Lake Wedowee Life Reader's Survey Results

Here are the results from our first Reader's Survey. Thank you all for taking the time to give us some information about you and some feedback about how we are doing.

If you'd like to fill one out and let us know about you please click here!

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Lakeside Marina Expands Again

Small Business Spotlight

Story by Kelly Caldwell

When the Tinney Family re-opened Lakeside Marina in July of 2008, they envisioned a one-of-a-kind business on Lake Wedowee.

Four years later, Lakeside has become a special stop for most lake residents and a regular meeting for place for the majority of the county.

"We wanted to fill a need that we saw not being met," John Tinney said. "We felt the community was ready for a place that was super clean, well maintained and a super friendly family atmosphere.  We feel like we have met that need, but had no idea that the overwhelming support would be here. We aren't just a seasonal stop for people, we are a year-round establishment."

Lakeside Marina originally opened in the early 1980s, but under the guidance of the Tinney family the business has thrived in an economic climate  where many small businesses are struggling  to survive.

In the four years since the family has owned Lakeside, there have been several renovations including the latest...Adding additional seating for up to 64 on a covered deck adjacent to the main building.

"Here we GROW again," Tinney said with a chuckle. "It will be really festive at night because we are using special lighting and then during the day we will have misting fans going that are really cool."

The kitchen area was also recently renovated to accommodate the ever-growing demands of their customers.

"We are looking forward to a very exciting summer at Lakeside on Lake Wedowee, " Tinney said. "We have bingo on the lawn on Friday Nights, Worship on the Water on Sundays then the Fourth of July Boat Parade and we are even looking at partnering with someone to sponsor a bass tournament."

Tinney also praises the Lakeside team in the success of the business.

"We couldn't do this without Marie Bailey, Jerry Hall and Helen Hopkins,” Tinney said. "They are the friendly faces that people associate with Lakeside.

"We are a happy place," he said. "(Lakeside) is a place where you never question what kind of experience you have had. We pride ourselves on doing things the right way and of course having five-star bathrooms."

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So why do they raise and lower the lake?

Charley’s Treasures

 by Charley Norton

Yes this picture is digitally altered for purposes of this column.

No, we do not actually have beavers of this size on Lake Wedowee!

 This has been the most asked question on Lake Wedowee since its conception and there have been a lot of “official” answers. Some of the ones I’ve heard are:  “So people could build their boat docks on dry land“. “They let it down during the rainy season to avoid flooding“. “To improve the fish habitat” or  “so that they (the dam people) could make repairs to the dam“. And of these answers there may be some truth, but I propose that none of them are true and it is a massive cover up to avoid widespread panic. I have recently been told by an old timer that our dam wasn’t built to supply power to the communities. It was built to supply power to a secret government laboratory built deep under ground below Harris dam. This laboratory does experiments on animals requiring a huge amount of power. Experiments that are focused on designing a super trooper. A man that has super human strength and rejuvenatory abilities. Enhanced perception and intelligence are other side effects from these experiments.

   It started in the early 1980s, according to the old timer, there was a terrible accident after a lightning strike and two of the animals escaped from the laboratory. He knew this because he worked there as a custodian at the time. He went on to say that a massive search took place, telling the local community that it was a plane crash they were looking for. After several weeks it was assumed that the animals must have perished. That was until the next Fall.

     “When the water went down the first time, everyone just thought it was Georgia being stingy with the river flow“, said the old timer. That was when the court battles started between the states. Then when Spring came around, without warning, the water began to rise again. Alabama Power began getting inquiries about why it happened. “They were clueless”, the old timer told me laughing to himself. He told me that it was actually him that came up with the first reason. He was getting the trash out of the lab when a scientist, out of pure frustration blurted “What do I tell these people”?! “I just told him to tell them people to shut up and build their docks, I didn’t think they would actually do it,” said the old timer . “But that’s exactly what they did.”

      When the next Fall came around, the water began to drop again. It became obvious that there was something serious going on. After a massive search was performed, the terrifying truth was found. Beaver dams. Not just any Beaver dams, these were massive structures built from entire trees set just below the water level in both the big and little rivers. It confirmed the worst fears of the scientists deep below the Harris dam. The animals that escaped two years before were beavers. Super beavers that were genetically enhanced to build temporary bridges for the military. Not only had they survived, foot print measurements indicated that they had grown substantially, estimated at over a ton each!

    A secret deal was made with out of town logging companies and they blasted the dams with TNT, which they blamed the noise on the rock quarry which caused law suits against them from the surrounding community. It is rumored that a deal was also made with the Messer’s at Wedowee Building Supply and the logs removed and milled were shipped to them at a bargain to keep their silence of the whole affair, which is why their prices are always lower than anyone else’s. Steve Corbin, who was in town hunting the Sasquatch, was secretly hired to track and trap the beavers but after months of tireless efforts, he was unable to find them. He believed that they lived in the flooded Indian caves under the water.

     The power company instituted seemingly unreasonable programs that restricted lake home owners from cutting trees or removing dirt from the shore. They did this to make it easier to find super beaver activity and their tracks on the shore. Doug at D&S Marine was contracted to build a specialty vehicle to track and kill the beavers. The Super Tracking Beaver Whacking Aquatic Vehicle, or S.T.B.W.A.V. was designed with the highest technology but made to look like an ordinary aluminum boat. They put their best men in it over the years, most recently a man only known as Officer Barry, and disguised him as a police officer. This brave man patrols the waters day and night. Although he has had several encounters with the Sasquatch (also suspected as a product of the Harris dam laboratory), the massive super Beavers elude him. 

