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Woodville Public Library Director Has Heart for Community

It’s a Tuesday morning, and Alyssa Cosby can’t wait to get to work. She slides her key in the lock, opens the door, turns on the lights and readies the Woodville Public Library for another day.

This routine isn’t new to Cosby. In fact, she’s been walking through the same door at the library since she was 6 years old.

“I remember watching PBS Kids, and they mentioned the book ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,’” Cosby says. “That was the first book I ever checked out from the library, and I’ve been coming here ever since.” As a child, she began coming to the summer reading program at the library. “It was so much fun, and we did crafts and there was music,” she says.

Cosby, a lifelong Woodville resident, considered herself introverted when she attended high school, but she had a big heart for helping others. She saw a need in her school and community, and felt conviction to help during Christmastime when the Students for Christ club was choosing children to sponsor at the holiday. “I thought that was awesome, but if people needed help during Christmas, they also probably needed help the rest of the year,” she says.

Initially, Cosby went to her mother with the idea, and with her encouragement, approached a teacher and school administrators to get the ball rolling. After garnering support from other students, she helped establish PALS, Panthers Always Living Strong, during her junior year.

“I was so shy,” she says. “Getting me to talk was almost an act of God, so it took a lot for me to approach people at first, but I’m glad I did.”

Cosby, along with other club members, would meet and pack bags with nonperishable food items to help the students who didn’t have access to nutritious meals outside of those served at school. She estimates around 50 kids received assistance that first year. Now the count is up to 80.

Cosby embraced the club’s slogan — Panthers Always Living Strong, Children Never Walk Alone — and even got a tattoo of the words after she graduated in 2014. Now, private donors and sponsors help the club raise funds for food at Cosby’s alma mater, and she steps in and does the shopping when the sponsor isn’t able to.

The library has been a constant throughout her whole life, especially when it came to completing her schoolwork. Cosby stopped in several times a week to use the computers to work on her bachelor’s degree online. Quickly, she became friends with Karen Chambers, the former director.

“When I graduated from high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be,” she says. Originally, Cosby planned on earning a criminal justice degree and attending law school, which she did — for three days. “I got awesome scores on my LSATs, I just realized I really didn’t like it,” she says.

Passion Project

In April 2020, the library flooded and Cosby volunteered her time to clean things up and get the library put back together. She also served on the library board as the secretary. By August, she still found herself there helping as she could.

“I was really let down that my plan didn’t work. I thought I was going to be a lawyer,” she says. “I didn’t think there was anything else I really wanted to do.” So, she decided to help out at the library and tutor people online. By April 2021, Chambers had to take personal leave, so Cosby stepped in and ran the library in her stead. Sadly, Chambers died in January 2022. She was the director at the library for almost 40 years.

During her time as the interim director, Cosby applied for her master’s degree in library science when she had a revelation while watching the movie, “The Reading Room.” In the movie, James Earl Jones opens an inner-city library to help kids.

“I just wanted to do outreach in the community,” she says. “I thought I would be a lawyer and have an office where people could just come and read books, but God was shaking his head saying, ‘No — that’s what a librarian does.’”

Cosby officially became the library director in September 2021. “I realized it’s what I’m passionate about,” she says.

Etching Possibilities

Cosby still lives by the slogan for the club she helped established years ago. Through her work at the library she organizes various programs for children and older students. This year’s summer reading program theme, Oceans of Possibilities, is open to pre-kindergarten children through sixth graders. There will also be a program for kids in grades seven-12. Plans are in the works to feature entertainment, like Mr. Bond’s Science Guys, Yarbrough’s Educational Reptiles, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and The Latham’s Dazzling Magic.

“Summer programs are important because it gives the kids something to do and it helps broadens their horizons,” she says.

Cosby believes attending these programs is also important because kids get the chance to make friends, and it encourages a sense of community. “Kids form valuable skills at this age, it’s important to pour into them and nurture them,” she says.

In 2019, Cosby applied for and received a Google grant for the library. The operation was awarded $14,000 to be used for different kinds of robots and the software that goes with them. By the fall of 2021, Cosby began the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program for kids.

