtime can have a few challenges.
“We try to cook big on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so we can have leftovers during the work week,” said Jason, a doctor at Southside Family Medicine. “As our boys get bigger, though, that’s harder and harder to do.”
Dealing with logistics, however, is the couple’s specialty. Lauren has always homeschooled the kids, who now range in age from 13 to 25, and even though there are desks upstairs, a lot of schoolwork has always been done around the kitchen table. “I’ve learned to stay close to the kitchen,” she said. “There’s always something to cook or clean up, and there’s plenty of laundry to do.”
That’s why it’s a good thing the couple makes a good team. “We’ve learned in our house that it’s divide and conquer,” Jason said. “The kids have their chores, and Lauren and I just figure out what works best for us and get it done. Otherwise, we’d never get to sit down.”
Party of 10
It’s a system they’ve had plenty of time to perfect. Lauren and Jason both grew up in Gadsden, and the high school sweethearts have been together since she was 14 and he was 15. They got married after graduating from Auburn University, and they lived in Birmingham while he attended medical school and completed his residency.
Interior French doors work well with the home’s mixed decor
Although they didn’t necessarily plan to move back home, life has a way of working out for the best. “The hospital here called and offered us a job, and 22 years later, we’re still here,” Jason said. “This is where we felt like God was leading us.”
The lure of being near family was a strong one, especially as theirs was growing – sometimes pretty quickly. As their first four children – Maggie, Rebecca, Janie and Porter – got a little older, Lauren and Jason adopted their youngest three – Davidson, John and Patrick – from China over a two-year period from 2012 to 2014.
Even though the girls have left home now (Maggie, now 25, is married and living in Birmingham; Rebecca, 24, is in veterinary school at Mississippi State University; and 18-year-old Janie just started her freshman year at Mississippi State), there are still plenty of mouths to feed each day. Some of the four boys must have gluten-free diets, so Lauren and Jason have adapted recipes to meet their needs.
“Summer food is easy because Jason grills a lot, and we do a ton of fruits and salads,” Lauren said. The boys loved grilled hots dogs by the pool, so Jason uses the outdoor kitchen for that and for making rotisserie chickens, as well. Tilapia tacos and smoked chicken wings are summertime favorites, too.
Salads are even better with blackberries from their three bushes and tomatoes that they grow in containers on the deck. “Our plants were still full of them in October or November of last year,” Jason said. “They wouldn’t ever turn red, so we had a lot of fried green tomatoes. We figured out how to make them gluten-free.”
Homemade ice cream is another family favorite, and there’s always a batch being made or stashed in the freezer. One of their easiest recipes, made from cocoa, whipping cream and condensed milk, is a favorite and a go-to for church gatherings. “Everyone always wants us to bring this because it tastes just like a Wendy’s Frosty,” Jason said.
The boys (Porter is 15, Davidson and John are both 14, and Patrick is 13) love to paddle board and ride tubes in the afternoon, so the family’s meal prep philosophy is “the quicker the better.” As a result, the Crock-Pot gets called in to service fairly often.
“On the weekends we’ll stick stuff in the Crock-Pot so we can go sit by the pool or go out on the boat,” Jason said. “We spend hours out here, so when we come back in, dinner’s ready,” Lauren added.
Water time lasts well into the fall, so it doesn’t get a rest once summer’s over. “Last November we were out in the backyard with swimsuits on,” Lauren said. As the weather turns cooler, the meals get a little heartier, but the focus is still quick and easy meals. “In the fall and winter, we like lots and lots of soup,” Jason said. “The boys love soup.”
Creating a home
Sharing all those meals requires lots of dishes, but Lauren has got it covered. She loves china, especially the cabbageware she collects in pink, blue and green. When they moved into their waterfront home two years ago, she had a custom cabinet built between the kitchen and dining room to help house her dishes.