     Now that the truth is out, I hope that everyone will blame the truly responsible people deep below Harris Dam for this incredible mistake and wave to officer Barry every time you see him. This brave man is the only thing between us and the killer super beavers of Lake Wedowee.

      From the late, great Dr. Podunk (Rumbly), “The best lie is the one with a little truth mixed in”.

Charley Norton is the co-owner of Norton’s Flooring with his brother Tom. The company was founded by his parents more than 35 years ago.

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Creative Crafting

Creative Crafting

By: Amanda Causey

Patriotic Wreath

This burlap and tulle wreath with painted canvas “flag” is a 2 part craft. You can make them together and have this combo or  make them separate and have 2 different décor pieces. Cut your burlap into two-three inch strips and work into a wire wreath form. Cut strips of tulle and insert as you see fit. Paint a square canvas red & white stripped and add a decorative 3-demensional star to the middle. Hang canvas with twine.  To see detailed instructions, tips and photos of each step click here.

Magnetic Message Board

This message board is hanging at my desk. To create this look you will need an old cookie sheet, fabric (I used burlap left over from another project), ribbon, and magnets. Measure your fabric about an inch over each side of your cookie sheet. Hot glue the edges keeping the fabric tight. Hot glue ribbon to the back to create your hanger. I decorated this one with some additional ribbon on the edges. Use pre-made magnets or get creative and make your own. Using vintage buttons or brooches is a good way to incorporate family heirlooms.

To view detailed instructions of these crafts, as well as see other crafts please visit www.GreenOwlCrafts.com

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Summer Sizzle returns to Lineville

News to Know

Story by Kelly Caldwell

 Photos courtesy of

Ray Stansell and Clay Times Journal

Summer Sizzle will kick off in style July 5th for its ninth season of delivering music to the local communities.

"The Clay County Arts League created Summer Sizzle to showcase local talents," Barbara Pollard, event organizer, said. "And, we have tried our best to stick to that philosophy."

The first night of the music series will feature Lard Bucket Bluegrass in what has become known as Patriotic Night.

"Our first night is always dedicated to our active and retired military because it falls so close to Fourth of July," Pollard said. "Roger Hammett and Ryan Robertson have done this for years and now that they are with Lard Bucket Bluegrass, they are continuing the tradition."

Everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs for a night under the stars and expect to be entertained by some of the best local artists around.

July 12 will be Clay County Country Jam featuring Kevin Moon and The Outlaw Justice Band.

"Kevin is wanting to do things a little differently this year," Pollard said. "He is wanting to interact with the crowd more and even bring some of them on stage. So it will be a little like a variety hour which will be a whole lot of fun."

The night will be filled with special guests including Pollard's uncle Roy Crawford.

"He grew up here and is a national fiddle player," Pollard said.

Crawford has participated in Summer Sizzle for several years as a headliner but this year he didn't think he could do it alone.

"Performing takes a lot out of him and I don't know if we will be able to get him here again," Pollard said. "That's why I wanted him to be a part of it still but I didn't want to burden him with a whole night to himself."

On July 19, Talladega's Heritage Hall Jazz Band under the direction of Jeff Wood is slated to entertain the crowds with their Big Band Jazz sound.

The month-series will conclude with "Gospel Hour - Clay County Style."

"I have always watched Gaither Gospel Hour and have been to so many singings in Clay County, that I knew we could have something similar here," Pollard said. "So I went to Kenneth Yates to help me pull this one together."

Area singers take the stage for Gospel Hour Clay County Style in the final

week of Summer Sizzle.  Bring your lawn chair to Lineville City Park every

Thursday in July for great entertainment.

Last year, Gospel Hour- Clay County Style featured more than 60 gospel singers that entertained more than likely Summer Sizzle's largest crowd to date.

"We had more than 1,000 people there that night," Pollard said. "It was amazing."

Each Thursday in July, Lineville City Park turns  into a music venue complete with live radio remotes by Alabama 100.7.

"We are so excited to be a part of Summer Sizzle this year," Teresa Goodman, WCKF/ Alabama 100.7 station manager said. "We do the live remote and this year we will be decorating the stage every week.

"It is a great community event and we are proud to have it in Clay County."

Pollard realized in the early stages of Summer Sizzle that she could only do so much to make the event a success, and is the first to admit the Clay County Arts League could not achieve their goals without the help of the local media.

"It's like I say, I could get Elvis Presley on this stage, but if it weren't for the newspaper and radio people, no one would know about it," Pollard said. "They have done so much to help us over the years and I credit some of our success to them."

Clay Times Journal Editor and Publisher David Proctor said he looks forward to the event every year.

"Summer Sizzle has grown into one of the greatest events in the county. We have a tremendous line up of talent and most of it are people from Clay County," he said. "It is just incredible the amount of talent we have here."

Summer Sizzle is every Thursday in July with music starting at 7 p.m. each night. The concert series is free to the public, but everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs. Concessions will also be sold.

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