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In the Kitchen and around the Lake with the Lewises

Story by Scottie Vickery
Submitted Photos

When you’re an ophthalmologist in the business of helping your patients see better, it goes without saying that a clear, beautiful view is always the main focus.

Open great room and kitchen with expansive view from windows produces ‘wow factor’ the minute you walk in

It’s even more important when you’re also in the market for a house on the water. The good news is that David Lewis and his wife, Wendy, got exactly what they were looking for when they found their home near Stemley Bridge on Logan Martin Lake a year and a half ago. And these days, they enjoy captivating sights as far as the eye can see.

Whether they’re watching Fred, one of the two herons that regularly hold court on their dock, cheering for a child learning to wakeboard, or enjoying the antics of a family of geese, there’s always something that grabs their attention. If that weren’t enough, they get to enjoy both sunrises and sunsets from their vantage point.

“I can just get lost looking out the window,” Wendy said. “You never know what you’re going to see.”

They almost missed out on it all. “We passed on this house the first time we came through. It was dark, and we didn’t get to see all this,” Wendy said, gesturing to the great room’s wall of picture windows overlooking the sparkling water.

“We decided to come back one more time, and this time we came back during the day,” she said. “The second we opened the door, we were like, ‘This is it.’ It’s just so peaceful here. We have enjoyed it so much.”

The 3-bedroom, 3 ½-bath house is perfect for hosting family and friends with its open floor plan, expansive views, and outdoor living spaces that include a pergola and an atrium with a hot tub. David is an avid hunter and fisherman, so he keeps the freezer stocked with venison and fish, which makes entertaining easy.

“The Traeger is the best investment I ever made,” David said of his wood pellet grill. “You can just set the temperature, throw something on, and it does what it’s supposed to do.”

Making a house their home

The Lewises were living in Anniston when David decided in late 2023 to take a job with Alabama Vision Center in Pell City. They were excited for the career opportunity as well as for the chance to live on Logan Martin full-time.

The atrium features hot tub and breathtaking view

“We’re water people,” Wendy said, adding that they have a place in Gulf Shores as well as a cabin in the woods in Heflin that’s on a private lake with property where David hunts and fishes. “Both of our families had places around Riverside, so we had a connection to the water and this lake.”

Although the Lewises did some renovations before moving in, the house had already been added onto a few times before they bought it. The house, originally a small guest cabin for the house next door, has come a long way since its humble beginnings.

It started out as a single-story home with two bedrooms and one bath, but the next owners built a two-story addition that includes the master bedroom and bath, the great room and a larger kitchen, as well as a shop, office and bonus room downstairs. They also added a porch off the kitchen. After that couple sold the house, the new owners enclosed the porch, making it a sunroom, and converted the downstairs shop into a Man Cave.

When Wendy and David bought the home in December 2023, they focused on cosmetic changes, replacing flooring and lighting throughout the house, brightening things up with paint, and remodeling a bathroom. They raised the roof on the house’s front porch and added beams and a tongue-and-groove ceiling to make it feel more like a lake home. Landscaping by OnPoint Land Management was the perfect complement, Wendy said.

They also updated the kitchen with new granite countertops and moved the doorway that connected the kitchen to the sunroom to the other side of the island so they could add double ovens where the door once stood. Removing a wall in the great room opened up the room even more, making hosting a crowd easier.

“This house is great for entertaining, and it’s made it a whole lot easier to host a fair number of people,” David said. Their house in Annison had a smaller kitchen, and the only seating area was the dining room table. Now, they have lots more counter space, bar stools at the island, plenty of seating in the great room, as well as tables in the dining room, sunroom and outside.

What’s cooking?

Open floor plan lends itself to cooking and entertaining

Although the Lewises love creating great meals together, their cooking approaches are a little different. “My husband is the better cook,” Wendy said. “He can go look and say, ‘I’ve got this, this, and this, so I can whip this up.’ I have to plan what I’ll cook, make my grocery list and go to the store.”

David said he mastered the basics in Boy Scouts, where “I learned to put food over fire,” and he later followed his mother’s example of “adding a pinch of this and two fingers of that.” He also picked up some skills during the nine years he lived in New Orleans while completing his internship and residency and working at his first job.

“Everybody cooks down there, and I got a little better,” he said. “I’m not a gourmet chef or anything, but I can put stuff together.”

