A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU

Not much time left; hope many of you have most of the holiday preparation done so you can enjoy the season.  Friends and family are on each of our calendars for the next several days.  Hill Spirit will be sharing lovely music videos as a gift to you during this wonderful week.




*be sure to make it full screen
*change video quality to HD - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

Look for your next gift tomorrow

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART EIGHT

Click HERE - "Angels from the Realms of Glory"

*Enlarge to full screen 
*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 7

Click HERE - Video of Jane Seymour and her "Sing Forth This Day" performance


*Enlarge to full screen 
*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

Look for your eighth gift on Saturday evening

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 6

Click HERE - Video of Gladys Knight and "Sing We Now of Christmas"

*ENJOY

Look for your seventh gift on Thursday evening

ELKMONT SPLITS WITH SOUTH LINCOLN

South Lincoln rolled into Elkmont last night for a middle school game night.  The Lady Devils took a loss 28 - 35.  The Middle School Red Devils added another game to the win column, 38 - 24. 






The games with Rogers this Thursday have been cancelled.  The Elkmont Middle School Tournament is this weekend, Dec. 20 - 21.




Pictures provided by the Elkmont Sports Photographers.  
You can order prints from Down Home Portraits.

Down Home Portraits facebook page:  
                                          Click on South Lincoln

ELKMONT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Sixteen teachers were honored at an awards banquet hosted by the Limestone County Board of Education Thursday evening at the Career Technical Center.  Elkmont's Teachers of the Year   were     Marcy Hamilton                        and                            Amy Swinea                             






















School standouts

Nine K-6 educators — Nancy Page, Michelle Mitchell, McKenzie Thomas, Marcy Hamilton, Jennifer Howard, Tara Tipper, Jennifer King, Lynn Hodges and Vicky Askew — were honored as their respective schools’ Teacher of the Year

Seven high school instructors — Starr Weems DeGraffenried, Angela Biggs, Brenda Pollock, Amy Swinea, Samantha Fleming, Melody Etheredge and Jordan Paul — were recognized as their respective schools’ Secondary Teacher of the Year

Nancy Page, who celebrated her 48th birthday Thursday, was named the county’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, which was announced by the 2011 winner, Elkmont third-grade teacher Cindy Wales.


The Limestone County Secondary Teacher of the year was Samatha Fleming, who was a registered nurse at Athens-Limestone Hospital for 16 years, has taught health science at the Career Center since 2006.

Elkmont 11th-grader Rylea Holt called Fleming “the best teacher ever,” while fellow Elkmont junior Samantha Watkins described her as “sweet, caring and considerate.”

“She’s always positive and even if she’s in an ill mood, she doesn’t show it at all,” said West Limestone 11th-grader Emily Oswald.

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 5

Click HERE - Video of Walter Cronkite and "A Silent Night"

*Enlarge to full screen 

*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals

*ENJOY

Look for your sixth gift on Tuesday evening

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 4

Click HERE - Video of Renee Fleming and a "Christmas Glow" performance


*Enlarge to full screen 
*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

Look for your fifth gift on Sunday evening

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINS BIG

The Elkmont Middle School basketball teams both picked up wins over Minor Hill, Tennessee last night.  The Lady Devils won 32 - 08 and the Red Devils won 53 - 30.  Hope to get some scoring information later today.  Their next games are Dec 17 when South Lincoln comes to the Hill.  Tipoff for the girls is 6 pm

 

Pictures provided by the Elkmont Sports Photographers.  

You can order prints from Down Home Portraits.

Down Home Portraits facebook page:  

                                          Click on Minor Hill

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 3

Click HERE - Video of Brian Stokes Mitchell and "The Spirit of Christmas"

*Enlarge to full screen 

*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

Look for your fourth gift on Friday night

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT - PART 2

Click HERE - video of Michael York and "Choirs of Angels" Performance

*Enlarge to full screen 
*Change to HD video quality - beautiful visuals
*ENJOY

Look for your third gift on Wednesday evening

HOW DID YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTE ?