Everything you need to entertain by the pool
The rest is stored in buffets, china cabinets and other furniture pieces she has collected, largely from estate sales and antique stores. “I used to go to antique stores with my father, and he would always say that if you bought something at an antique store, you don’t pay a markup, and it will never lose its value,” Lauren said.
These days, she and Jason enjoy hitting the sales together. “It’s fun for me, too,” he said. “She has a system. If she sees something (online) that she likes, she’ll take a screenshot, and we make a run for it.”
Their home is a beautiful mix of antiques – some they’ve painted and some with the original finishes – paired with newer pieces from one of her favorite stores, Ballard Designs. Over the years, they’ve found a number of Henry Link chests and cabinets, most of which they have painted in colors ranging from a bright Kelly green, navy and salmon to a robin’s egg blue.
The pink, green and blue colors are carried throughout the house, and are most evident in the kitchen, which features navy steel appliances and light blue cabinets. “I’ve had the blue color of the cabinets picked out for years,” she said.
Before moving to their current home, they built a house in Whorton’s Bend, where they lived for 12 years. She wanted to have blue cabinets there, but everyone talked her out of it. “Everyone said to go neutral, so I did, and the people who bought the house painted the cabinets blue, just like I wanted to.”
She followed her heart when they moved to this house, just as she did when she selected the many treasures that make up the rest of her collections. She loves the Andrea by Sadek Fishnet porcelain figurines, and she has cats, bears, a kangaroo, frog and rabbits in the pattern. She also collects chinoiserie pieces, including groupings of blue and white ginger jars, colorful vases, as well as Chinese porcelain planters. Like her furniture, they are a mixture of antiques and new pieces.
One of her favorite collections is her Staffordshire dog figurines. “I bought my first set when I was 22,” she said, pointing at a pair of porcelain dogs on a shelf in a stairwell. “It was my first big girl purchase,” she added with a laugh. Others are perched in cabinets and on shelves and furniture throughout the home.
Although it’s been said that kids today don’t want their parents’ stuff, Lauren said that isn’t the case in their family. “My girls love all of this, too,” she said. In fact, it has become something of a running joke that they write their names on the bottom of things they like with a Sharpie marker.
“When Janie was about 13, she was putting up Christmas decorations and saw something she really liked,” Lauren remembered. “She said, ‘I’m Sharpie-ing that,’ and wrote her name on the bottom. Ever since then, the other kids will say, ‘Has Janie already Sharpied that, because I want it.”
Lauren said she occasionally sells things on Facebook when her collections grow too large. “I’ll post things on Facebook, and one of my girls will call and say, “I wanted that,’ so I’ll have to delete it off my page,” she said.
The treasures will soon be moving with them to a home 15 houses away. While they love the home they’re in the process of selling, Lauren and Jason found one with a layout that works better for married children and grandchildren.
There was never any question they’d be staying on the water, though. “Once you’ve lived on the water you can’t ever go back to not being on the water,” Lauren said. “We have the best sunsets here, and we just love sitting out on the deck and having lunch or dinner with a view of the water.”
There’s a peace about it that has become a vital part of their lives, Jason said. “The biggest boat traffic we have in here is people coming to fish,” he said. “After being at work all day, it’s so nice to come home and just be able to walk out the door and get on the boat. It’s just calming.”
Blackberry Salad
Romaine and green leaf lettuce
Cooked bacon, crumbled
Fresh blackberries. Home grown are the best!
Goat cheese crumbles
Sliced almonds
Dressing
1/3 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
Season with basil or cinnamon to taste
Steak
We prefer thick filets.
Let meat come to room temperature and season on all sides. We use Kinder’s Seasoning, The Blend (salt, pepper, and garlic).
Place a small amount of low smoke point oil in a cast iron skillet and heat to just the point of smoking. Sear the edges first for one minute each.
Sear the first side for 3 minutes and the second for two. Place several pats of butter and some minced garlic on the steak and place in a preheated 450-degree oven.
We prefer medium, so we cook to 130 degrees and then remove and place on a plate and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice and serve with your choice of sides!!