In the summer, they cook a lot of fish, and they especially like blackened red snapper. “We like to cook in an iron skillet,” Wendy said. “That really helps with the blackening of the fish. And he can just come up with a sauce right off the top of his head, so he’ll figure out the sauce, and I’ll figure out which vegetable to put with it.”

Roasted potatoes are a favorite. “They’re so easy to do,” Wendy said. “I just dice them up, drizzle them with olive oil and put Cavender’s (seasoning) on it. You’ve got to be generous with your flavors.

Wendy and Logan, the dog who adopted them

In the colder months, they do a lot of venison burgers, as well as a dish that has become a favorite. “We call it Spicy Creamy Deer Pig,” David said with a laugh. “Roll up (venison) cube steak with cream cheese and jalapenos and wrap it in bacon.”

Being able to have the whole family over for the holidays, host a gathering for David’s office, or have friends over on a football Saturday is what the Lewises have loved most about their life on the water.

They also enjoy the quieter moments. “It’s just so relaxing,” David said. “We’ll take the boat out when I get home from work, and we just enjoy watching all the birds and schools of fish.”

Wendy said she couldn’t be happier with their decision to move to the lake full-time. “There’s not just one best day here,” she said. “Every day is the best day.”
Add cheese to top and return to oven until cheese is melted.

Blackened Red Snapper with Dave Sauce

Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced
2 cups mushrooms
¾ of a bell pepper, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
½ to ¾ cups red wine
1 cup beef or chicken stock
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Oregano
2 tsp corn starch
Red Snapper fillets
Butter
Blackening seasoning

Directions:
To make the sauce, saute onions, mushrooms and bell pepper for 7-8 minutes on medium/high heat. Add tomato, and after 3 minutes, add the wine. Let it reduce by half, then add stock. Season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and oregano. Add corn starch. Turn down to simmer while cooking the fish. Add blackening seasoning to fish and cook in a skillet with butter on higher heat for 3 minutes on each side, or until flaky.
We like to serve fish with roasted Brussels sprouts and couscous.

Cajun Cream Sauce

Serve over Blackened Red Snapper atop a bed of asparagus

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, copped.
4 cloves garlic, diced
½ cup chicken stock
1/3 cup white wine
½ cup heavy cream
Cajun seasoning to taste
2 tbsp fresh parsley
1/3 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook tomatoes in olive oil over medium/high heat. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook until onions are translucent. Add garlic and chicken stock and allow it to slightly cook down. Add white wine and allow to reduce by half. Stir in cream and let it simmer while you add your favorite Cajun seasoning to taste.
Add parsley and parmesan cheese.

Rectifier Cocktail

Irish Whiskey
Baileys Irish Cream
Kahlua

Add equal parts of each to a lowball. Stir well and serve with a sprig of mint or shaved chocolate.

Gadsden’s The AMP

Historic landmark a thriving venue

Story by Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

In her off time, Janet Tarrance enjoys crafting healthy, mouth-watering recipes for family and friends.

In her job as director of special events for this growing Coosa River city, Tarrance cooks up feasts of entertainment for Etowah and surrounding counties, including Gadsden’s Summer Concert Series and some sizzling tribute bands celebrating the music of Eagles, Prince and Taylor Swift.

For Tarrance and her staff, whipping up events like the Summer Concert Series make them feel like chefs at a bistro where fun is the specialty of the house.

“I actually never thought about it in that way, but yeah, planning an event is like planning a meal,” Tarrance said. “You’ve got to have all the right ingredients to make the meal taste good.”

The tasty tribute acts are but a slice of the fun on tap at the historic Mort Glosser Amphitheater – known to locals as “The Amp” – for music lovers of all ages. The Tribute Series as well as the Summer Concert Series are sponsored by Sam Boswell Honda.

While the summer series is free, the tribute shows are $10 per person. Food trucks and pop-up bars are on hand for hungry and thirsty concertgoers.

Nashville-based “7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band,” performed May 30. Rolling Stone called 7 Bridges “The best Eagles tribute band on Earth.”

“The Purple Madness: America’s No. 1 Prince Experience Band” performed June 5, when Gadsden got a chance to party like it was 1999.

Taken in the early 1940s, this image captures a special event held in honor of a group of young soldiers preparing to leave for war

On July 19, the Taylor Swift Experience takes the stage, a treat for Swifties of all ages. For the Tribute Series, tickets are available at cityofgadsden.com/tributeseries.

