Wednesday, January 30, 2013

VARSITY RED DEVILS WIN AGAIN


The boys and girls varsity teams played at Clements, January 29.  The boys were able to close out the game by seven points after a close hard fought game.  Four Red Devils scored in the double digits contributing to a big win for Elkmont.

Quarter Scoring:
1st QTR -    Clements 22, Elkmont 15
Halftime  – Clements 35, Elkmont 34
3rd QTR   – Clements 51, Elkmont 51
FINAL     – Clements 67, Elkmont 74

Bryant Wales      24 points
Matthew Barnes 16 points
Jared Bailey       12 points
Rhett Bailey       13 points
Aron Moss           1 point
Trevor Patterson  4 points
Eli Hobbs            2 points
Jordan Nelson     2 points

17 for 29 at free throw line for 59%

Varsity girls lost to Clements 57 – 30. 

Senior night is this Thursday as the varsity teams host the West Limestone Wildcats.  This will be the last home game of the season.  Saying goodbye to our senior ballplayers and cheerleaders is always a special experience.  You are invited to take part in this Elkmont tradition.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

MEET THE STAFF OF THE NEWEST ELKMONT BANK



ELKMONT GETS THREE WINS VS ABS - updated

Elkmont's high school programs swept Athens Bible School, January 28.  The Varsity Lady Devils won 44 -31.  



The Varsity Red Devils beat the Trojans, 55 - 43.
Varsity Boys
1st QTR -  ABS 06, Elkmont 16
Halftime – ABS 17, Elkmont 24
3rd QTR – ABS 34, Elkmont 32
FINAL –   ABS 43, Elkmont 55

Bryant Wales            19 points
Matthew Barnes        12 points
Jared Bailey                6 points
Rhett Bailey                6 points
Aron Moss                  4 points
Trevor Patterson          4 points
Jordan Nelson             4 points

15 for 26 at free throw line = 58%

The JV Red Devils won 50 - 30




Down Home Portraits were at the games and have some great shots of the JV boys and Varsity girls games.  Visit their site to order some action photos.  Link: DOWN HOME PORTRAITS

PLAY GOLF?

Elkmont High School has ladies and men's golf teams.  The men's team did very well last year, just missing the finals of the state playoffs.  


This year's sign ups are February 4 & 5.  The sign up sheet is by the front door of the high school office.  For more information, contact Coach Terry.




Monday, January 28, 2013

ELKMONT - ALL COUNTY BASKETBALL RECOGNITION

Part of the Limestone County Basketball Tournament is the selection of the All County Tournament Teams.  Elkmont had several players selected to various teams.

Middle School Girls All Tournament Team
#44  Bre Jefferies:


#24    Gracen Clinard



#20   Tori Pressnell


Middle School Boys All Tournament Team:
#13   Brady Garris

#12   Chance Bailey


JV Boys All Tournament Team:
#22   Colby Holt


Limestone County Spirit Award Elkmont Representatives:
Matthew Barnes


Brittany Carter - won the Limestone County Spirit Award



GOOD PEOPLE LIVE HERE


The Hill Spirit has been many places and knows how special the South is and loves living in Elkmont.   It is going to become more and more important to surround yourself with like-minded people and building strong communities if you value Christian teachings and self-reliance.  Obviously, this is much easier to do in some places more than others. 
Today the Hill Spirit picked up this from the Blaze.  "If you are a conservative who constantly finds yourself having to keep your political and social leanings a secret, living in the South might be something you want to consider“ I’m just bringing this up in case you ever decide, ‘I shouldn’t be living here.’,” Glenn Beck said before going through the list.
So here’s where you need to move:
  1. 1. Knoxville, TN
  2. 2. Shreveport, LA
  3. 3. Chattanooga, TN
  4. 4. Birmingham/ Anniston/Tuscaloosa, AL
  5. 5. Jackson, MS
Good News for us Elkmont residents.  The cities that surround us are in the top 20 in the country.

  9.  Huntsville - Decatur, AL
14.  Nashville, TN

 
 More thoughts from the Blaze:
So what makes these cities to great and the others so bad?
“These are the most Bible‑minded cities, and I’m telling you, you need to live around like‑minded people,” Glenn told listeners. “If you’re going to survive, you need to be ‑‑ you need to be able to be around people who understand charity, who understand where your rights come from, who understand, you know, the best way to serve God is to serve your fellow man.”
“It’s interesting that the stereotype holds true,” Pat noted. ”All the southern states are, you know, the Bible‑oriented people, and it’s the New England and Northeast that aren’t.”