Smoked Cream Cheese
1 block of cream cheese scored slightly on the top
Cover on all sides with seasoning of choice. We use Kinder’s Seasoning, The Blend (salt, pepper, and garlic).
Place cream cheese block on cast iron or grill-safe pan Smoke at 250 degrees for 2 hours
Cover with pepper jelly of your liking
Enjoy with crackers or chips.
No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 can condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Whip the whipping cream with a stand or hand mixer until the cream has stiff peaks.
Add milk, vanilla and cocoa powder and mix until combined.
NHLA leading effort to create angler’s dream lake on the Coosa
Story by Paul South Photos by Tricia Lybrook
Dave Tumlin has a whopper of a fish story, complete with possibly a spark of the Divine.
It was early Spring. Tumlin and his brother Billy came to fish for Crappie on Neely Henry Lake, the place his family had called home since 1968. The Tumlins were among Neely Henry’s first families.
“There wasn’t anybody here. There was a dirt road,” Tumlin recalled. The brothers went to a spot they’d never fished before. “I always thought it might be a really good place, because the guy had a lit-up cross hanging on his dock. I called it the Jesus Dock.”
Dave Tumlin grabbing a hose for mixing the concrete
They caught – but didn’t keep – over 100 fish that day in that location near the cross. They never moved.
“We were using jigs. We were using minnows. We were using minnow heads off the deck of the boat that fell off the hook,” Tumlin said. “It was a phenomenal day.”
Now president of the Neely Henry Lake Association, Tumlin and the NHLA members, along with a small gathering of devoted volunteers, want other anglers to have divine days on the lake. They’re working to boost fish populations by constructing fish habitat.
For nearly two decades, the lake association, in partnership with Alabama Power, has worked to create new habitats for the Crappie, bass and other species that call Neely Henry home.
The organization joins with the utility biannually to build and place new fish habitats on the lake. The most recent event occurred in March. The date for fall construction has not yet been set, Tumlin said.
The evolution of an angler’s idea
The association got hooked on fish habitats thanks to a member’s idea.
“One of our members, who is a tournament fisherman, ran into a buddy from another lake who told him about this partnership with the power company,” Tumlin said. “So our member got in touch with the power company and asked what we needed to do to do it at Neely Henry.” The answer? “Just ask.”
NHLA did ask, and it all started with hundreds of discarded Christmas trees that had seen their Yuletide glory fade into precious holiday memories.
“As best I can recall, it all started at Ten Islands and at Rainbow Landing,” Tumlin said. “(The utility) would bring two or three giant dump trucks and dump the Christmas trees in the parking lot.”
From there, some 10 to 20 NHLA members and other volunteers would tie the trees together in bundles of five evergreens, weighted with concrete blocks. Some volunteers bundled. Others loaded them om the barges, and still others dropped the weighted trees into the lake.
“Alabama Power supplied it all,” Tumlin said. “Christmas trees. The rope to tie them together, gloves, water for us to drink if it was too hot, concrete blocks, then the barges we would load those on. It’s really been a neat evolution and a great partnership.” The association tells the utility where they want the habitat placed and the water depth.
It takes a large group effort to put the buckets together
There was one problem with that inaugural habitat build. Just as grass withers and flowers fade with the seasons, Christmas trees in lakes disintegrate over time. And the numbers of discarded Christmas trees declined.
That led to another idea: Spider blocks. Hundreds of ‘em.
Tumlin explained: “If you can visualize a two-hole concrete block with half-inch PVC pipe, four feet long or so. Six or eight of those legs, if you will, are sticking out of the holes. Then we would pour concrete in the holes and let it dry. That was not quite as labor-intensive as the Christmas trees. That took a lot of people and a lot of effort.”
But the Spider Blocks created their own web of challenges.
“We had to wait a week for the concrete to set up, “Tumlin said.” It was difficult to load them. The concept was a lot like the Christmas trees, but (the blocks) last a lot longer. We did them for a couple of years.”