Now in its 16^th year, the Summer Concert Series not only celebrates great artists and their music, but also one of northeast Alabama’s great venues. The Amp was built in 1935 as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration.

Built from native sandstone, the 2,000-seat amphitheater has hosted an array of events in its 90 years, from sendoff and homecoming ceremonies for area World War II soldiers and sailors to boxing and wrestling matches and fishing tournament weigh-ins – even weddings.

“The amphitheater is an older venue, but it has so much history, and it’s right here in historic downtown Gadsden,” Tarrance said. “It’s a really beautiful space — it truly is. I’m so glad we’re still using it. It’s such a unique and special venue.”

In June, the series featured the Boot Scootin’ Boogie Nights Band, a 90’s country cover act named for the monster Brooks and Dunn hit from the era.

On Independence Day, revelers can celebrate our nation’s 249^th birthday with Nash County, a band that rocks country covers and 1980s rock n’ roll.

Purple Madness front man Bobby
Miller gives a shout out to Gadsden

Down through the years, the Summer and Tribute Series offer something for all ages, from R&B to funk and soul, to country and Southern rock. Crowds as large as 1,800 filled the seats for the shows.

“That’s one thing that we really strive for,” Tarrance said. “We offer something at some point that will appeal to everyone. Sometime during the Series we will have something for everybody.”

The concerts at The Amp have become something of an after party for Gadsden’s First Friday celebrations downtown. First Fridays feature multiple musicians on nearly every corner of the city’s historic downtown and give local restaurants and shops a chance to draw new and returning visitors as well as locals. Thousands attend every First Friday.

“We’ve seen that people want that. They want entertainment. They want something to do,” said Gadsden City Council President Kent Back. “We’ve got a one-of-a-kind facility in the amphitheater. “It’s really, really neat. It sits on the banks of the Coosa and it’s beautiful.”

The Amp is at the heart of Gadsden’s drive to become a fun destination. On Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, the city trumpets #GottaGetToGadsden to promote the downtown area. Downtown Gadsden, Inc., is one of the city’s drivers in growing downtown.

“I think that the amphitheater is sitting real pretty because it’s right in the center, and we want to bring in the tribute bands and bigger acts,” Tarrance said. “Whether it is like an older rock band or country performer, or an up-and-coming performer, there’s a lot we can do here at The Amp.”

Tarrance has worked for the city for more than 17 years after nearly two decades at the local YMCA. She loves the energy and excitement surrounding the city and its growth under the leadership of Mayor Craig Ford and the city council.

Full house for Prince tribute band Purple Madness

“If you can’t get excited around them, I don’t know what would get you excited. They love the city, and they want to do more,” Tarrance said. “It’s very infectious.”

Tarrance and her staff bring that same energy to planning Gadsden’s special events, but she’s quick to point out, she’s not a one-woman show.

“Our department creates fun for others to enjoy,” she said. “I love seeing people at our events with smiles on their faces, truly enjoying themselves. It’s especially exciting when we get into brainstorming mode — building an event from start to finish — and then seeing it all come together. I love that end result.”

She added, “Gadsden is a fun town. We want people to come here — to visit the amphitheater, shop downtown, to explore Noccalula Falls and enjoy our river. Gadsden has so much to offer, and it’s growing. We just hope people can see the hard work behind the scenes. Everyone is coming together to make Gadsden a great place to be.” l

Editor’s Note: Tickets to the Summer Concert Series are free and are scheduled into July.

Angler’s Pointe

Your place for camping, glamping, music, outdoor fun and much more on Logan Martin Lake

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

It would surprise no one to say there are many camping opportunities around Logan Martin Lake. What might be a surprise is that you can spend the night in a covered wagon, reminiscent of those used by 18^th century pioneers as they moved westward. Thankfully, unlike the primitive conditions those adventurers faced, your stay would include air conditioning and an indoor bathroom complete with a shower.

Glamping tents come with a porch and even a full bathroom

These glamping spaces are some of the unique offerings at Angler’s Pointe, the 160-acre rental, recreational and entertainment community adjacent to Lincoln’s Landing tournament fishing park and picnic area. They also offer tent glamping and some more traditional options, including covered and uncovered RV parking, bungalows, cottages, and tiny homes for short-term rental.

Angler’s Pointe is the perfect neighbor for Lincoln’s Landing, providing much-needed resort-style accommodations for tournament anglers and families since 2023. Not surprisingly, the draw of the lake itself and the desire to own a piece of it, even if just temporarily, keeps a steady stream of renters coming in.

