Cooking with the Johnsons on Logan Martin Lake

Story by Gigi Hood
Photos by Kelsey Bain
Submitted Photos

Life is a puzzle, and we put the pieces together as our journey unfolds.  Sometimes we wonder where we came from, or question ourselves as to where we’re going, and sometimes we find it hard to remember all the places we’ve ever been.  From day to day, we never know who we might meet or where and when the puzzle might end. 

There is no too large or too small, but there is a dream that needs to be addressed and built that makes it just right.

Such is the case with Gib Johnson and his wife, Lori Hedvig Johnson, who have built their dream home on Logan Martin Lake.  Lori is originally from Alexander City, and Gib is a true “Carolina-Blue-Blooded Tar Heel,” who was raised in Salisbury, NC, a small city between Charlotte and Greensboro.

Prior to fulfilling their dream of living on the water’s edge, the Johnsons lived in the Hoover and Pelham areas of Birmingham.  Gib had grown up on High Rock Lake in North Carolina, where he spent much of his time, boating, skiing and sailing.  “I was and still have been an all-around water/lake lover for as far back as I can remember, and when Lori and I married, we bought a lot, dock and boat at Smith Lake, and I introduced her to life on and around the water;  she embraced it, just as I had, and that was the beginning of our dream of one day having a house on the water.”

As much as they enjoyed Smith Lake, “we knew it was not logistically possible for us to live there permanently and make a daily commute back and forth to Birmingham. So, we started looking at Logan Martin Lake, since it is the closet body of water to Birmingham.”

Gib is the managing partner of Zuriel Technology Group, LLC, which is based in Birmingham.  Founded in 2015, the business is an Information Technology Managed Services Company that provides IT support to companies across the southeastern area of the U.S.  Lori also works at Zuriel as Financial Controller.

After investigating lot possibilities, Gib was excited to find four suitable lakefront properties at Charter Landing Estates, where building had not yet begun. He was disappointed when he found that his search had been to no avail.  All the properties had been sold, and the owners already had their future building plans outlined.  Knowing they had to start over looking at lots was discouraging, but a “miracle” happened on Thanksgiving Day in 2020 that put their plans back on track.

“I answered the ringing phone,” Gib said, “and there was a voice on the other end telling me that Lot 12 was available for purchase because the owners had bought a new home and decided not to build at Charter Landing. The gentleman asked me if we might still be interested in buying the lot. Our answer was a quick ‘yes!’, and Lori and I postponed our Thanksgiving dinner as we proceeded to make a deal to purchase the lot that day. What a special Thanksgiving that was.”

Next came the step of deciding on plans for their building adventure. Accepting the help and recommendation from one of their friends, they met with architect Mark Tidwell of Tidwell & Associates and hired him to lead them through the task of putting together the version of their vision for their dream house.

Once the design process was approved, they then began the search for who was considered to be the best builder in the area.  George Crain of George Crain Homebuilders was the name that kept coming up, and they knew that he was the builder they wanted.  According to Gib, “George had other ideas. He was close to retirement and was not planning to build any more homes. Thankfully, we were able to convince him to take on our project, and he agreed. We were thrilled with his professionalism and expertise, and we will always be thankful that he was the man behind making our dream come true.”

Working together, Gib and Lori teamed up on the décor.  Together they agreed that they wanted the style of their home to be “Modern Farmhouse.”  The result of their time, effort and imagination is a delightful mixture of old and new, comfort and enjoyment of day-to-day living for both their family and their guests.

 Priorities were lake view, room for visitors, location in Pell City, private quarters for their visitors on the downstairs level and making sure that all guest rooms had a lake view and the kitchen area. 

“To us, the kitchen does not mean the appliances and the immediate area we are cooking in,” Lori explained. “Yes, it is the place food is prepared, but it’s so much more than that for us.  We want our kitchen to be warm, inviting and a gathering place.  Our plan was to leave it openly connected with our adjoining living spaces.    We did plan our area for convenient preparation, while making sure we had plenty of space to comfortably and enjoyably cook together while still being a part of what was going on around us.”

Gib and Lori chose not to have a formal dining room, but rather, stayed with their Farmhouse style.  They purchased a taller than usual, long table with bench seating at the end of the kitchen that overlooks the lake.   It easily seats 10 people and provides the perfect place for easy conversation and fun gatherings at mealtimes.  A granite bar on the backside of the island also provides chairs for more casual eating or an overflow place for more guests.

After an extensive search, Lori found a tile that she just had to have.  Originally it was only going to be used for the backsplash of the kitchen.   “I was so excited to find that tile, that I decided to decorate my kitchen around it and bought it on the spot,” she said. 

