Man finds meaning breathing new life into old wood An old, fallen tree laying on the side of the road is often seen as just that — an old tree. But Jason Shrader sees the beauty in what the wood can be, and he strives to bring out its potential. Shrader doesn’t love the title…
Grad student analyzes local waterfowl Brittany Hansey may be far from home, but she feels comfortable anywhere she gets to be outdoors. She dedicates her time and education to learning more about waterfowl, including their habits and migration patterns. As an Auburn University graduate student, she is working on a project with two primary objectives:…
Couple finds purpose rescuing and rehabbing wildlife Shamballa Wildlife Rescue is tucked away from the world on a dirt road surrounded by woods. But to John and April Russ, Shamballa isn’t just a place. It’s a state of mind. The couple made their property in Woodville a peaceful sanctuary for rescued animals. They established Shamballa…
Local couples celebrate six decades of marriage The Matthewses Roy C. Matthews says the key to a long and happy marriage is always getting the last word, which is, “Yes, ma’am.” He and Aileen McCallie began dating when she was still a student at Stevenson High School. “It was a small school, but we knew…
Cumberland Mountain Road receives marker In the wake of the Great Depression, a road brought a glimmer of hope to Jackson County. The Cumberland Mountain Road provided access from the remote Cumberland Mountain to the Paint Rock and Tennessee River valleys, allowing commerce to begin again after many years of isolation for the region. Eighty-seven…
Last year brought sweeping challenges few anticipated. In the midst of learning to cope with a global pandemic, Americans faced many changes to day-to-day life. Some people lost their jobs, and others adapted to working-from-home scenarios or the need to find new child care solutions. Many graduations, proms, athletic events, and holiday gatherings with friends…
North Alabama Electric Cooperative received many great entries for the eighth annual Christmas Art Contest! With so many wonderful and creative options, choosing a winner was difficult. This year’s winner is Paisley Blevins, a fourth-grader at Bridgeport Elementary School. Enjoy Paisley’s art along with many of the other entries we received.
Local woman spreads holiday cheer through sweets Lauren Parker remembers standing in her grandmother’s kitchen as a little girl, tying an apron around her waist and making chocolate oatmeal cookies. “My grandmother’s are out of this world,” Parker says. She grew up in a family of confectionary royalty. Her nanny, Mary Jones, is known as…
When NAEC lineman Jason Johnson enlisted in the Marines in 2001, he didn’t fully understand what serving his country meant. But he learned. “The greatest men and women serve in the military,” he says. Each year on November 11, we observe Veterans Day to honor the men and women who have serves the United States…
Kelly Stacy knows he can express how he feels about something verbally, but he prefers to use photographs to communicate. “You can read a whole chapter in a book, but if you see one picture it explains a lot more,” he says. A retired boilermaker, Stacy once spent his days working with construction crews to…