An upside of the blocks was that moss would grow more quickly, providing a buffet for fish. Then the food chain took over. “The little fish would eat the moss and the big fish would eat the little fish,” Tumlin said.
In its current incarnation, the NHLA habitat construction relies on durable five-gallon plastic buckets. “We went from Spider Blocks to Spider Buckets,” Tumlin said. “We’ve been doing that for the last six or seven years (including a hiatus during the pandemic).”
The concept is similar to the blocks, with PVC “legs” and concrete in the buckets. But with an assembly line process, projects like the one last fall at Greensport Marina, took less than two hours. Volunteers place 100 buckets in the water – 20 in each location, known only to volunteers – to create artificial habitats. The buckets create an almost permanent presence under the water.
“Then, we wait for something good to happen.” Tumlin said. “Magic.”
He added, “A lot of fishermen come out to help because they want to know where the habitats are going to be.”
Tumlin praised Alabama Power and its partnership with NHLA and volunteers. “We just supply the labor.”
Spider buckets going in the water
And adults aren’t the only ones getting into the act. Last year, a homeschool group of kids came and helped with the project while learning the science of fish habitats and biodiversity.
“They came out. We gave them gloves, and they helped build with us.”
A driving force has kept the lake association committed to the biannual habitat builds. “When this came along, all of these members were really pumped up and said, if we can go out and put out 300 Christmas trees that’s got to help the fish habitat, which means we’ll have more fun. It’ll be exciting for us, and it will help the lake at the same time.”
He added, “That’s probably the biggest driver, knowing that on our own, without great expense, partnering with the power company, we could improve the fish habitat and the fish population on the lake.”
The effort also strengthens the Neely Henry community. “You get to see some guys you only see twice a year,” Tumlin said. “It’s always fun to catch up on family and tell the fishing stories.”
It’s rewarding, he said. “Knowing that we’re helping this lake and the camaraderie, those are the two biggest drivers. Knowing that in a small way, we are making this lake a better place, it helps not only us, but everyone who uses and enjoys this lake.”
And the habitat effort says something about lake residents and folks who enjoy the lake. “There are a lot of caring people who live on this lake that go above and beyond to keep it the beautiful body of water that it is.”
All of the bodies of water in the region have groups looking to protect them – Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Neely Henry Lake Association, Coosa Riverkeeper, just to name a few.
Oxford High School students at a Watershed Science Day
Calhoun and Talladega counties have the Choccolocco Creek Watershed.
Flowing from the headwaters of the Talladega National Forest into Lake Logan Martin at Lincoln, Choccolocco Creek drains nearly 376 square miles of land across four Alabama counties. It’s home to about 70 fish species, including the threatened holiday darter, pygmy sculpin and blue shiner, and supports 22% of Alabama’s freshwater fish species despite covering less than 1% of the state’s land area.
Jennifer Yates Hudson, district coordinator for the Calhoun County Conservation District and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project, said the nonprofit’s role goes beyond conservation science.
“The Choccolocco Creek Watershed is a non-profit organization supporting area projects that improve the quality of life for our communities through promoting recreational and outdoor activities while protecting our natural areas and water quality,” Hudson said.
Inspiring Adventure
Two programs currently encourage residents to get outdoors: the 100 Choccolocco Miles Challenge and the Choccolocco Ambassadors program.
Hudson explained that the 100 Miles Challenge is “designed to inspire our regional communities to lead active, healthy lifestyles while exploring our beautiful watershed areas.” Participants can hike, bike, swim, paddle, walk, ride or roll 100 miles each year within the watershed. All miles also count toward the statewide 100 Alabama Miles Challenge.
Classroom in the Forest is another educational opportunity
The Ambassadors program seeks outdoor enthusiasts who post photos, videos and blogs about their experiences. “Our hope is to inspire communities to get out and experience Choccolocco Creek Watershed firsthand,” Hudson said.