“Then, after seeing how the backsplash turned out, I decided I wanted to carry it to the top,” she said.   “But then when I decided to extend it, of course, I needed more tile.  However, that was when things were in short supply and my original supplier could not get any more.  He told me that he was sorry, but the backsplash would have to suffice.  Not wanting to dash the look that I had created in my mind’s eye, I searched all over and after combining inventory from four different places, I was able to piece together the entire wall and complete the kitchen to my liking.”

The house furnishings that are a blend of “Modern Farmhouse” mixed with “Modern Elegance” complement one another.  Heirloom antiques, inherited from Gib’s father, hold special meaning. His father was a CPA by trade, but his real passion was collecting antiques.  “We were able to keep some of his collections, but unfortunately we had to part with many beautiful pieces because there just wasn’t enough room for them,” Gib explained.   “The ones we kept blended well with our modern furnishings.  Together they are both beautiful to look at and enjoy and of course, very special because they were my Dad’s.”

Among the antiques they did keep and still cherish is a 4-poster bed that is believed to have been used by the actress, Bette Davis, in her New York City apartment.  Other artifacts include various Chippendale pieces, one of which is a Chippendale Bar Set that Gib claims as his favorite piece.  Lori is partial to the Ming Dynasty Vase as her special item.

Aside from their furnishings, there are a few other special places in the house.  There is a full gym, which would be the pride of any exercise guru and is a necessity for daily exercise in their lives. Lori grew up very athletic and was a successful amateur triathlete for six years. She no longer competes in triathlons, but still likes to walk and run as well as do Yoga. 

After her work and workouts are through, Lori’s therapy room, consisting of a tanning bed, red light therapy and room to meditate, are a perfect place for her to decompress. Being the “do it yourselfer,” Gib’s special room is his indoor workshop, accessible from both the interior and exterior of the home and complete with an organized place for all his tools and room to work on his projects.

Additional amenities of the home also include a tiered theatre room and a gorgeous swimming pool that Lori and Gib designed, plus an impressive porch on which to entertain as well as watch the sunrises, sunsets and lake activities. And of course, the home wouldn’t be complete without a large yard, pier, boat dock and all the water toys anyone needs for having fun.

During the building process, the Homeowners Association of Charter Landing Estates offered six other lots for sale, and Gib and Lori purchased their second lot. They decided that after retirement (or maybe before) they would build a spec house. “Eventually, we intend to build on the second lot. But for now, we’re taking a rest.”

They agree that it has been a long road to finding and completing their dream home.  “We moved once, thinking we wanted to downsize after our four children left the nest,” Lori said.  “But when everyone returned home for the holidays with their spouses and friends plus other family members, our downsizing didn’t work because it was bumper-to-bumper people.”

After that experience, Lori and Gib decided to try the ultimate experience – building.  “Along the way, there were plenty of ups and downs, frustrations, general craziness. Looking back, it was tedious, maddening and just plain fun building and furnishing our dream,” Lori said. 

Would they do it again? “No, not willingly,” Gib replied, “but then again, never say never.”  They survived the journey, put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and hope that this will be their forever home.

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Gib’s BEST Blackened Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients

• 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 Tbsp – Blackening Seasoning
• 2 Tbsp – Olive Oil
• 12 ounce – Fettucine Pasta
• 6 Tbsp – Butter
• 1 Tbsp – Minced Garlic
• 1 1/2 cup – Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 1/2 cup – Grated Parmesan Cheese

Blackening seasoning

• 1 Tbsp – Paprika or Smoked Paprika
• 2 Tbsp – Salt
• 1 Tbsp – Garlic Salt
• 1 Tbsp – Parsley (optional to taste)
• 1 Tbsp – Onion Powder
• 2 Tbsp – Black Pepper
• 2 Tsp – Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Tbsp – Oregano

Combine all ingredients together in a small bowl and store in an air tight container.

Preparing the chicken

Cut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Coat all sides of the chicken with blackening seasoning. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Place Olive Oil in the skillet. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts to the skillet.

Cook the chicken for approximately 5 minutes on each side …until each side is brown. Transfer the chicken to a separate plate and cover with foil to keep it warm.

Preparing the Pasta

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Remove from cooktop and strain the pasta

Preparing the Alfredo Sauce

Add the butter and the garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes on LOW heat…until the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant. Whisk in the heavy whipping cream. Cook – while whisking – for approximately 3-5 minutes until the cream is heated through. Stir in the parmesan cheese and allow the cheese to heat until it is melted in.. Add the blackened chicken and whisk it in so the chicken soaks up the Alfredo flavoring.

Finishing steps to serve

Toss the pasta with the homemade blackened chicken and Alfredo sauce. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!