“We do get an influx of people renting when there’s a tournament,” says DeLane Griffin, CEO of McCaig & Griffin, the lakeside and commercial development company that has developed the property. “But, by far, the largest segment that’s renting from us is families and couples who just want to come spend a few days or a week on the lake, whether they’re renting an RV space, a bungalow, a cottage, a tiny house or one of our glamping options.”

Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a concept embraced by those who enjoy the outdoors and outdoor activities, but not the primitive conditions of typical overnight camping. Its rise in popularity in the early 2000s resulted in the word being added to the Oxford dictionary in 2016.

It hardly qualifies for roughing it to step into the air-conditioned luxury of one of the four glamping tents after spending the day playing in the lake. They are cool, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. One tent takes it to the next level of relaxation and features an elegant clawfoot tub. Another tent features a window seat for reading or just watching for wildlife in the open field.

“We went a little bit beyond what some places do,” Griffin explains. “So, it’s glamping with a little extra. We thought it was a bit nicer to have the bathrooms inside the units.”

He brought the idea for the wagon rental spaces to the development after he and his wife, Deanna, stayed in one on a visit to Kentucky. The wagons are made by the Conestoga company and are fully outfitted with bathroom walls for privacy. Living and sleeping areas are “open concept,” with furniture defining the space.

One wagon even has room for the whole family

You can leave your camping gear at home, since both tents and wagons are equipped with upscale home furnishings and antique furniture. Each unit also has a name and theme. With names like Sahara, Wanderlust and Jumanji, each unit’s décor is perfectly suited to its theme. While they do not have kitchens, there are small refrigerators, along with spacious back porches with space enough for a guest to bring a grill for cooking.

The porches of the tents and wagons face a common-use area dubbed, “The Frontier,” which features a chuckwagon, fire pits with conversation areas, covered picnic spots, swings and plenty of open space for games. “Hopefully, we’re going to expand on that in the future with outdoor cowboy dinners and outdoor entertainment,” says Griffin.

Although the resort has been booking since 2023, there is still much to be done to complete the vision. His company had been negotiating with a larger company to finish the build out faster, but after a year of negotiations, he says, the plan fell through. “So, we are back at it, picking up our dream for the property,” Griffin says. “We have more of each kind of lot in the process of being built.”

Griffin sees the building pause as a blessing, since the added time allowed them to receive feedback from guests. “We’re hearing a lot from people not related to Lincoln’s Landing, people from Nashville to Atlanta,” explains Griffin. “They’ve given us good ideas about what they would like to see.”

With those requests in mind, Griffin says, they will be starting soon to provide those onsite amenities guests want like a pool, pickleball courts and a playground. They are also looking for vendors who could do restaurants or eateries on the property.

“As we grow, and we have the tenants there to support it, we will have regular food vendors and more bands in The Yard,” says Griffin. The Yard is an outdoor stage and field area that has already hosted several concerts and outdoor vendor shows.

“We’ve worked with Lincoln every year with the July 4^th fireworks event,” says Griffin. “That’s a one-day event, and we’ve always had food and a concert and that type of stuff building up to the fireworks. We’d like to see that expand to a full week event.” Griffin adds that they have already had several events in The Yard to raise money to support veterans and first responders.

Community is important to Griffin and to the dreams he has for Angler’s Pointe. “Our Patriotic Palooza was a three-day event that honored both people who have served and given us our independence and first responders, the people we count on to keep us safe each day. We don’t make any money from it. Any proceeds go back into trying to create a better experience for the community and to give back to these organizations.”

Griffin is proud of the direction the development is moving and says he looks forward to realizing his dream. “Like most dreams, it doesn’t come easy,” he admits. “My most proud moment will be when we fully complete it. I think people in the community want Lincoln to be nice. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

As they continue to expand, Angler’s Pointe will offer even more inventory in each of the rental options. Whatever your style of lake life, you can find it right next-door to Lincoln’s Landing. And if soaking in a clawfoot tub while tent camping sounds good, grab your loofah. Glamping could be just right for you.

Editor’s Note: For more information:www.anglerspointe.com

Choccolocco Kayak

Oxford partnership gives great access to the creek

Miles of natural beauty on Choccolocco Creek

Looking for the perfect, quiet waterway to spend an afternoon kayaking on?

Choccolocco Creek, which winds its way through Calhoun and Talladega counties, eventually emptying into Logan Martin Lake may be just the spot.