In this MegaVote for Alabama's 5th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Disability Treaty – Ratification Senate: Defense Authorization – Final Passage Senate: Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage House: Energy Efficiency – Suspension House: Global Internet Governance – Adoption House: Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes. House: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

Recent Senate Votes

Disability Treaty – Ratification - Vote Rejected (61-38, 1 Not Voting) Despite a last-minute appearance by former GOP Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas in support of the treaty, Senate Republicans mustered enough opposition to defeat the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Supporters, including Dole and Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., described the treaty as essentially enshrining the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336) as an international standard. Kerry highlighted the treaty’s support among veterans groups. The treaty’s detractors, including Republican presidential candidate and former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, raised the possibility of “international bureaucrats” making child-care decisions in place of parents, including potentially restricting home schooling. All international treaties require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, so supporters fell five votes short. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada vowed another vote in the next Congress. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Defense Authorization – Final Passage - Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting) Following a Monday cloture vote, last week the Senate gave unanimous support to its FY 2013 defense authorization bill. The measure provides funding for all branches of the armed services (excluding the Coast Guard), nuclear security operations at the Department of Energy, and “overseas contingency operations,” i.e., funding for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas conflicts. Fiscal 2013 funding in the bill would come to roughly $631 billion, $88 billion of which covers war costs. Major amendments adopted during debate would further toughen sanctions against Iran; clarify that U.S. citizens and permanent residents may not be detained without charge or trial if apprehended on American soil; prohibit transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to a U.S. facility; and ensure that the Pentagon is able to purchase alternative fuels. The provision on alternative fuels is likely to be a sticking point in conference negotiations with the House, whose bill prohibits purchase of such fuels if they are more expensive than traditional options such as petroleum. Despite President Obama’s veto message, both chambers’ bills contain restrictions on Guantanamo detainee transfers, retirement of Air National Guard planes, and TRICARE enrollment fees. Though conferees have not been named for either side (that is likely to happen this week), staff discussions have already begun. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage - Vote Passed (92-4, 4 Not Voting) The Senate cleared the way for more open trade with the Russian Federation and the tiny Eastern European republic of Moldova last week with passage of a House measure that lifts 1970s-vintage restrictions on both countries. The move was necessitated by Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization over the summer; had trade restrictions not been rescinded, the U.S. would have been vulnerable to retaliatory actions by the Russians. Moldova has been a WTO member since 2001 and appears simply to have hitched a ride on a moving legislative vehicle. Despite cheers from the business community for the free trade measure, the Russian government is deeply unhappy with accompanying language chiding its poor human rights record and sanctioning individuals associated with the imprisonment and death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The bill is currently before the president and will likely be signed into law shortly. Sen. Richard Shelby voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Energy Efficiency – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-2, 1 Present, 30 Not Voting) In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on an energy measure, the House came together to pass a bill clarifying federal efficiency standards for a variety of heavy appliances, including air conditioners and commercial refrigerators (excluding walk-in refrigerators). Though the measure appears uncontroversial, its prospects are not clear in the Senate given the crowded calendar. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Global Internet Governance – Adoption - Vote Passed (397-0, 34 Not Voting) The House unanimously agreed to Senate language expressing the sense of Congress that the Internet should remain “free from government control.” The concurrent resolution was adopted amid the backdrop of a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations body broadly responsible for fostering cooperation among governments and the private sector on international telecommunications governance. Technology companies such as Google have voiced concern that the ITU conference could lead to adoption of restrictive regulations making it easier for national governments to censor content. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension - Vote Passed (398-1, 32 Not Voting) In its final action of the week, the House cleared a Senate bill that would remove the pejorative “lunatic” from the United States Code. The lone House dissenter was Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, who insisted that lunatic should be retained, pointing to his fellow Members of Congress as living, breathing examples of the term. The bill awaits the president’s signature. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

To temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program, and for other purposes. - S.3637 The Senate is scheduled to hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a bill that would extend the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program through the end of 2014. TAG is a program administered by the FDIC that provides full deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. The program was created in the midst of the financial crisis in late 2008 and later extended for two years in late 2010. It is set to expire at the end of this year, however, and lobbyists for small and independent banks are making a heavy push to extend the program again. Republicans are wary of keeping it alive, so invoking cloture is no guarantee. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 - H.R.4310 The House is scheduled to consider several bills under suspension of the rules, as well as a Motion to go to Conference on the defense authorization bill.

RICHTER - HAGOOD MARRIAGE

Mallory Dawn Richter of Athens and David Spencer Hagood of Elkmont were married in a 6 pm outdoor ceremony Aug 25, in the Elkmont Rural Village.  The reception was held in the Village.  After a wedding trip to the Caribbean Islands, the couple live in Athens, Alabama.

The bride is the daughter of Brent and Gina Richter of Athens and the granddaughter of Bob and Denise Richter and Franklin and Betty Johnson, all of Athens.  The groom is the son of David and Dawn Hagood of Elkmont and the grandson of Kenneth and Cheryl Kufahl of Lenoir, North Carolina and Nancy Hagood Lovell of Athens and the later Richard Hagood.

MADISON HOGAN - ELKMONT MISS MERRY CHRISTMAS

The senior Miss Merry Christmas representatives from each local school in Limestone County recently lead their communities in the Annual Reliance Bank Christmas Parade. The students will also be introduced at the December Chamber of Commerce Coffee on Dec. 21 at Founders Hall Parlor at Athens State University.