Bourbon, Honey and Brown Sugar Salmon

Ingredients

• Salmon 2 large pieces (can be domestic or wild caught) Domestic is less fishy
• Bourbon (your favorite) (1 Jigger)
• Honey 3 Tbsp
• Brown Sugar 2 Tbsp
• Lemon Pepper 1/4 Tsp
• Butter 2 Tsp
• Salt and Pepper Sprinkle to Taste

Preparing the Fish

Pre-heat oven to 375. Combine bourbon, honey and brown sugar.

Wash Salmon Thoroughly . Spray the pan, dish or grill rack you are cooking on with non-stick spray. Melt Butter and Brush on Both Sides of Salmon. Salt and Pepper both sides. Sprinkle Lemon Butter.

Pour bourbon, honey and brown sugar on both sides. Cook for 6-8 minutes (turning half way through). Make sure Salmon reaches 165 internal temperature.

Remove and serve with broccoli florets or asparagus spears and long grain wild rice or risotto or pasta. Garnish with Parsley red peppers.

Lori’s Party Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 to 4 Slices of center cut bacon
• 2 x 6oz Packs of chipped beef (if you cannot find “chipped beef”, the beef in packs where the sandwich meat is (the cheap stuff), it works great too
• 1 x 16 oz sour cream
• 2 x regular size Campbell’s “cream of mushroom” soup (or 1 family size)
• Salt and pepper to season
• 2 Cups Long grain rice (cook separately)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Wash your chicken (always), set aside Get a glass casserole dish. A 9 x 13 is preferable. Take the chipped beef and chop them into little squares – you want to make sure the chipped/chopped beef pieces cover the entire bottom of casserole dish. Put cleaned/washed chicken on top of chipped beef and put a little salt and pepper on top.

Take 2 or 3 slices of bacon and stretch them, place on top of the chicken. Combine your sour cream and cream of mushroom soup in a separate bowl, add about 1/2 can of water, stir until blended. Once blended, pour over chicken, covering entirely.

Place in oven and cook for 2.5 – 3 hours (slow cooking on low heat makes chicken most tender). If you don’t have that much time, cook at 350 degrees but at least 2.5 hours. 

Keep an eye on it as it cooks and stir regularly after about an hour and a half. If it looks dry, poor a little water in and stir.

Rice

Just follow directions. Remember long grain is best but you have to do the measurements just right and it takes 20 minutes (worth it though). A little trick on long grain – use a liquid measure for water and solid measuring cup for rice. I always put a LITTLE more rice just to make sure it’s not runny. This usually makes the rice perfect. Or use Uncle Ben’s instant rice.

Spring Mix Salad with Fetta, Almond Slivers  and Strawberry Vinagaret

Bag of fresh spring mix salad (or romaine mix). Top with slivered almonds. Add fetta, optional. Top with a strawberry or raspberry vinaigrette. If you can’t find strawberry, any sweet vinaigrette will do!

Bread

Serve some Sister Schubert rolls (pan kind) with meal. Enjoy!

Community project set to open early 2023

When the ribbon is officially cut on Museum of Pell City in coming weeks, the community will welcome a museum that is believed to have the potential to exceed the expectations of cities of comparable size.

It features an extensive, local exhibit tracing Pell City’s steps from mill town to global marketplace and the scores of people, places and events making its history in between.

“This museum represents a group of people whose love of history and preservation of it never wavered along the way despite the twists and turns of the road to get here. Its opening will be an historic day for our community because of their perseverance,” said Museum President Carol Pappas.

The museum is an impressive blend of the city’s history and the state’s history all under one roof – a 4,000 square foot suite on the second floor of the Pell City Municipal Complex.

Making Alabama, the state’s bicentennial exhibit awarded to Museum of Pell City by Alabama Humanities Alliance, showcases Alabama’s 200 years of statehood and beyond. Within that exhibit are artifacts and little-known nuggets of Pell City history weaved into the story that unfolds.

 Just like the whistle that sounded at the turn of the 20^th century signaling the beginning of shifts at Avondale Mills – Pell City Manufacturing in its early days – the museum will have its own replica of that whistle at the entrance to the local exhibit, signifying the start of a new day.

Museum cases, made possible through gifts from citizens, are full of artifacts that bring the stories and photos of Pell City history to life. Hundreds of old photos are accessed on computer tablets for each period of history. A simple swipe across the screen reveals photo after photo of the days that were.

An interior room has been built to house music history, art and sports, and the national impact of Pell Citians on all three.

Another section tells the story of service with organizations and individuals dedicating themselves in public service, military and civic arenas.

The exhibit housed for years in the county courthouse is featured as well as the places where memories were made – hangouts like the Rexall Drugs, Skad’s, Jill’s and Dairy Queen.

