LAWRENCE HAROLD CLEM - OBITUARY

Name:
Lawrence Harold Clem
 
Dates:
Birth date: October 30, 1928
Death date: February 4, 2014
 
Obituary:

Lawrence Harold Clem, 85 of Suwanee, Georgia died on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at Cumming Manor in Cumming, Georgia.
 

Born Tuesday, October 30, 1928 in Elkmont, Alabama, he was the son of the late Eugene Clem and the late Lara Powers Clem. He loved Alabama football, gardening, and especially his family. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife: Betty Stephens Clem.

Surviving are sons, Michael Scott (Holli) Clem of Suwanee, GA, and Brian Gene Clem of Clarkston, MI, sister, Ozell Ruth Qualls of Elkmont, AL, and four grandchildren: Jordyn Clem, Hunter Clem, Megan Clem, and Jonathan Clem.

Graveside services will be at 3:00 PM on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Sylone Cemetery, Elkmont, AL.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, Ardmore, Alabama.

HOW DID YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTE LAST WEEK?

February 3, 2014 In this MegaVote for Alabama's 5th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Federal Flood Insurance Premiums – Passage House: Federal Abortion Funding – Passage House: Farm Programs Conference Report – Passage Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: Farm Programs Conference Report House: GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act

Recent Senate Votes

Federal Flood Insurance Premiums – Passage - Vote Passed (67-32, 1 Not Voting) Senators on Thursday voted to delay increases to premiums billed by the National Flood Insurance Program until after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completes a study on flood insurance affordability. The bill would require FEMA to certify its flood mapping approach before certain rate changes are made and would allow insurance agents and brokers to sell insurance in multiple states without additional licensing. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO

Recent House Votes

Federal Abortion Funding – Passage - Vote Passed (227-188, 1 Present, 15 Not Voting) On Tuesday, House members passed a bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds, facilities, or staff to provide abortion services, except in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the mother. The District of Columbia would also be prohibited from using local funds for covering abortion procedures. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES Farm Programs Conference Report – Passage - Vote Passed (251-166, 14 Not Voting) The House voted to adopt the conference report on the five-year agricultural and nutritional programs bill on Wednesday, bringing to a close a six-month standoff between it and the Senate. The compromise conference report bridged differences between the chambers on Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program funding levels and direct payments to farm owners, the two most contentious issues holding up the bill’s final passage. The conference report cuts SNAP benefits by $8 billion over 10 years and replaces direct payment programs with new subsidy and crop insurance programs to cover farm revenue losses. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Farm Programs Conference Report - HR2642 Senators will consider the conference report to accompany the farm bill on Monday. GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act - HR357 On Monday, the House will consider a bill allowing veterans attending state-supported colleges and universities to pay in-state tuition regardless of their original state of residency.

DON'T FORGET - ELKMONT RUNNERS ARE TRAIL BLAZERS STARTING MONDAY

The Elkmont Couch Potato to 5K running group starts February 10 and will be every Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Rural Village and Saturday mornings at 9:00 am at the Rails to Trails in downtown Elkmont.  Our goal race is the Spencer Black 5K in May. It is May 10th. 

Cost is $40 and includes race entry fee, race shirt and Elkmont Trailblazer's shirt.
We will have 13 weeks of training that will ease you into running. The program is open to all levels of fitness. Lots of fun and company as the potatoes roll along.

Registration Form Link:  Run with the Trailblazers
 
Contact:  Barry Pugh 
                Gretta Armstrong
                

SENIOR NIGHT at ELKMONT

The basketball season is winding down and here at Elkmont, we have a tradition of senior night.  Senior night is when we say goodbye to our seniors who participate in the winter sports and are recognized during the last home game of the season.