Choccolocco Kayak, a collaborative effort between the city of Oxford and Choccolocco Creek Watershed, is located right across Leon Smith Parkway from Choccolocco Park on Boiling Springs Road. From the rental facility there, visitors will be transported by van to kayak put-in access point near Cider Ridge Golf Club. You then float Choccolocco Creek until reaching the take-out access point at the kayak rental facility.

The trip takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Kayak and equipment rentals are available at the main office and parking at Boiling Springs Road. It’s a great beginner to intermediate float, depending on the water levels.

Takeout at main office across from the park

The creek winds through the natural beauty of the region. And what’s more, 75% of the revenue from kayaking goes to support the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, a non-profit group working to preserve the historical integrity of the creek area while protecting natural resources and promoting healthy outdoor recreation.

Choccolocco Kayak is open Friday by reservation 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. with last launch at 2 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. Visitors must be 18 years or older to rent kayaks. Users 8-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult to float in standard kayak. Children under eight must float in tandem kayak accompanied by an adult.

Like all kayak and similar water sports businesses, safety is a prime concern, and they shut down operations during inclement weather or dangerous conditions on the creek—low or high water levels, obstructions on the waterway and other hazards. They do a great job of keeping people informed of any issues on their Facebook page, and if you have any questions, give them a call at 256-847-5191

The season runs until Labor Day Weekend.

For more information about Choccolocco Kayak, follow them on Facebook, or check out kayaking on the “Things to Do” page on the Choccolocco Creek Watershed website,

www.choccoloccocreek.org, or Choccolocco Park,

www.choccoloccopark.com/amenities/kayaking. You can find out more about the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project at

www.choccoloccocreek.org.

Editor’s note: Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center contributed to this story.

River’s Edge Presents The Tiki Hut

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.

“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.

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.

In the Kitchen and around the Lake with Lyman Lovejoy

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.

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.

See you down at the dam

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 12^th 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!”

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Logan Martin Lake communities come together after December tornadoes

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

Melinda Splawn got the call at about 7:00 in the morning on Sunday, Dec. 29. She needed to get to Lee Park in Cropwell right away to check on massive storm damage there. As owner and manager of the park off Coosa Island Road on which 14 mobile homes sit, Splawn immediately began calling to check on residents.

One of her first calls was to her friend, Matt Kronen, owner of Coosa Island Marina, who lives very near the park and knows most of the residents there. He had already been out checking on residents and property, and he told her to be prepared. “He told me it looks like a war zone. And it did. When I got there, I saw trees down everywhere on homes, porches and across the road.”

The storm, later evaluated by the National Weather Service as an EF-0 with peak winds of 85 miles per hour, was part of a weekend storm system that produced 18 tornadoes in four states. The Coosa Island tornado was one of two in St. Clair County. The second was an EF-1, which damaged property on Roberts Mill Pond Road.

The tornado spent just three minutes on the ground beginning at 12:25 a.m. In those three minutes, sections of the landscape of a two and one quarter mile stretch of land in Cropwell were completely changed. Thankfully, there were no injuries in either of the St. Clair County tornadoes. There were, instead, many stories of close calls, of neighbors helping neighbors, and of neighbors and strangers becoming heroes to those in need.

Kronen was one of those humble heroes who did what needed to be done to help those around him. He recounts having been in bed for 30 minutes, when he suddenly realized he’d left his Christmas inflatables up. He ran to the door and couldn’t open it. “The wind and pressure had it suctioned closed,” he explains.

Crews begin cleanup after December 29 Cropwell tornado

“So, I ran to the sunroom. There was so much rain blowing sideways, you couldn’t see across the lake. Then, as quick as it came, it was gone.”

Kronen headed outside and joined neighbors to survey the area. They discovered they were trapped on the island by debris and trees covering the causeway, so he and other neighbors loaded up chainsaws and started to work clearing a path.

With power lines completely tangled around trees, they couldn’t get far before having to stop and wait for Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative to turn the power off.

Taking his golf cart and carefully steering clear of power lines, Kronen made his way around the neighborhood and toward the causeway to check on friends. His concern was heightened at the sight of one trailer all but crushed under the weight of a downed tree. The home belonged to Tom and Candi Childers, who had told him they’d be at their Lee Park home over the weekend. The Childers are seasonal residents in the park.