Alabama Power Foundation partnered with the museum on a project to build a working dam model to take visitors behind the scenes of Logan Martin Dam and the impact it has had on the region. A $45,000 grant from the Foundation made the stunning exhibit possible as well as other aspects of the museum.

Pell City is no longer a mill town, and a Global Marketplace section reflects exactly that – the evolution of Pell City as a player on the world stage in business.

The centerpiece of the museum is a Living History Studio, which will be used to record and produce oral history videos designed to capture recollections of events, people and places in the history of the community. Much of it was made possible through a $25,000 grant from the Pell City Rotary Community Foundation Endowment. “That grant will enable us to achieve so many of the goals we have for this ongoing program.”

A mobile video team of experienced videographers and interviewers is being dispatched on location for those who cannot travel. In addition, a special project involving veterans of three wars – World War II, Korean and Vietnam – is making use of a partnership between the museum and the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City. A nearly $9,000 major grant from Alabama Humanities Alliance is the catalyst for the launch of the veterans program.

A control room adjacent to the studio is planned as a working classroom for students to not only develop an appreciation for history through work with these oral histories but to develop skills in video production, audio, lighting, interviewing and research.

Museum First Vice President Deanna Lawley is spearheading the Living History program.  “Since 1968, when my husband, Barnett, brought me to Pell City, I have been enriched by tales of an agricultural area with a Mayberry-paced town where everyone set their watch by the mill whistle. How quickly it began to transform with the damming of a river,” she said.

“We are losing the voices that make you smile, laugh, cry or reflect with their wonderful stories. Our goal is to have a living museum; the oral histories will provide that feeling before more are silenced.”   

Videos will be preserved, the audio transcribed and word searchable for research, and they can be accessed by the public and for use in the classroom. “What a wonderful opportunity we have to not only preserve the memories of eye witnesses to history but to share them to educate and engage audiences,” Pappas said.

Vision being realized

Museum of Pell City was a vision long before this suite became its home. That vision took many forms. The late Mary Mays, long known as an advocate for historic preservation, spearheaded a movement to place museum cases full of artifacts in the county courthouse in Pell City.

Others worked toward restoring the Mays House in Cropwell. Still others created April Walking Tours of historic downtown Pell City.

Another group brought the Smithsonian and Alabama Humanities Alliance exhibit, The Way We Worked, to Pell City in 2014 at the Center for Education and Performing Arts, CEPA, and created an impressive local history exhibit. That display, melded with the Smithsonian’s exhibition saw more than 7,000 people tour during its six-week stay.

That exhibition is widely viewed as the spark, the tipping point that caught fire and convinced a grassroots group that Pell City could indeed have its own museum. “So many people who toured that exhibition approached us about establishing a museum,” said Pam Foote, who served as project director of The Way We Worked and is now second vice president of the nonprofit that created the museum. “It was gratifying, yes, but it also represented a huge hill to climb.”

There was no place to house it. How could a single exhibit grow into a museum?

So, Foote and Lawley, co-chairs of the 2014 event, along with Pappas asked the city to store it, realizing it could be the nucleus of a museum. For seven years, it remained intact in the basement of the municipal complex while they pushed for a home.

There was talk of locating it in the long vacant administrative building, the single structure still standing on the Avondale Mills property, and that course was pursued for a few years.

After the Pell City Library moved into its new quarters in the municipal complex, that vacant building was seen as a temporary solution on location. The group pursued its prospects as well.

Then, Councilman Jay Jenkins had an idea in 2021, and his ‘what if’ turned into the museum’s home – two floors up from its storage in the municipal complex. The museum occupies a massive suite on the second floor.

“The city has been a terrific supporter of this museum,” Pappas said. “We couldn’t ask for better partners than the mayor, city manager and council. They provided us the space, infrastructure support and best of all, moral support for this project. Without them, we never would have made it this far.”

Pappas had high praise for the community and the support it has shown in rallying around the museum opening. “I cannot say enough about our volunteers. They are the linchpin in all of this – small jobs, large jobs and everything from fetching and toting to building and painting – holding it all together and making it happen. Our board had to create and establish this museum from the ground up, and they deserve a debt of thanks for stepping up to volunteer to steer this ship.”

As with any major project, funding is critical. “This museum would not have been possible without the financial support of so many people and organizations. When we say grassroots, we mean it. Over the past year, tens of thousands of dollars have poured into our treasury from ‘seed money’ by business people to sizable grants from civic, business, governmental and cultural organizations to wide-ranging individual contributions, memorials and social media fundraisers,” Pappas said.

Substantial additional support has come from the St. Clair County Commission, retired state Senator Jim McClendon and Congressman Mike Rogers. “Our sincere thanks goes to our elected leadership for their commitment to this project,” Pappas said.