Rhett Bailey 
Rhett is the son of Kevin and Missy Bailey.  He has been a member of the Varsity Football, Basketball, and Baseball teams for the past four years.  Rhett is the Senior Class President and was selected as a Class Favorite for the Senior Class.  On campus, he is a member of the Senior Beta Club, FCA, and Elkmont Ambassador Club.  He is also a member of the Limestone County Student Senate.  He was the Boys State Representative for Elkmont High School this past summer at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  He was selected to the All-county Football team this year.  He was also selected to be the boys' Elkmont High School Spirit Award Representative, and he won the overall Spirit Award for Limestone County.  

Rhett has also been selected as the Elkmont High School representative for the Jordan-Bryant Student Athlete Achievement Award.  He won will the represent the Area and the Region at the State Banquet on April 14, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. Finally, Rhett was awarded the 2013 Honored Hero of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Huntsville.  Rhett is an advocate for St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and a member of the Holland's Gin Church of Christ.  His future plans are to attend college and pursue a degree in medicine. 

 

 

Trevor Patterson 

Trevor is the son of Mike & Becky Patterson.  He has been a member of the Varsity basketball team for 4 years. He was also a member of the Varsity football team his freshman & sophomore years.  He participates in the Gifted Program at the Limestone County Career Tech Center.  He plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall.

Jensen Pugh 
 

Jensen is the daughter of Barry and Leigh Pugh. Jensen is a member of the Principal’s Advisory Board and Senior BETA Club.   Jensen has been a member of the EHS Cheerleading Squad for 5 years, and is serving as Captain this year.  Jensen is also a member of the Cross Country and Track teams, where she has lettered in both JV and Varsity.  Jensen was chosen as the 2013 Girls State Representative for Elkmont High School.  She was a Senior Homecoming Representative and our Miss Merry Christmas. She was also selected to be the girls’ Elkmont High School Spirit Award Representative.  She also served as a member of the 2012 Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Team. She is a volunteer for the Elkmont Lions Club, and she attends Westview Church of Christ.  She works at the Athens Rec Center, while being so active on campus. In the fall, Jensen plans to attend college to pursue a degree in geriatric nursing.  

Josh Ferrazas 

Josh is the son of Joe Ferrazas.  He has been a member of the Cross Country team for one year and the Track and Field team for the past four years, where he competed in the 4-by-1 relay. Josh played Varsity Football Team for four years.  He is the Senior Class Vice-President and was selected as a Class Favorite for the Senior Class. While on campus, he volunteers his time tutoring Elementary students.    Josh maintains a high average while holding down a full-time job after school.  In the fall, he plans to attend Calhoun Community College for his basics and later transfer to a university to pursue a Master’s Degree in Management, with a minor in Entrepeneurship

CHARLES LEE ANDERSON - OBITUARY

Charles Lee Anderson

Dates:
Birth: August 1, 1945
Death: Feb. 1, 2014

 

Charles Lee Anderson was born  in Limestone Co. AL to Melvin & Zona Mae Anderson.  He died Saturday, February 1, 2014 at his residence. He was preceded in death by brother, Tommy Joel Anderson.

Visitation will be Monday, 6-9 PM @ Spry Funeral Home. Services will be Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014 at Spry Funeral Home Chapel @ 2 PM with Anthony Anderson officiating, Burial will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Survivors include:
Sons:
Lee Anderson of Elkmont, AL
Tim Anderson of Athens, AL
Daughter: Penny Self of Elkmont, AL
Sisters:
Peggy Carter of Athens, AL
Debbie Hastings of Elkmont, AL
11 Grandchildren & 13 Great Grandchildren

RICKY ECKSTEIN - OBITUARY

Name:
Ricky Eckstein
 
Dates:
Birth date: January 24, 1947
Death date: February 2, 2014
 
Obituary:

Ricky Eckstein, 67 of Ardmore, Alabama died on Sunday, February 2, 2014, at his home. Born Friday, January 24, 1947 in Athens, Alabama, he was the son of the late Charlie Edgar Eckstein and the late Eva Marie Watkins Eckstein. He was a member of Sweet Springs Baptist Church. He loved to golf and watch his grandkids play ball. He was a veteran of the US Army. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother: Ray Eckstein.