Recreation and Future Projects
The Choccolocco Kayak Center, launched seven years ago in partnership with the City of Oxford, remains one of the group’s most visible projects. The center offers casual paddlers easy access to the creek. Future plans include extending kayaking opportunities and creating a Blueway into Lincoln.
The watershed is also developing plans for a Choccolocco Nature Center and outdoor multiuse trails. Hudson said the project aims to establish “a regional area conservation hub that promotes a love of environmental literacy and serves as a nature-based center for community activity.”
Educating the Public
Education is a key part of the watershed’s mission. Each year, the group hosts workshops and seminars about conservation practices, cost-share programs and current projects. “We also host education workshops and ‘Watershed Science Days’ for students and teachers,” Hudson said, adding that topics include water quality, forestry and wildlife, soil health and land use impacts.
Faith Christian students and teachers help with a cleanup effort
Stewardship also begins at home, she said, encouraging homeowners to be “good backyard conservationists,” using practices such as water conservation, mulching, composting, planting trees and installing rain barrels.
Protecting a Crucial Resource
“Protecting natural resources in any watershed is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of all living things, both now and in the future, and is essential for maintaining community sustainability,” she said.
For Hudson, that means balancing recreation, conservation and education — and ensuring residents understand the creek’s value. “Clean, healthy watersheds depend on an informed public to make the right decisions when it comes to the environment and actions by the community,” she said.
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Mackenzie Free Submitted Photos
Even as summer winds down, families are enjoying making memories on Logan Martin Lake. Boats pulling tubes of squealing children pass by, personal watercrafts bounce on the waves, finding air off the wakes of larger boats. Pontoons filled to the brim with friends and family cruise along, tunes heralding their passing.
Can it get any better? Why, yes, it can!
Enjoying ice cream from the bow of a pontoon boat on a hot summer day
The children are usually the first to see it. Even those too young to read can recognize the signature lime green pontoon boat with a flag that reads two happy words – Ice Cream. Hopping up and down, they frantically wave their arms to let him know they’re screaming for ice cream. The Ice Cream Man on the Lake pilots his sweet ride to within arm’s reach of the crowd, and the ordering begins.
Somehow, ice cream seems to be a leveling agent. No matter what age or maturity level, people just seem happier, and certainly cooler, with an ice cream in hand, especially if they’re also in or around the lake. It’s a treat that would be hard to transport on the water, which makes the delivery to one’s boat even more of a memory-making event.
Pelham and Angie Smith have made many happy memories with their children that include the Ice Cream Man on the Lake. “We get it pretty often,” says Pelham. “This is the first time in the last couple of years, though.” Their 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old children aboard give the experience an enthusiastic thumbs up.
This is the fifth summer that Keith O’Neal, along with his wife, Elaine, have operated the ice cream boat on Logan Martin Lake. When they bought the boat from a friend, they did it with the idea of having some kind of food service boat on the lake. Their first idea of a hotdog and hamburger boat was rejected after assessing the challenges associated with cooking food on a boat. Then they heard from a friend about an ice cream boat operated on Harris Lake in Wedowee and decided to bring the idea to life on Logan Martin Lake.
O’Neal, who owns and operates six other businesses, says they don’t do this for money. “We do it for the fun,” says O’Neal. “It’s seeing children happy. We make sure everyone who wants to buy one gets one. And if a child doesn’t have the money, we’re not going to leave them out.
“We take care of people,” O’Neal goes on. “If they don’t have the money with them, we’ll give them the ice cream, and we’ve had them track us down months later to bring the money.” They offer 24 items and, to keep everything simple, all items are $4 each. They take cash, Cash App and Venmo, but no debit or credit cards.
Greg and Amy Stinson had cash in hand when they cruised up to the boat for an ice cream sandwich and a Snicker’s ice cream bar.
“We pulled up to the boat on our jet ski and they used a pole to pull us in position to order,” said Amy. “They were both very friendly, and the ice cream bars were a refreshing treat on a hot day.”