Our Museum 100 – the 100 founding members who gave $100 – shows the strength of what can happen when they work together to raise $10,000 in a community like ours. That’s what it has been about all along and will be in the future – making history together.”

After the public ceremony officially cutting the ribbon, plans call for the museum to be open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by special appointment for groups.

Plans already in the works for 2023

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

It was a dark and rainy October night.

Traveling by boat, young trick-or-treaters in costumes and life jackets, catch candy bars and bubblegum in nets usually reserved for snagging catfish and bass.

Meanwhile, their parents bob for miniature bottles of booze or sip salty margaritas.

Instead of chasing bones, Dachshunds are dressed in skeleton costumes. Halloween revelers of all ages chat and giggle and get acquainted with lakeside neighbors they may never have met.

Piers and their people, each with a theme, rock Halloween with their own individual party.

For one spooky evening – Halloween 2.0, if you will – a sliver of the seemingly divided world comes together.

Welcome to Boo Bash.

The inaugural autumn event is the brainchild of Kelli Lasseter, Sonya Hubbard and a band of lakefront merry pranksters. The seed of an idea – probably a pumpkin seed – took root in a summer conversation on a pontoon boat and sprouted on social media.

“We were talking about how fun it might be, since the water levels are going to be higher, to have a pier-to-pier trick-or-treat event,” Lasseter says. “So, the next morning I put the idea on Facebook and well, it just took off from there.”

Boo Bash isn’t a philanthropic or  business venture – though some lakefront businesses were involved. Boo Bash was all about old-fashioned fun with a twist.

Lasseter moved to Logan Martin from a Leeds neighborhood where Halloween was “huge.” But until Boo Bash, lake life didn’t mean a steady stream of little ghosts, goblins, princesses and pirates. But it turned out Boo Bash was about more than decorated docks and trick-or-treat.

“The weekend of the event was incredible. People hosted Boo Bash-themed gatherings for family, friends, and in some cases, the entire community. Our wonderful local businesses offered Boo Bash specials for people of all ages. The whole weekend was filled with so much joy. It’s kinda overwhelming to think about now,” Lasseter says.

“Overwhelmingly people said the thing they loved most about the event was that it brought people closer together and it fostered community on Logan Martin Lake. I couldn’t agree more.”

Despite soggy skies, enough homeowners to fill a haunted Transylvanian castle festooned their piers for All Hallows Eve.

“We estimate 45 – 50 host piers participated the day of the event. We had 73 sign-ups, but some had to withdraw in advance of the event due to illness, weather and low water levels,” Lasseter says.

Two restaurants and six marinas, 30 to 40 boats and one personal watercraft braved the elements to welcome between 100 and 130 “dock-or-treaters” of all ages. Between five and 10 furry, four-legged friends joined the fun.

“It was just incredible to see the amount of time, effort and resources everyone put into making Boo Bash such a great event. The people of Logan Martin Lake are very special, and their commitment to Boo Bash is just one example of many that shows how much this community cares about others,” Lasseter said.

Some of the dock decorators – including Angie Murchison’s family and Carl and Marcia “Mar” (cq) Wallace – jumped into the festivities with both feet – or in the case of two members of the Murchison family, four feet.

The Wallaces, with the help of Tim and Shannon Atchenson, won “Best Pier” by viewer’s choice. Other viewer’s choice awards included Mar Wallace and Peggy Boyd for “Halloween Spirit,” and Pier 59 and Angie Murchison for “Cheesiest Pier.” All participating piers received “Honorable Mentions.”

The two family dachshunds, Petey and Beanie, joined by a pack of blow-up skeleton wiener dogs, got in on the fun and inspired their kid-friendly theme – Howl-O-Weenie. One of the family pets had a small cowboy saddled up on her back.

But a neighbor and the Murchison’s two grandsons, ages six and two, sparked the family’s involvement. The Murchisons have called the lake their home for 25 years. Friends made up the family’s “Boo Crew.”

“When you live on the lake, there are unique things that come with living on the lake,” Murchison says. “I wanted (my grandsons) to experience this coming by boat to trick or treat … I wanted to do it for them … It was so, so fun.”

A side note: the Murchisons live on a dead-end road. In their quarter-century on the lake, Halloween 2022 was first the time trick-or-treaters ever visited the family.

In a time when the country is still battling COVID-19, a political divide and a culture where folks may not even know their neighbors, events like Boo Bash are important. Emergence from two years of coronavirus cloister helped fuel Boo Bash buzz. Social distancing was still in play.

“Actually, I had a new neighbor, and because she saw us participating, she actually joined in at the last minute. So that kind of made me feel like I could reach out and have something in common with her, something to talk about so I could get to know her a little bit,” Murchison says. She had another positive connection with a neighbor through the Boo Bash Facebook page.