When Kronen saw the giant oak tree lying on the Childers’ crushed residence, he was quick to call them and was relieved to hear they had not come due to the weather. The tree, now resting on their bed, made it difficult to get in to see what was left of their trailer. Before they could come to assess the damage and protect what was left of their belongings from the continuing rain, Kronen collected some of their photos and items of sentimental value.

Kronen later brought his skid steer from the marina to help move larger debris out of the way throughout the park. Doing for others, Kronen explains, is just what lake people do. “We come together when something like this happens.” Splawn agrees, adding, “You don’t feel like you’re in it by yourself.”

Those sentiments are echoed time and time again by those who described their experiences during the storm, including by Mark “Nacho” Hughes.

“It’s amazing how eight seconds can change your life,” says the corporate pilot who lives in Lee Park. “It sounded like a million hot air balloons released their air at the same time. The walls of the trailer were pulsating. My wife, Connie, asked if this was the night we die. I said, ‘no, ma’am.’”

In just moments, the tornado was over, and Hughes went outside to check on things. His home had lost much of the underpinning and had roof damage, along with minor damage to his boat house. He immediately walked across the street to check on a neighbor. “We started walking together and checking on damage,” says Hughes. “We went place to place checking on people who might be here.”

What they saw was shocking. “There were lots of trees down and metal and debris on the road,” Hughes recounts. “We didn’t know what to do, so we started calling people to let them know what was going on.”

A few minutes later, first responders started showing up, and we all started removing metal and debris off the road. We started cutting trees about 3:30 in the morning so we could get cars through here.” Hughes punctuates his story with extra gratitude for the first responders that morning and for the response by the St. Clair County road maintenance and debris removal teams.

Large trees bring down power lines during Coosa Island tornado

“There has been such a spirit of cooperation in all of this,” adds Hughes. “There were people you knew, people you didn’t know. They were up here picking things up, helping in the cold and wind. People brought drinks and food. We don’t even know them all, but they wanted to be a part of the healing. It’s amazing how some people’s big hearts make the day go better.”

It was a bad night for Don Urso, who awoke in the middle of the storm adrift on his 88-foot houseboat. “I was traveling sideways freely, going about 30 miles per hour. It was raining so hard I couldn’t see anything,” Urso recalls. “When I finally stopped, after about 20 minutes, I was parked between two piers against the shoreline.” It was a tricky ride for Urso, who was not able to maneuver himself well, having had a hip replacement surgery just two weeks earlier.

“When I stopped, I looked out the side window and I saw a house,” recalls Urso. “The tornado apparently had me spinning around out there. I thought I would have been in Riverside with as long and as fast as I’d been going.” The houseboat had, in fact, only traveled 600 yards across the water from its mooring on Coosa Island. It came to a stop against the seawall of the home of Scott and Lori Knepper.

The Kneppers, who were awakened from their sleep by the heavy winds and trees falling, discovered that water was coming into their house at the back door. Scott went upstairs to find a hole in the ceiling and realized that limbs from a tree had penetrated the roof. He and his son, Cam, grabbed flashlights to check on the pier. “That’s when I saw a very large white boat that was lodged against our pier and seawall,” said Scott. “Then I saw a flicker of light onboard and realized there was a person on the boat.

“We walked down there with another neighbor and talked to him and found out he was okay,” Scott continued. “We checked the boat, and it was not sinking. We asked if we could help him, but he was already on the phone calling for a friend to come get him.”

One friend, Keith Clemmons, came by pontoon boat and another, Kronen, came by land, but because of the wind and rain they decided to secure it there and retrieve it later in the day.

Back on Coosa Island, David and Angela Buzbee were assessing the damage their home had sustained. David, Angela and their daughter, Courtney, had been watching the weather on television. When it looked like the storm threat was diminished, Angela went to bed. Just a few minutes later, David noticed the wind had picked up and the doors started rattling.

“I flipped the blinds open and noticed how strong the wind was and how the rain was swirling,” said David. “Pretty much immediately, the wind got really strong. The cedar and beams that make up the roof to the porch came in toward the house. We got away from the windows and went to the bedroom to get my wife.”

That’s when they heard a loud crash. Later they found out that crash was a result of half their roof on the porch coming off and landing on the other side of the house. The neighbor next door met them outside to check on them.

The Buzbees, who had completely renovated the house just 2 and a half years ago, say they will rebuild. “This is our forever home,” says Angela, who serves as president of the Coosa Island Homeowners Association. “It’s a really close group of people on the island and in the neighborhood.”