There are 12 kids, ranging from grades one to 10, who learn block coding at the library. They use a program called Scratch, where they can draw original characters and make short videos by coding, much like how an animated film or video game would be made.

“The longest video we’ve had is about three minutes, and any changes that have to be made are very tedious and time consuming,” Cosby says.

Recently, the kids have moved on to programming Ozbots, which are little robots that run on two wheels. The class is making an original racetrack and creating stories for the robots. “The kids love it,” she says. “The youngest kid is a first grader who already reads on a fourth-grade level, and he’s decided he wants to be a video game designer.” The library also currently hosts a teen book club. An adult poetry club and senior citizen game day are being considered for the future.

“If I’d stayed in law school, I would’ve hated my job every day. Now that I’m a librarian, I can’t wait to get to work,” she says.

Stevenson man serves fold art and food

Redmon Graham spreads positivity throughout downtown Stevenson one hot dog at a time.

The owner of Downtown Dogs, a popular lunch destination, is a self-proclaimed proud Stevensonian whose glass is always half full.

“I’m not ordained by any stretch of the imagination, but I preach happiness and kindness,” Graham says. “Be kind to your neighbor and, if possible, do a good deed each day.”

Graham grew up in Stevenson and still calls the city home. “It’s a wonderful and beautiful place in the world, full of exceptionally wonderful people,” he says. “I may travel, but this place will always be home.”

Graham shares a vision with other locals and Main Street residents for preserving the historic buildings and welcoming more businesses downtown.

“Stevenson has always been rich in local history and we are just trying to bring that back,” he says.

Downtown Dogs is in Graham’s house, a historic home in downtown that’s been in his family for generations. “It’s actually a kit house from Sears, Roebuck, and Co.,” he says.

The Woodall family built the house in 1924. The pieces of the home were delivered by train from the Chickamauga Lumber Company, with every board pre-cut and numbered. Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold around 70,000 kit homes from their catalogs, ranging in prices from $800 to around $2,500.

Downtown Dogs opened in 2017 in a treehouse on the property. It was a unique operation, but the demand of business quickly moved the business into the current space. Since that time, Graham has remodeled the home’s kitchen, back porch and added another room to the back of the house to accommodate more customers.

The restaurant is open seasonally from late March through October. Graham says his family and friends help him get the space ready for business each season.

Everything is cooked to order, and occasionally Graham announces a special on his social media pages, but everyday items include all-beef hot dogs, bratwurst, and Polish sausages with all the fixings.

“Business is always good,” Graham says. “It’s always good, whether I’ve sold one hot dog or 138.”

Visiting Downtown Dogs is an experience. Visitors are greeted with Professor A.J.R. Graham’s Odditorium upon entry, and the restaurant is in the back. The Odditorium is filled with pieces of art made by Graham, who collects interesting items he turns into art. He also plans to convert the entire house into restaurant seating.

“I really want to create an ambiance and just surround and submerge people in art,” he says.

Graham is a folk artist. He describes his work as technically “mixed media” but says it’s more found objects. “If I see something in a parking lot, I’ll pick it up and try to make a face out of it,” he says. Over the years, his style has evolved, and he has done clothes, jewelry and even handmade wooden furniture.

“It’s just cool to see what it turns into in the end.”

His work is inspired by found objects, but he realized his interest in art while growing up at his family home. The historic home was used as a Union hospital during the Civil War, situated on a property at the foot of Cumberland Mountain. Graham says there was a trailer park on the property at one time with no local trash service, so residents would burn trash.

“As a kid, I’d be out playing in the yard and find all kinds of things,” he says.

The rainwater would come down the base of the mountain, flooding the creek and flushing out forgotten items left behind like spoons, leather shoes, and even a Roy Rogers cap gun.

“I thought I’d found gold,” he says.

Graham and his cousins would make collections out of these priceless treasures, and as a teenager, he began seeing the art in the found objects.

“I just love to get in my zone and do my thing,” he says.

Graham’s vision for his business doesn’t just stop at hot dogs and art. He wants to turn Downtown Dogs into a place where people can gather and find a sense of community. A guest book sits out for people to sign, and so far, he’s had visitors from 32 states, and even as far away as France.