The Wallaces hosted Hall-O Rita, celebrating the season serving the Mexican adult beverage for grownups and candy for the kids. Sixty adults, 30 kids and three dogs visited the Wallace boathouse.

A retired engineer, Wallace pens the popular “Lake Ramblings” blog  about people, places and events on Logan Martin.

Thanks to social media, Wallace says, Boo Bash took on “a life of its own.”

“It appealed to a lot of different demographics. It was a common goal kind of thing, happening in a season where generally speaking, there’s not a lot going on and lo and behold, it involved children. It just blew up.”

The Murchisons and their “Boo Crew” are already planning their theme for Boo Bash 2023. As for 2022’s event, Angie Murchison summed it up this way:

“It was a great way to enjoy the holiday season in a way that only relates to the lake.”

Only time will tell what Boo Bash 2022 meant to the lake community, Wallace says. But it touches on a need in a 50-mile-long lake community that loves a reason to come together.

“But that being said, my prediction is we’re going to look back and see this as the start of something really, really big … I think next year is going to be unreal.”

Wallace’s takeaway from the first Boo Bash highlights perhaps the greatest treat of all for Logan Martin friends and neighbors.

“I think if you give the lake community an opportunity to come together face to face, they’ll take it every time,” he says. “Everybody that came to our dock, they were just bursting with smiles.”

Facebook seeks to bring community together

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

Does anyone know a good pet sitter? Can anyone send me a picture of the water level on Treadwell Island? Are there alligators in Logan Martin?

When people want answers to these and so many other questions on and around Logan Martin Lake, often they turn to their phones and computers. Just a quick search or post on Love Logan Martin Lake Facebook group and an answer is just moments away.

Want to know where to get fresh blueberries? Need a reference from someone who has had a good experience with an area plumber? Or maybe you want to let everyone know about a great band playing next weekend on the lake. Get it out there to the community in a few easy clicks.

With more than 14,000 members, the Facebook page keeps three administrators busy checking out 10 to 20 posts a day from people wanting to share on the social media site. Even more time is spent checking out potential members to be sure they are somehow connected to the lake.

“We try to keep it classy, keep it informative and keep it relevant,” says page creator and administrator Rebel Negley. They do not allow political posts, spam, business advertising or profanity. “I would say 99% of the time they follow the rules,” she adds. “If we consistently see a problem, we add a rule. We just want it to be a place where you can find peace. While we don’t allow businesses themselves to post, it’s fine to get recommendations from people who have used those particular services.”

What they do is connect people around the Logan Martin Lake community. Having grown up coming to the lake, she has a deep love for it and all that it means to the community. Negley admits that many of the posts are pretty simple – people looking for restaurants on the lake or wanting to know the time of the holiday fireworks.

The greater purpose is to develop relationships with others who love Logan Martin. “We like it to be like family,” says Negley. “There have been times when we’ve heard about deaths within the families in the group. Or the time we had a family who had a house fire. They were pretty much taken care of by the community through the information received and disseminated on our page.”

Negley has lived on Coosa Island for 20 years, the last 17 with her husband, Michael. Her daughter and grandchildren live in Louisville, Ky.

She credits the members with the growth of the group. “The people have made the group, not me,” she says. “They are so willing to interact with others and so willing to share their pictures or their help.”

People who have houses on the lake but don’t live on Logan Martin full time often post asking how the lake levels look during storms. Before and after floods, people look out for others’ homes and property by posting pictures of found items and of potentially dangerous conditions.

“During weather emergencies in particular, I think people rely on crowdsourcing through our site,” says Negley, adding that it helps to have people post pictures if a homeowner is not able to see the situation firsthand.

“I get comments all the time asking to thank the people who have helped others on the lake,” says Negley. “It’s one of my favorite parts of doing this. It’s a testament to how generous and hospitable our residents are.”

There are two other administrators who help with the job of managing the private Facebook group. Each one spends many hours a month reviewing posts to ensure they are relevant and appropriate.

Carol Meadows began helping after Negley had a heart attack a few years ago. David Smith helped for several years but has since gotten busy with other interests. Later, Priscilla Willingham jumped in to help.

Group experts Tim Badgwell and Carl Wallace help out in answering questions on a variety of subjects. A map Wallace created is pinned to the page so that newcomers to the lake can easily find landmarks. Wallace also contributes by updating people about flood concerns and about the higher winter lake level beginning this year.

It’s the place to go when you need lake information or want to share something going on around the lake. Member Kelli Lasseter used the platform to start a thread this fall that resulted in a pier-to-pier trick or treating event for community children.