Miss Merry Christmas representatives were: Mary Beth Russell of West Limestone High School, Mackenzie Hicks of Ardmore High School, Misty Johnson of Faith Christian Academy, Aubrey Hagewood of Athens Bible School, 

Madison Hogan of Elkmont High School, 

Victoria Sims of Athens High School, Jessi Roberts of Limestone County Technical Center, Anna Black of East Limestone High School, Summer Kirk of Clements High School and Shakira Lovett of Tanner High School.

Also, each year one Limestone County elementary school and one Athens City elementary school choose two students each to represent their schools as junior parade marshals, to be honored guests and help lead the Annual Reliance Bank Christmas Parade. One requirement is that the student is an established member of the community. This year, students represented Athens Elementary School and Elkmont High School. Junior marshals for Athens Elementary School are fourth-grade student Brooke Berzett, daughter of Kelly Berzett and Bruce Berzett, and third-grade student Wyatt Maclin, son of Courtney and Mark Maclin.



Junior marshals from Elkmont High School are fifth-grade student Emma McNatt, daughter of Freddie and Charis McNatt and fifth-grade student Hunter Pitman, daughter of Jay and Marnie Pitman.



Miss Merry Christmas representatives are, back row, from left, Mary Beth Russell of West Limestone High School, Mackenzie Hicks of Ardmore High School and Misty Johnson of Faith Christian Academy; middle row, from left, Aubrey Hagewood of Athens Bible School, Madison Hogan of Elkmont High School and Victoria Sims of Athens High School; front row, from left, Jessi Roberts of Limestone County Technical School and Anna Black of East Limestone High School. Not pictured: Shakira Lovett of Tanner High School

ELKMONT CHRISTMAS PARADE

We would like to THANK every one who entered the Elkmont Lions Club Christmas parade today, It was a big success and the Good Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. Thanks to all who came out to watch hope you enjoyed it. See you 
again next year The Lord willing.

Larry Pylant

For More Parade Pictures by Robby Newport: Click HERE








Grand Prize Float- New Bethel Baptist Church, 
1st Place: West Limestone FFA, 
2nd Place: Elkmont Girl Scout Troop 1134, 
3rd Place Elkmont Methodist Church. 

Antique Cars and Trucks:
 1st Place Red GTO Jackie Turner,
2nd Place Lonnie Martin Blue Truck, 
3rdPlace green GTO Polly Turner. 

Antique Tractors:
 1st Place Mark Thomas John Deere, 
2nd Place David Hargrove Moline, 
3rd Dwight Lovell Massey Harris. 

Grand Marshall was Dave and Katie Richards

ELKMONT BEATS ARDMORE 2

Rebounding from last weekend's overtime loss to Clements, Elkmont's 9/10 basketball team defeated Ardmore 2 by a final score of 20-11 on December 1. Jo Jo Brown was the leading scorer for Elkmont.

ELKMONT VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS RECOGNIZED

The 2012 high school volleyball season is over and the Lady Devils have switched to basketball.  However, now is the time when volleyball players are recognized for their individual success.  Congrads to our Lady Devils.

ALL COUNTY TOURNAMENT TEAM

* BAILEE GOOCH

ALL AREA TOURNAMENT TEAM
*CADIE COFFMAN                                         *SARAH WILLIAMS
     


LIMESTONE ALL COUNTY VOLLEYBALL - 1ST TEAM  
   *BAILEE GOOCH #1      *CADIE COFFMAN #4                           


HONORABLE MENTION:
*CALLY GLASS #20                    *SARAH WILLIAMS #12
          

special thanks to Robby and Casey Newport of Down Home Portraits for providing photos.  They are the Elkmont Sports Photographers.  Visit their facebook page for more of their work.  Click HERE  for great action shots

GREAT TIME AT THE HILLTOP ARTS FESTIVAL

Beautiful indian summer weather ushered in the first annual hilltop arts festival Saturday, Nov. 3.   Lots of fun, creative artwork and great music was enjoyed by the many that made their way to Elkmont for the festivities.  

The event was very successful and provided an encouraging start to something special.  There are no high school arts programs for Limestone County high schools.  The money raised during the arts festival will be used to provide art programs and scholarships for students at Elkmont High School.  As the event grows, it is hoped that these programs can be expanded to other area schools.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL WIN AGAIN

The Middle School Lady Devils Volleyball team is having a great season.  They took another win yesterday, beating Athens Bible School.  Elkmont takes the court again today vs. West Morgan.  Matches start at 4:30 pm with the varsity Lady Devils playing first.