OUT OF EGGS?


It's someone's birthday at your house and you want to make a cake.  You go to the fridge to get eggs but you're out but that's ok, you just run to the store. We all think that if we need food, we can run to the Pig and buy what we need.  However, our food supply system is set up on a just in time schedule.  Trucks deliver to your favorite grocery store every day.  All it really takes is for a single "hiccup" in the food supply chain, and your grocery store will be cleaned out.  Think about how milk and bread disappear whenever there is a mention of winter weather.  

That hiccup might be a riot – during the London riots in 2011, grocery stores were overrun and stripped bare.

It could be a credit or currency crisis that freezes up vendor financing up and down the supply chain.

It might be a union action, like the orchestrated trade union efforts last fall to keep Walmart trucks from entering and leaving supply hub warehouses. 

Or it could be the next natural disaster to come down the pike in this era of very weird weather. Not to mention terrorism or another form of national emergency. 
Hurricane Sandy serves as our most recent reminder for how important it is to become more self-sufficient when it comes to feeding yourself and your family. New York and New Jersey are major transportation hubs, linked to the world with three major airports, extensive rail service, a maze of interstate highways, and ports for ocean-going vessels. Yet days after the storm passed and the sunshine returned, people still stood in lines to get the basic necessities.


 Step 1: Setting Up a Backup Food Supply

The first step in your self-sufficiency plan is to build up a store of long-lasting food. Ideally, you want to have at least 30 days of long-shelf-life food for every person in your home.

For the greatest level of comfort, shoot for a food reserve that gives each member of your family 2,000 calories per day. (You can each get by on 1,200 calories per day, but you'll be hungry.)

You have several options in building up such a store. You can buy a little extra at the store every time you grocery shop. You can shop in bulk and establish your reserve all at once.Or you can buy preassembled food units that also serve as a great hedge against inflation.

One way to build up food reserves is to buy and store canned goods. Canned goods are high in flavor, they're often familiar (especially if you choose canned foods that you normally eat), and they don't require water to make. On the downside, cans are heavy and they expire after a year or two.

Dried goods are an inexpensive way to build up your foods stores. Dried goods like beans, rice, pasta, and prepackaged dried meals can add variety and nutrition to your food reserve. The big advantage of dried goods is that when properly stored, they can last much longer than canned goods. Some dried foods last up to 20 years. Dried foods are also lightweight, so if you have to travel with your food, you'll have an easier
time of it.

Food storage kits offer a lot in the way of convenience. A good kit will provide you with a variety of foods, proportioned so that you and your family will have the calories you need on hand. Another big advantage is that these types of kits are packaged for maximum shelf life.



STEP 2:   Protect Your Investment

Once you've established a food reserve, you may need to work out a plan for rotating it, especially if you use canned goods as your primary food source. Canned foods typically last about one to two years. When you first buy your reserves, it might seem like the expiration dates are a long way out, but that time will pass before you know it and if you don't rotate your food stores, it's a big waste of money.

Whenever you make a shopping list, pull whatever you can from your food reserves. Then when you shop, add the new items to your reserve.

Once or twice a year, go through your food stores and take an inventory. Make sure your calorie count is where you need it to be. Check the expiration dates. Make a plan to use any food with an expiration date that is coming up within the next six months.

If you have a large food store, plan to work some of the food into your regular menu so you're not faced with having to eat everything from your stores before the expiration dates come around. Also make a plan to replace the food that you'll be taking form your stores.

STEP 3:   Make Your Own

Setting up a food reserve and taking care to protect your investment will keep you and your family comfortable and well fed through almost any kind of short- to medium-term disruption.

 But if there's ever a longer-lasting crisis like the dollar collapsing or you losing your job and finding yourself unable to find another, then it will help to have a longer-term plan in place for better food self-sufficiency.

And that means learning to grow some of your own food. No matter what type of living situation you have, chances are you have enough space to grow some of your own food. Whether it's a small garden of potted plants or a small plot in your backyard, you can grow some of your favorite foods. Tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, lettuces, onions, beans, radishes, peas, and carrots are all easy to grow and can help increase your food self-sufficiency.

Yes, Gardens Are Coming Back as an American Pastime

Garden plants will produce more than you think and often all at the same time. To get the most out of your garden, have a plan for preserving your food.