Over the last two years, there have been many posts about the Christmas boat parade that a local couple started. This year, that family will not be able to participate, so the buzz on the site is that with the higher winter water levels, other boat owners will be making sure the Christmas boat parade goes on. Activities like these create a positive buzz about the lake, its community and its people – all parts of the goal of the Love Logan Martin Lake group.

Many posts each day are simply sharing the beauty of the lake. One post is a series of sunset photos for others “in case you missed it.” Another post announces, “These sunsets at Logan Martin never get old.”

There’s even a cover photo contest where members can submit photos to be used as the group’s cover photo for a month. They must be original photographs from the person submitting, in a horizontal format and posted as a comment under the monthly photo contest post.

“Connecting as a community is important,” emphasizes Negley. “We’re a lake family. We love the water and are connected by it. It’s a great way to get the lake community information out there and to be unified toward a cause.”

That question about alligators in Logan Martin Lake is a favorite for Negley, who adds, “We’ve gone round and round with that one. I’ve looked and looked and still haven’t found any. But that topic comes up every year.”

That’s not to say alligators couldn’t be on the lake, though. A definitive answer comes from Marianne Gauldin of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Fisheries, who states, “Although they are more numerous in the southern half of the state, they should be expected in any lake or river. Logan Martin Lake provides suitable alligator habitat and would not be unusual for an alligator to be seen there.”

So, be cautious and post if you see any.

Rebuilt playground opens at Pell City’s Logan Martin Lakeside Park

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Graham Hadley

As an early August sun set on Lakeside Park, a new beginning officially rose for a 20-year-old landmark – the grand reopening of Kids Kastle.

The project was first put into motion at the beginning of the year, and through months of collaboration and design work, along with long days in the triple digits by city employees, the new playground was ready – and so were hundreds of local children.

Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt gave the inaugural speech, saying that there were many in attendance who were kids back when the original Kids Kastle was built in the early 2000s. Now, those same children are all grown up and were there with their children.

Seven-year-old Cam Williams cut the ribbon along with the mayor, and it was officially time to play. Several new features have been added to the park, including many new swings and rubber mulch walkways throughout, swings and features for disabled visitors, plus new slides.

The layout and the “face” of the park remain the same. Pell City Parks and Recreation Director Bubba Edge said the city’s vision was to keep the original face of the park the same. “We wanted to keep the face of Kids Kastle the same as it has always been all these years,” Edge said. “It is something that all people recognize when they come to our city.” Edge noted that it was also important to keep elements of the old park the same because when people are looking to come to our city, one of the first things they look at is the city parks and things that are available for kids.

After an hour or more of running, climbing, bouncing and spinning, the kids and parents were ready for some refreshments. Southern Snow Shaved Ice passed out over 300 snow cones, and the city prepared hundreds of hotdogs, pounds of popcorn and cold drinks for those in attendance with the police chief and fire chief manning the grill.

Pell City resident Rachel White said it was such a special occasion for her and her 4-year-old twins. “I can remember coming here when I would summer with my grandparents,” White said. “Now we live here, and my girls will get to have great childhood memories here, too.”

Pell City Councilman Jay Jenkins thanked all the employees who spent hours of their time, during inclement weather and in the blistering heat to get the project done on time. “Many of our employees were out here, often times when they probably shouldn’t have been, to make sure this thing came together,” Jenkins said.

With ceremonial duties out of the way, speeches made and the ribbon cut, children rushed into their new playground, already making new memories at the new Kids Kastle.

The kingdom an entire community built

Story by Carol Papps
Photos submitted

Much like an armed force swiftly swooping in to save the day, this army of volunteers – 2,000 of them – descended on a 3-acre patch of ground at Pell City Lakeside Park 21 years ago, building an entire playground in less than a week.

Lawyers, judges, bankers, clerks, factory workers, construction crewmen, hourly wage earners, parents, single people – they were all there, even the kids themselves. They were part of the force, armed with tools of the trade under the command of experienced contractors. Shift after shift all week long, they rolled up their sleeves and toiled until it was all done by Sunday afternoon.

What rose from that patch of dirt was nothing short of a wonderland, a kid’s dream come true. There was a pirate ship, a swinging bridge, slides, swings, just about everything imaginable. And for 21 years, imaginations of generations of children ran unfettered in this magical place called Kids Kastle.

It all started months before when Elizabeth Bit Thomaston asked the pivotal question, ‘What if?’ She had visited Madison in north Alabama and saw a playground built by the community. She was so enamored with it, she wondered if it could happen in Pell City.

It could. And it did.

She was executive assistant to then Metro Bank vice president, the late Don Perry, at the time. She went to then President Ray Cox, who also passed away several years ago, seeking his support. He told her if she would do the research and determine if the community would support, he would back her 100 percent.