Angela’s neighbor two doors down agrees wholeheartedly. Rebel Negley is so thankful for the people who reached out to help her and her husband following the storm.

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy Lionel Calendar is one of her heroes. Knowing her husband had recently had surgery, Calendar sent Negley a message asking if they needed help and offering to get her anything she needed.

As it turned out, what they needed was power for their refrigerator and for the breathing machine. Calendar contacted his brother, Stevie Bentley, who came over and helped Negley put together their generator.

“Chief Paul Leger with New London Volunteer Fire Department was awesome, too. I can say that, like most folks, we don’t agree on everything,” Negley said. “But when something happens to one of us, we are all here to help each other.”

Kronen, Calendar, Leger, Hughes, Clemmons, the Kneppers – neighbors and friends who were all willing to help shoulder some of the weight of the loss created in the early hours of Dec. 29.

Hughes’ summary of the storm and its aftermath resonates among those in the lakeside community. “It’s just the people you don’t know who come in to lend a hand that gets you. These people didn’t have to spend their money, bring their chainsaws, bring food. They could be home with their families, but instead, they’re down here helping our families try to get back some part of normalcy.” l

Missing: Coosa Island Marina Sign

The old sign on the ground after the storms

The last time Coosa Island residents saw the Coosa Island Marina sign was 3 p.m. on Dec. 29. Coosa Valley Electric had Coosa Island Road closed while they worked on restoring power to the neighborhood following the tornado.

Residents remembered seeing the sign, damaged and loose from its pole, lying on the ground. “It’s an important piece of our history,” says marina owner Matt Kronen. “It was here when my family bought the marina in 1983.”

Kronen hopes that if anyone picked it up, thinking it was trash, they would get in touch with him and return it. He says they will get a new sign but would like to have the old sign to display as part of the history of the area.

Wild Game Cook-off

Returns to Talladega Superspeedway

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Talladega is known the world over as a place where racecar drivers put the pedal to the metal.

But on March 15, hunters and anglers will put the metal – pots and pans to be exact – and meat to the flame, all part of the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s regional cook-off at the Talladega Superspeedway.

The winner advances to the state finals.

Proceeds from entry fees and ticket sales, where hungry patrons can feast on some wild game delights crafted by teams of backyard chefs, go to benefit AWF’s many wildlife education and conservation efforts.

Think grilled quail, flounder stuffed with shrimp and crab and covered with cream sauce, or a grilled venison roll. If your mouth isn’t watering now, check your pulse.

The cookoff attracts more than just chefs, there are vendors galore

The event marks the 19^th AWF cook-off for Talladega. But the genesis for the competition began in 1996, according to Tim Gothard, now in his 26^th year as the federation’s executive director.

“AWF was talking about the fact that sometimes hunters and hunting can be put in the wrong light,” Gothard said. “What we know is that hunters and anglers properly utilize the fish and game that they harvest. It’s not a wasteful thing … We thought the cook-off would be a great way to show that. And it makes great and healthy table fare.”

Like the first day of hunting or fishing season, the cook-off would also be a social event, bringing AWF members together and spotlighting its conservation and education efforts. And it will generate funds to support those efforts, Gothard said.

Mobile hosted the first cook-off in 1996. Now, the Talladega event is one of 14 regional cook-offs culminating in the state championship later this year.

Regional winners will compete for a $1,000 grand prize and bragging rights as AWF Wild Game Cook-off State Champion for 2025.

Like the popularity of TV cooking shows, these AWF events have exploded in popularity. For example, at that first event in Mobile, five or six teams competed and 100 to 125 folks attended. Now the competitions have become a major event on the calendar. Folks want to be there. And, in every competition town, corporate sponsors are hooked.

“Coming up, at the Talladega cook-off, we will have over 1,000 people at that cookoff and probably 30 to 35 cook teams,” Gothard said. “It has grown absolutely dramatically over the years. Probably in the last 10 years, we have doubled the amount of people that come to those events, the revenue that’s generated to support our conservation projects … It’s just been amazing.”

As for the corporate backing, they provide the largest revenue stream.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Gothard said. “If you’re a sponsor, you’re going to get a bunch of tickets that you can use to reward employees, clients, potential clients and friends to come and enjoy the same great food and the same great atmosphere and camaraderie that we see.”