Refreshing and wonderful is just how Audrey and her three kids described their experience with the Ice Cream Man on the Lake. They’re gathered with friends and fellow boaters at Fireball Flatts. Half the crowd are in the water trying to cool off on this scorching summer afternoon. The other half are in the boats in the shade of their Biminis. The sight of the ice cream boat had the children going crazy to flag him down.
The purchase of a Batman cherry-flavored ice cream and a Ninja Turtle ice cream on a stick brought smiles to the faces of the younger children. An original Bomb Pop was the choice for some of the older kids, while a more mature Snicker’s ice cream bar was chosen by an adult in the group.
While O’Neal says they do this for the fun of it, the venture represents a considerable amount of work. “We spend thousands of dollars on product from the distributor and load the freezers and generator on the truck, which, thankfully, we have a crane to do,” says O’Neal. “This is all before we bring the boat to the water to launch. And most of the time, we have people who want ice cream before we can even get on the water.”
It also takes a lot of work to keep both the ice cream boat and the customers’ boats from bouncing off each other with the waves.
That’s the job of one of at least two people aboard. Depending on the weekend, they have as many as six people working on the boat. “We have four bumpers on the sides of our boat all the time,” explains O’Neal. “But the boats still hit.”
O’Neal says they want to deliver the ice cream safely, so they watch the weather closely. “If the weather forecast calls for 50% chance of rain or higher, we don’t go out,” O’Neal says. “The freezers and generator don’t need to be in the bad weather and neither do the people.”
Peanuts! Get your peanuts!
The ice cream boat is not the only snack boat on the lake. Two summers ago, they were joined by a second snack boat afloat, the peanut boat by Lakeside Peanut and Concessions. Scott and Shandi Martin own and run the company and are on the water nearly every weekend of the summer selling three flavors of boiled peanuts.
Selling peanuts to a passing boat
Scott prepares the peanuts at home, a process that takes two days. He then loads them on the boat in the morning before heading out. They typically sell three flavors – original, Kickin’ Cajun and Dill Pickle, occasionally adding specialty flavors like The Logan (steakhouse flavor) and Garlic Lemon Pepper. They’re even considering a Ghost Pepper flavor for Boo Bash on Logan Martin.
They also offer Shandi’s specialty flavored lemonades and fresh fried pork skins. Lemonade is $5 for a 16-ounce cup. Peanuts are eight dollars for a 32-ounce cup and pork skins are $10 for a gallon bag.
Martin refers to his wife as “the brains of the operation.” Shandi, he says, does everything but the cooking. She does the labeling, ordering and the “going and getting.” His days are already busy with his full-time truck driving job. The couple also plans to reopen their Lakeside Peanuts and Concessions land-based food truck in October.
Carrying peanuts
back to waiting crowd
Meanwhile, Martin says they sell out almost every time they go out on the water. They cater more to the adults, who, he says, like to have peanuts with their “cold beverages.” “We even get messages from people when we’re not able to get out asking where we are,” he says. “Some of the same people come week after week.”
Wendy Farmer is a huge fan of the peanut boat. She and her husband, Jeff, recently found the boat north of the I-20 bridge. They had some friends onboard their boat who had never tried boiled peanuts, so Wendy insisted they get some. “When the owners heard that our friends had never even heard of boiled peanuts, they gave us a cup of Cajun flavored ones for free,” Wendy recounts.
“Our daughter, Atley, ate the regular ones and loved them,” added Wendy, “and she’s a picky eater. And Jack, our son, literally ate them for breakfast the next two days.” The family also considers it a lucky day to find the ice cream boat afloat.
Both the peanut boat and the ice cream boat have Facebook pages. Both Martin and O’Neal post to their pages before they head out each weekend to let fans know what section of the lake they can be found on a given day. Check them out on their pages – Lakeside Peanuts and Concessions and The Ice Cream Man on the Lake.
Scott refers to his customers as his “Awesome Peanut Fam.” “We’re all family,” he says, “straight up.” Every weekend, then, is just a family reunion. Nuts included.