“I did about a year’s worth of research,” she recalled. She discussed prospects and plans with Leathers and Associates, a company out of New York that specialized in these projects. “I felt like we could do it in Pell City. It’s the kind of community that would support it, that cared about kids.”

She described that year of planning, strategizing, organizing and unleashing an army of volunteers marching toward a single goal as nearly a full-time – all with the backing of Cox and Perry.

The kids really designed it, she said. She and others went into every school asking students what they wanted. As the kids talked about their dream playground – pirate ships and castles – Leathers’ representatives were present to translate their imagination into a design.

Thomaston, with key help from now retired Circuit Judge Bill Hereford, Michele Seay and Kay Adams, organized ‘the troops’ into committees – Public Relations, Tools, Food – about a dozen in all. There were captains commanding each. “To my mind, it was easily the best civic project I’ve ever been involved in,” said Hereford, a former mayor himself.

“There were 2,000 volunteers. It was phenomenal,” Thomaston said.

Businesses, individuals and organizations stepped forward with funding for various pieces of play equipment. Sponsored wooden pickets, bearing the names of families and children – even those who weren’t quite here yet, bordered the playground, significantly helping shoulder the cost. One picket bore the name “Baby Minor.” That would now be Abby Minor, the daughter of District Judge Robert and Christy Minor, a student at Auburn University. Christy was pregnant with her when the playground was being planned.

Thomaston can relate. She was pregnant with Andrew, now 22, when she visited that Madison playground that sparked it all.

Time for work!

All walks of life working side-by-side, reported for work on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with only one common purpose in mind – the kids. By Sunday, Oct. 21, they were holding an historic opening ceremony for the about to be christened, Kids Kastle.

It had been barely a month since terrorists crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, a time of great tragedy for the country as a whole. Hope was a precious commodity in the days that followed the attack.

But Pell City’s band of volunteers were determined hope would not be lost here at home. “The country was in turmoil,” Thomaston said. “Everybody was scared. We said let’s do this for the kids and show them all is not lost, that we see a future for our kids, hope for the future, and they don’t have to be afraid.”

It was a legacy of love that lived on for more than two decades and now has new life thanks to the city and good corporate citizens making sure Kids Kastle remains central to countless childhood memories.                        

Many of those who played integral roles in its creation have since passed away, but Thomaston wanted to make sure they, too, are remembered. The money left in original Kids Kastle account was donated in their memory to the city to help rebuild the park: Ray Cox, Don Perry, Ann Day and Bob Day, Curtis and Deanna Capps, Leo Lynch, Gene Morris, Judy Potter, Tim Sweezey, Faye Bivens, Doug Walker and Lance Stella.

They, like so many others, gave of themselves because it was all about the kids. “It took us all – all of our families supporting us,” she said.

Former Mayor Guin Robinson couldn’t agree more. “I have worked on a lot of community projects in my adult life, and I was proud to be a part of them. But this one had a special place all by itself,” he said, emotion evident in his voice as he recounted it. “It was a seminal moment in the history of our community. It was a coming together and becoming a part of something bigger than all of us. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere.”

He talked of Thomaston’s vision and a community’s will to make it happen. “It’s part of Pell City’s DNA,” Robinson said. “Pell City really is a ‘can do’ place. Everybody had their job, and no job was more important than any other job. I really can’t describe how special it was.”

To Robinson, the memory of it brings to mind an adage that suits the occasion like well-tailored clothing. It just fits. “Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless but because they’re priceless.” At the heart of the entire project was the people, the volunteers.

When officials and organizers worried whether enough workers would show up, “It grew each day,” he said. “Nothing ever wavered.” Inmates worked alongside bankers and lawyers – “there was pride on everyone’s face.”

Calling it a “generational project,” Robinson spoke of its evolution over the years. First was letting the kids design it. “Who better to tell you what they want than kids? Artist Ann Day painted murals. Families with their own kids now would come back to the place they played as a kid. The community built Kids Kastle. When hands touch that, it becomes very personal.”

And a community coming together around a playground became the perfect pairing. “A playground is one of your first and lasting memories,” Robinson said. “The pickets the families purchased were so meaningful. The concept was brilliant. Everyone had a place at Kids Kastle. It was everyone’s equally.”

Robinson likened it to the early days of barn raising, where the whole community comes out to build their neighbor a barn. “The neighbor gets the barn, but what do you get?” It’s that community spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, expecting nothing in return. “It’s a reminder of why we lived there.”

“It was pretty amazing” – 2,000 volunteers, a $150,000+ playground, generations of kids just being kids, letting their imaginations guide them in play, Thomaston said. “There’s never been a project like that in our community. I don’t think there ever will be again.”