AWF employees will be on hand to talk about the organization’s work and mission. But make no mistake, food – dishes featuring venison, feral hog, quail, and other varieties of game and fish – is the focus.

And this isn’t just a bunch of guys cooking on the truck tailgate, Gothard said.

“They take great pride in what they prepare,” he said. “And I will guarantee you this: There are restaurant quality dishes that you’ll find at every cookoff that we do. And when you come to that state cook-off, and the teams come to compete for the state championship, every one of those dishes are restaurant quality.”

The secret sauce in the cook-offs’ success? “The format that we do allows people to sample the food,” Gothard said. “We’re not providing them with a meal. But they have a wide selection of dishes that they can actually taste.”

While the boom in cooking shows and in turn, the growth in folks wanting to cook great food at home, have played a part in the cook-off success, there’s a dash of something else beyond great tasting food created from Alabama fish and game.

“More than anything else, we have a large membership across the state and it’s an opportunity for them to get together with likeminded people and really enjoy a night that’s really celebrating the hunting and angling outdoor pursuits that we are all involved with and we appreciate and enjoy,” Gothard said.

“ The social atmosphere, that camaraderie and that uniqueness are the things that in my mind have made the wild game cook-offs so popular and really fueled their growth over the last 10 years, in particular,” he said.

Statewide, more than 100,000 Alabama schoolchildren benefit from AWF’s efforts. And that’s a small part of the story.

Talladega Superspeedway has plenty of room for an event this size

AWF has done five oyster restoration projects in Mobile Bay. It’s been able to add scientists to the AWF staff to work on issues like restoring fish and game habitats. The wild game cook-offs provide a portion of private sector funding for what AWF calls its “on the ground and on the water projects. All told, AWF is making a $1 million investment in these projects and more.”

The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program gives kids the opportunity to learn math, science, social studies and language arts outdoors in a wildlife habitat and against a wildlife backdrop. AWF has four outdoor education specialists crisscrossing the state to serve in schools.

Close to home, the program worked with Munford Elementary.

“They’ve accomplished a tremendous amount,” Gothard said. “And our wildlife biologists have collaborated with private landowners in that entire (Coosa) region for 20 years helping them develop plans for managing their property so they can have quality wildlife habitat and populatons.

“When you have that, the impact spills out beyond the landowners’ property. It helps ensure that we have good wildlife habitat and populations all across the state.”

It’s part of a scientific, systematic approach to game management, Gothard said. And funds from the cook-offs fuel the effort.

“(The cook-off) is a significant source of revenue to help us do conservation work in this state,” Gothard said. “It makes a big difference.”

The cookoffs reveal something about hunters and anglers, who may guard their favorite hunting and fishing spots like state secrets.

But they’ll brag about a recipe as they might a trophy buck or bass.

“They definitely enjoy sharing with other people how they prepare dishes and how good it tastes,” Gothard said. “That is something hunters and anglers love to do.”

Over the years, Gothard has sampled a slew of savory fish and game dishes. But one some 12 years ago at the Talladega cook-off hooked him.

“There was a team that won the Talladega cook-off with a bluegill fish taco,” Gothard recalled. “This was before fish tacos were a thing. I grew up, you caught bluegill, you fried them whole and picked them with a fork. It tasted great, but it was work.”

The taco chefs took a fresh approach.

“They had de-boned all the meat, cooked it up and then flaked it. That was the meat in the taco,” Gothard said. “It absolutely blew me away.”

For Gothard, every team makes an impression.

“The thing that really impresses me and captures my attention is how (teams) take (fish and game) and turn it into a dish that I hadn’t really thought about.”

The cook-off isn’t only a celebration of conservation, Alabama’s hunting and fishing heritage or culinary creativity. The competition is about pride, with teams coming from as far away as Texas.

“Those cook teams are going to take a lot of pride in telling you what their dish is, how they made that dish,” Gothard. “And you’re going to see them light up when on the spot, someone tastes it and says, ‘Man, this is awesome.’

According to its website, the Alabama Wildlife Federation is “a dynamic, citizen-based conservation organization with over 25,000 members and supporters dedicated to creating and promoting a balance between use, management and protection of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources through education, community involvement, and boots-on-the-ground assistance.”

The organization’s focus is in three major areas: conservation education, resource stewardship and celebrating the state’s hunting and fishing heritage. Founded in 1935, AWF is celebrating its 90^th anniversary. l

Editor’s Note: For more information on the AWF and the cookoff, visit AlabamaWildlife.org.