ELKMONT'S FIRST HALF MARATHON IS SATURDAY

Beautiful half marathon through the rolling hills of Elkmont, Alabama.  The course begins in downtown Elkmont at 8 am and heads out into the country on our rolling rural roads.  About 7-8 miles into the race, runners will move off the road and onto the old L&N Railroad bed that is now known as the Richard Martin Trail and is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, where they will run the final 5-6 miles of the half marathon.

There will be a custom finishers medal as well as age group and overall awards.  Proceeds from this race will benefit the Elkmont High School Cross Country and Track/Field programs. 

REGISTRATION LINK 

Hopefully, it doesn't turn into a snowshoe race. 

LAST DAY AT THE OWL CREEK BOUTIQUE

The owls are in the last stages of closing up the Owl Creek Boutique.  If you want to stop and see what is left, today is your last opportunity. They will be open January 9 from 10 am - 5 pm. 

ITS GOING TO BE JUST BRR COLD NEXT SUNDAY

Here are the projected temperatures for January 17 at high noon. That's a week from Sunday. Are you ready for the cold?

The red line at the Gulf is the 32 degree line.  

Hill Spirit found some happy news to give you snowbirds hope.

FIRSTHAND WEATHER SAYS:
After about January 15th, the activity that the South and East Coast could get may be the most action some of those areas have gotten since I started Firsthand Weather nearly 6 years ago.There are two additional southern storm systems to watch after the one moves through this weekend.There is a legitimate chance that areas that typically do not get wintry precipitation (or only get something every 2 to 3 years) could finally get something later this month. No, it's not a guarantee, but the chances are much greater than average.
 
Don't forget to prepare during the next week for what may be coming the following 10 days after January 15.  You aren't going to be one of those bread and milk crazies are you?

JOEL DeWAYNE KYLE - OBITUARY

Joel DeWayne Kyle, 34, died Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Neal Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. The service will be 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Lawrence County Memorial Gardens. He was a member of Church of God of Prophecy in Elkmont.

CALVIN TERRY NEWTON - OBITUARY

Calvin Terry Newton, age 63 of Elkmont, passed away Monday, January 4, 2015. Mr. Newton was born November 18, 1952 in Lauderdale County, AL to Calvin Coolige Newton and Mary Jane Gargus Newton.

Graveside services will be Thursday, January 7, 2016 2:00 p.m., at Mitchell Cemetery in Lauderdale County, AL. Visitation will be Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home.

Preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Mary Jane Newton; one brother, Ricky Dale Newton; one sister, Joan Stockman.

Survived by his wife, Jackie Newton of Elkmont; one son, Calvin Shane Newton and wife Diane of Pulaski, TN; two daughters, Stephanie Littrell and Michael of Lexington, AL and Chasity Word and Brandon of Goodsprings, AL; four grandchildren, Prentnes and Georgia Littrell of Lexington, AL and Paisley and Landen Word of Goodsprings, AL; one brother, Danny Newton of Rogersville, AL; three sisters, Betty Jo Newton of MI, Patricia Ann Butler and Carylon Steen and Chris both of Elgin Cross Roads.

Memorials may be made to the family in Mr. Newton’s memory.

HOW TO COOK WITHOUT ELECTRICITY - PART 2

3) Ember Roasting 
Make a fire and get some serious embers going on. Then let the fire burn out (or keep the fire to one side of your pit only). Put some food on the embers. Go ahead and bury it in the embers. The embers will cook the food. Since the outside of the food is going to get covered with ash, this method is best for foods like corn on the cob and potatoes. But you can cook almost anything like this if you put it in tinfoil first.



4) Solar Cooking
I don’t mean a solar-powered cooker. I mean that you can literally cook your food in the sun. Here are instructions on how to make your own solar cooker.

WILLIAM DAVID GATLIN - OBITUARY

William David Gatlin, age 80, of Athens passed away Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Athens Limestone Hospital. He was born July 16, 1935 in Elkmont, AL to Ulys D. Gatlin and Mary Grady Guthrie Gatlin.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jeanette Hays Gatlin.

Graveside service will be Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Roselawn Cemetery with Ashton Gatlin officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 5, 2016 from 11:00AM until 1:00PM at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home. Burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery.

William is survived by his sons: Danny Gatlin (Darlene), Derrell Gatlin (Sonya) and Derrick Gatlin, brother: Jerry Gatlin (Betty), sister: Sue Lewis, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and three nieces and nephews.

William was a veteran of the United States Army.