Surviving are his wife: Shirley Jo Eckstein of Ardmore, AL, son, David Eckstein of Ardmore, AL, brother, Johnny Eckstein of Ardmore, AL, sisters, Patricia Cross Smith of Athens, AL, Linda Dugger of Ardmore, AL and Angie Dubois of Elkmont, AL, sister-in-law: Linda Eckstein of Ardmore, AL, and two grandchildren: Matthew & Andrew Eckstein.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, Ardmore, Alabama with Bro. Steve Hargrove officiating. Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery, Ardmore, AL.
 

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Monday, February 3, 2014, at Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home, Ardmore, Alabama.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEBATE - GLOBAL WARMING

Read this today at my favorite weather site, WeatherBell.com.  Gives you something to think about.

The great physicist Richard Feynman said not matter how smart you are, who you are or how beautiful your theory, if data doesn’t support your theory, it is wrong. Einstein noted a model or a hypothesis cannot “prove” anything. But data can invalidate a hypothesis or model. Einstein described the “Key” to science well when he said: “The case is never closed.” “Many experiments may prove me right but it takes only one to prove me wrong.”

In the case of global warming, we have many examples proving it wrong, but with the political motivation of heavy funding, exceeding $79B the last decade, data is ignored with claims of a consensus. Dr. Michael Crichton wrote “Historically the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is settled.

By claiming both sides of every weather extreme (warm or cold, drought or flood, no snow or too much snow), they have created an unfalsifiable hypothesis. They want you to believe every weather event proves their hypothesis. The most recent example is the controversy over the ‘polar vortex’. Though this is a common phenomenon, somewhere around the hemisphere most every winter, and has occurred in the United States often in the cold decades, as well as the last decade, they believe they can convince you that (You and your SUV are responsible).

In the United States, the number of high heat extremes have been declining since the 1930s. 23 of the 50 state all time heat records occurred in the 1930s and 39 before 1960. More cold than heat extremes have been set since the 1940s. The claims to high temperature months and years is with ‘adjusted’ (manipulated) data. The actual heat and cold records are unadjusted. 



For 19 going on 20 years, global warming has stopped. Cooling has replaced warming in winters during that same period for the CONUS - we will update after this year for 20 years). Using projected February anomalies and anomalies to date it will rise to -1.25F/decade cooling for the last 20 winters.



This has been true even as CO2 has risen 9.7%.In Europe and in places elsewhere including the US, the green agenda has led to great increases in the cost of energy or energy shortages, as winters have trended colder and snowier. This has falsified the climate models and assessments which had accelerated warming and snowless winters.

The tropical heat build-up in the atmosphere and oceans, one of the key outputs in ALL the climate models, has not been seen in the weather balloon, satellite data, or the dense ocean buoys used to track El Nino and La Ninas down to 300 meters depth, in the last 3 to 5 decades or 2000m in the ARGO buoy data since its implementation in 2004.

Sea level rise has slowed dramatically from the 20^th century, and there is no upward trend in incidents of droughts and floods. Hurricane activity globally is at a 34 year low. “Superstorm’ Sandy was a borderline Category 1 storm. Eight Category 3 or greater storms hit the Atlantic coast from 1938 to 1960. The total tornado count this year was over 140 incidences less since records started in 1953. The number of wildfires are the lowest since modern records began in 1985.

The arctic icecover bounced back over 50% with one of the coldest arctic summers on record while new records for ice were set in Antarctica, even trapping a research ship this past month, during the Antarctic summer.