You can blanch and freeze many types of vegetables and use them during the following year. You can pickle or can most vegetables you grow and they'll keep over the next year or two. You can also dry many kinds of vegetables – carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, beans, peas, and tomatoes all dry fairly well. In many climates, you can "store" your carrots right in the ground – harvest as needed all winter long!

Obviously, feeding your family is one of the most fundamental things to prepare for.

Setting up a food reserve, setting up a system to rotate through it so you don't waste your investment, and setting up your own garden are three steps you can take that will greatly improve your family's self-sufficiency when it comes to putting food on the table. 


HOW DID YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTE?

In this MegaVote for Alabama's 5th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
  • Senate: Temporary Rules Changes
  • Senate: Permanent Rules Changes
  • House: Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills
  • Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
  • Senate: To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes.

Editor's Note: The House is in Recess until Monday, February 4.
Recent Senate Votes
Temporary Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (78-16, 6 Not Voting)

The only action in the Senate last week focused on the upper chamber's internal rules. There has been much bitter recrimination between majority Democrats and minority Republicans in recent years over a general lack of productivity, which the majority blames on obstruction - mostly in the form of a geometric increase in usage of the filibuster - and the minority blames on stonewalling, mostly in the form of Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "filling the amendment tree" on bills brought to the floor, thereby preventing Republicans (or anyone else, for that matter) from offering amendments. A group of Democrats led by Tom Udall of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon had been pushing a return to the "talking" filibuster of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington fame, which they claimed could be pushed through with a simple majority of 51 votes at the beginning of the 113th Congress. Udall and Merkley (and most other Democrats) deemed this the "constitutional" option, since nowhere in the Constitution does it state that the Senate should operate under anything but majority rule except in rare circumstances such impeachment of a president and approving treaties. Republicans dubbed the Merkley/Udall proposal the "nuclear" option, claiming it would completely destroy what was left of the body's traditional comity and leave the minority little choice but to engage in parliamentary guerrilla war to have a voice in the chamber. In the event, the nuclear button was not pushed, and what changes occurred last week will mostly tinker around the edges. Senators cast two votes, the first on a temporary rules change applicable only in the 113th Congress. The biggest effect of the change would be to limit the ability to filibuster the motion to proceed, which is a procedural hurdle that must be leapt in order to consider a bill on the floor. If the two leaders agree on a set of four amendments, two each from the minority and majority, debate on the motion to proceed would be limited to four hours. The other change would limit post-cloture debate time on lower-level judges and executive branch nominees.

Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Permanent Rules Changes - Vote Agreed to (86-9, 5 Not Voting)

The second vote instituted a permanent change to the Senate’s rules; it also chiefly concerns the motion to proceed. Currently when the majority leader files a cloture petition in order to end debate, two days of session must pass before a cloture vote can be held and, if cloture is invoked, 30 additional hours must pass before voting on the actual matter at hand (in this case, the motion to proceed to the bill). The rules change would allow a cloture vote to be held the day after a petition is filed, if the cloture petition is signed by both the Majority and Minority Leaders and seven members each from the majority and minority. If cloture on the motion to proceed is then invoked, senators would immediately vote on the motion instead of waiting 30 hours. The other permanent rules change would condense the process for motions to go to conference with the House, reducing the number of motions needed – and thus the number of opportunities to filibuster – from three to one.

Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes
Short-Term Suspension of Debt Limit – Final Passage - Vote Passed (285-144, 3 Not Voting)

The House temporarily defused a looming crisis over the debt limit last by passing a bill that, rather than raising the limit – that is, setting a new cap on the federal government’s borrowing authority – actually suspends it – meaning there technically is no limit – until May 19, at which point the limit would be reset at a new, higher level, to reflect government borrowing activity in the interim period. In addition, the bill would institute an enforcement mechanism for each house of Congress to pass a FY 2014 budget resolution. Beginning April 15, if a chamber has not passed a budget, that chamber’s members would not receive their paychecks. This would carry on until the earlier of passage of a budget or the last day of the 113th Congress. Though House Democrats mostly decried the bill as a gimmick, President Obama has stated he will sign the bill if it reaches him.

Rep. Mo Brooks voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 - H.R.152

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package on Monday, January 28, as well as an amendment from Republican Mike Lee of Utah that would offset the bill's cost with spending cuts.