Pallbearers will be: Johnny Moran, Timothy Lewis, Jay Dubose, Greg Coffey, Derrell Gatlin and John Knight.

HODGES/POOLE WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. Will Hodges of Athens were married Oct. 31, 2015, at Madelyn’s in the Grove in Athens, with Matt Lannom officiating.  The groom is the son of Jimmy Hodges of Athens and the late Margaret Hodges.

The bride, Savannah Poole of Elkmont, is the daughter of Mike and Marta Poole of Elkmont. Her grandparents are Clifton and Linda Poole and Billy and Marjorie Young, all of Athens.  

The bride was given in marriage by her father, Mike Poole. The Maid of Honor was Katie Poole, sister of the bride. Bridal attendants were Kim Dalberto, Bailie Schrimsher, Jessica Leonard and Payton Herring, all of Athens. The flower girl was Chloe Dalberto of Athens.
 
Andrew Smith of Athens served as Best Man. Groomsmen were Josh Dalberto, Austin Gilliam, Jordan Oles and Zach Shindorf, all of Athens. 
Music was provided by Chris Slaton. A reception followed the ceremony at Madelyn’s in the Grove.  After a wedding trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, the couple returned home to Athens.

KATHRINA JOYCE SUTTON SOLOMON - OBITUARY

Kathrina Joyce Sutton Solomon, age 88 of Athens died Saturday, January 2, 2016.

Mrs. Solomon was born March 21, 1927 in Dyersburg, Tennessee, to Homer & Effie McClung Sutton. Mrs. Solomon was a homemaker, and a member of Northside church of Christ.
 
Services will be at 11 AM Tuesday in the chapel of Spry Funeral Home, with Bud White, Brandon Solomon, and Tony Mims officiating.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 9 AM until service. Burial in Roselawn Cemetery.

Survivors
Sons:
Gary (Peggy) Sutton, Johnny (Michelle) Solomon
Jeff Solomon 
Daughters:
Debra (Danny) Holt
Vickie (Donnie) Johns
Connie Wooldridge.  
Sisters 
Charlotte (Floyd) Adams 
Judy Thomas 
Brother - Mickey Sutton
Sister-in-Laws
Nancy Sutton
Jean Sutton 16 Grandchildren
15 Great Grandchildren
Numerous special nephews & nieces.


Preceded in Death 
Parents: Homer & Effie Sutton. 
Brothers: 
Jimmy Sutton
Donald (Pep) Sutton  
Sisters: 
Sylvia Joy Sutton
Juanice Sutton
Great Granddaughter Raegan Preslyn Morell.


Pallbearers will be, Lee Holt, Coty Johns, Jamie Harwell, Jeremy Wooldridge, Johnathan Solomon, and Jordan Solomon. 

Honorary Pallbearers will be, Scott Sutton, Ryan Solomon, David Solomon, Brandon Solomon, Tim Wooldridge, Hayden Sutton, Colby Holt, Tanner Coats, Rudder Jenkins and Jackson Cook.

Memorials to: Hospice of North Alabama or Benjamin Russell Hospital at UAB or Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley in Decatur

Death is a Doorway, Not an End

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

The Hill Spirit has been sharing with you since summer that this winter was going to be interesting.  There was a suggestion to take advantage of the pre-buy propane programs offered during the summer.  There were lots of posts during the fall on getting your yard and house ready for the winter.  In December, more information on preparing for winter weather.  January is now here and that weather is coming.  

Predicting snow or ice in the South is always a tricky business since so many factors have to be just right.  The stars seem to be aligning for those winter storms but until it happens, it is a maybe.

Here is some of the latest thinking from a few of the people who study the weather like you follow football. You might want to start to prepare now so you aren't caught up in the craziness.

Information from various sources:
If the cold weather stays in place, it will put us at risk of getting more than one winter storm. There are two winter storm chances on the table between January 11th to 21st.

First Threat - Jan 11-12
The weather pattern is favoring either an all snow or all rain event (the rain/snow line will be important). The possible transition line looks like it may extend from Birmingham to Atlanta. Elkmont would be in the snow zone if that happens. There is a chance that there might be some sleet but a better chance of a few snowflakes. 

Second Threat - Around Jan. 20
The cold air will have moved in and set up house in Elkmont for the next winter storm.  With the southern jet stream probably heading down toward the beach, this storm could set up around Birmingham or Montgomery.  This might give Elkmont another chance to see snow.

 Sources:

Weatherbell Analytics

           First Hand Weather