Snow was supposed to become increasingly rare. Instead as this week will reinforce, it is increasing. 4 of the top 5 snowiest years for the northern hemisphere have been in the last 6 years. 

written by Joseph D’ Aleo – Chief Forecaster

Joseph D'Aleo was a co founder and the first Director of Meteorology at the cable TV Weather Channel. He has over 40 years experience in professional meteorology. Mr. D'Aleo is now co-chief Meteorologist with Weatherbell Analytics LLC.

Mr. D'Aleo was Chief Meteorologist at Weather Services International Corporation and the WSI Intellicast.com web site. He was a college professor of Meteorology at Lyndon State College. He has authored a resource guide on El Nino and La Nina and papers on how research into ENSO and atmospheric, oceanic and solar oscillations have made skillful seasonal forecasts possible. Mr. D'Aleo has also published papers and made numerous presentations on the roles cycles in the sun and oceans have played in climate change.

Mr. D'Aleo is a Certified Consultant Meteorologist and was elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). He has served as a member and then chairman of the American Meteorological Society's Committee on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, and has co-chaired national conferences for both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Mr. D'Aleo was elected a Councilor for the AMS.  Joseph D'Aleo is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with BS and MS degrees in Meteorology. His master's thesis was on explosive development in east coast cyclones.

LOOKING FOR SOFTBALL OR BASEBALL REPORTERS

Do you have a child playing on any of the school or youth teams?  If so, would you be willing to be a blog reporter so we can all read about your team.  Articles are great but just a score and picture will do. If you are interested, please message the Hill Spirit on facebook or email @ elkmont1@charter.net

LOVE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA? WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW.....

Social media networks like Facebook deliver a lot of benefits.

I know grandparents who stay more connected with their grandchildren because of Facebook ...
I know young professionals who have gotten a better job because of connections on LinkedIn...

...and I know plenty of people who use social media to keep up with friends they otherwise would have lost track of long ago.
But here’s the thing … social media isn’t safe. It’s a huge threat to your privacy for a lot of reasons.
Social Media is fun but if you’re going to use these networks, make sure you use them in an informed way.

FIVE THINGS YOU MUST KNOW: Complete Article

1. Monitor Privacy Settings
2. Ditch the Bells and Whistles
3. Be Careful Who you Follow
4. Use Common Sense When Posting
5. Know the Ins and Outs of Your Network

EVEN IN THE SOUTH..YOU SHOULD BE READY

This past Tuesday, a winter storm hit areas that aren't exactly used to dealing with the problems winter weather brings.  While the actual snowfall was only a few inches, the nightmare it caused was unbelievable.

You've seen the photos coming out of Birmingham, Atlanta, and surrounding areas. Pictures of snarled roadways, jammed-up interstates and cars abandoned along the roadside. Tales of children spending the night at school and stories of commuters sleeping in grocery stores overnight.

Many motorists were stranded in their cars and had nowhere to go. Hundreds abandoned their vehicles and started walking down the interstate. Gas stations were running out of gas and grocery store shelves were empty as panicked motorists stocked up. Resupply trucks couldn't get through the gridlock. Some cars slid off the road into the river, leaving the drivers to swim to safety. Desperate drivers were taking to Facebook and Twitter to get help, because the cell towers were simply overloaded.

This is a reminder of why carrying emergency supplies in your vehicle is critical. It could potentially save your life. The situation in Alabama and Georgia got so bad this past week that the National Guard was mobilized to hand out packets of food to stranded motorists. But do you really want to put your safety and survival into the hands of the National Guard? They may not always be there. It's far better to have your own survival plan and gear in place. Emergencies rarely give you a warning that they are coming.
 
THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR CAR:
One of the most important things you can do is to keep some basic survival materials in your vehicle. This is a winter list, just change out type of clothing and add a mylar (space) blanket for summer.

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Extra warm clothing -- extra gloves, hats, coats, etc.
• Emergency food you can eat without cooking
• Bottled water
• A good first aid kit & extra supplies of prescription medications
• Matches and a fire-starter of some kind
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• A knife and basic tools
• Deck of cards, something to pass the time