To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. - H.R.325

Majority Leader Reid has stated he will bring the House debt limit/no-budget-no-pay bill to the floor.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

TAKING A GAMBLE ON AN EARLY SPRING GARDEN

My crocus are blooming and my daffodils are starting to show flower buds.  The weather here in Elkmont is predicted to range from the 60s to upper 40s for the next two weeks and of course, Spring starts here around Feb. 15.  

I noticed that green leaf lettuce was $2.75/bunch last week.  It was .99 last year at this time.  With that in mind, I'm going to be daring and plant some spring vegetables such as radish, spinach, lettuce and some onions in the next few weeks.  You can't beat home grown veggies.  

CONCERNED ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?



You are invited to a Town Hall Meeting with
Congressman Mo Brooks
on Monday, January 28, 2013

at 7:00 PM

Athens Board of Education
455 US Highway 31 North
Athens, AL  35611

Constituents are encouraged to come visit with Congressman Brooks about issues such as the debt ceiling, and federal budget, facing the Fifth Congressional District and the nation.

Friday, January 25, 2013

A RED CABOOSE SATURDAY


The Red Caboose
Momentum is building for the show this Saturday night Jan. 26th..
Lisa Carver, Jim Parker and Ricky Ray.

Come on back and get in the groove with these great SongWriters.

It is to cold outside to do anything else. Great fun, great snacks and great entertainment.

Tickets $20.00; Doors open at 6:00
Showtime 7:00.

Call me at 256-306-6201, if you have questions. Hope to see you there Saturday.

Gary Compton


HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE PITCHFORK?



THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS COME BY MY SON'S NEW LITTLE BREAKFAST SHOP "THE PITCHFORK" AND GOT BREAKFAST IN THE MORNINGS.  FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T, PLEASE DO SO AND TRY IT OUT. IT'S LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN ELKMONT...AGAIN THANKS AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.
                                          Donnie Johns

Thursday, January 24, 2013

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ELKMONT?





Click here for school announcements:







          
   

25  Limestone County Schools: Delayed 2 hours 

26

LIMESTONE COUNTY BASKTBALL TOURNAMENT:
Elkmont Middle School Lady Devils vs West Limestone Lady Wildcats @ 11 am; location Tanner High School; admission $5

Elkmont parents & coaches:

Baseball & Softball signups will be January 26th and February 2nd from 10am-3pm in the Elkmont old gym and February 7th 5:30-8pm at the Elkmont ballpark concession stand. 


If you are interested in coaching, you must turn your name in no later than January 23rd to the appropriate commissioner. For softball notify Scott Cook and for baseball notify Daniel Clem at 256-431-7419.


Youth Basketball:  
(Be sure to check with coaches ; game times can change)


5 & 6 Co-ed games:

West 1 vs Elkmont 1    @ Elkmont                   Tipoff:   9 am

 Blue Springs 3 vs Elkmont 2 @ Elkmont         Tipoff: 11 am


7 & 8 Girls games:
Elkmont 1 vs Ardmore 3 @ Cedar Hill         Tipoff: noon

Elkmont 2 vs Creekside 1  @ Creekside     Tipoff: 11 am


7 & 8 Boys games:
Elkmont 1 vs Ardmore 2 @ Elkmont     Tipoff: 10 am

Elkmont 2 vs Tanner 2   @ Elkmont;     Tipoff:  2 pm

Elkmont 3 vs West 2      @ West;       Tipoff: 10 am

Elkmont 4 vs West 1      @ Elkmont;  Tipoff: noon

9 & 10 Girls games:

Elkmont 1 vs Ardmore 1      @ Ardmore; Tipoff: noon

Elkmont 3 vs Tanner 1        @ Tanner;    Tipoff: noon

Elkmont 2 vs Blue Springs 1 @ Blue Springs; Tipoff: 3 pm 

9 & 10 Boys games:
Elkmont 1 vs Creekside 1    @ Creekside; Tipoff: 2 pm

11 & 12 Girls games:
Elkmont 3 vs West 1            @ Elkmont; Tipoff: 1 pm


Elkmont 1 - Off week
Elkmont 2 - Off week

11 & 12 Boys games:
Elkmont 2 vs Tanner 1           @ Elkmont; Tipoff: 3 pm

Elkmont 1 vs Creekside 2      @ Elkmont; Tipoff: 4 pm 

Elkmont 3 vs ABS 1               @ Elkmont; Tipoff: 5 pm


Red Caboose Country Music Show; doors open at 6 pm - showtime: 7 pm.  Cost $20