Congratulations, seniors!

Arielle Haynes

Arielle Haynes is the daughter of NAEC Office Manager Chassity Haynes and Brian Haynes, of Hollywood.

A senior at North Jackson High School, she was a member of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and FFA. She played on the NJHS softball team for four years and was part of the 2021 4A State Championship softball team. She was also on the basketball team for all four years of her high school career and played volleyball her senior year.

Arielle will attend Northeast Community College in the fall, with future plans to transfer to a school of her choice to study kinesiology and exercise science.

Lindsay Chisenall

Lindsay Chisenall is the stepdaughter of NAEC lineman Ben LeRoy and the daughter of Katie LeRoy and Mickey Chisenall.

She is a senior at North Jackson High School. Lindsay was a member of the Student Government Association, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was also an NJHS cheerleader for three years, winning two state titles.

She plans to attend Shorter University and earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Alexander Bryant Guinn

Alex is the son of NAEC Construction Foreman Brian Guinn and Cynthia Pratt. He is the grandson of Marshall and Becky Hicks and the late Donny Guinn, a former NAEC lineman, and Reita Guinn. He has one brother, Carter Guinn.

Alex is a senior at Section High School. He was a member of the Section varsity basketball team for three years and was recently on the 2A Boys Basketball State Championship team. He was selected as the regional basketball tournament MVP and as a member of the All-State Tournament team. Alex was also on the track and golf teams. He was a member of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and the senior Beta Club. Alex has been a dual enrollment student at Northeast Alabama Community College for three years. He is a member of The Church of God of Union Assembly and Pathway Baptist Church.

After graduation, Alex plans to complete his degree at Northeast Alabama Community College and transfer to Jacksonville State University to pursue a degree in education with an eye toward a career as a math teacher. He also hopes to coach basketball.

NAEC members share their passion for quilting

One of Brenda Carter’s fondest memories of her mother, who passed away in 2011, revolves around sitting in the family’s living room on a cold winter’s night with her mom and sisters, working on quilting projects.

“I can remember in wintertime the quilt frames stayed hung from the living room ceiling and we would all help her quilt,” Carter says. “We loved helping Mama, but we never got to keep the quilts. We had to use them to cover the beds.”

Quilting is a passion that has been passed down for many generations. Donna Hightower, the owner of Bridges Spring Quilting, was also taught how to quilt by her mother. Carter and Hightower share their memories of quilting and how it helps preserve memories of people and their families.

Labor of Love

Carter’s mother, Emma Latham Dean, quilted since childhood. Like many women of her era, it was a way of life.

“She was one of 12 children,” Carter says. “Everyone needed warmth. They would take old clothing, or anything they had, and make quilts. She could identify old outfits just from seeing quilts.”

Dean died in January 2011, but her handiwork lives on today through the quilts she made and passed down to her family.

While quilting was Dean’s favorite passion, she had many other skills. She grew up on a farm in Larkinsville before marrying her husband, Arnold, moving to the Skyline area, and raising a family.

Dean was a homemaker, but when her children were older, she went to work in a hosiery mill in Skyline and then as a teacher’s aide for a kindergarten class. She did not have her high school diploma but received her GED later in life. She also loved music and taught herself to play the organ.

“She didn’t want to be bored when she got older,” Carter says. “She loved teaching and helping with children. She was crazy about all the children and always encouraged education. We just marvel at all she was able to get done.”

Upcoming Rights-of-way maintenance

Please be aware of some right-of-way projects in the upcoming months as we work to maintain and improve our electric system. We appreciate your cooperation and support as we perform this annual maintenance work to continue to provide you with the best service possible. These preventative measures help lessen the possibility of an outage caused by fallen trees or debris.

Who to Call?

If you have any questions or concerns about rights of way, feel free to contact NAEC at (256) 437-1100.

Stay in the “Safe Zone”

The main preventative measure members can take is making sure to maintain a “safe zone” when planting trees on their property.

Medium Zone

• 20-50 feet or farther from the Maintenance Zone.
• Examples: Holly, ornamental cherry.

Tall Zone

• 50 feet farther from the Maintenance Zone.
• Examples: Maple, spruce, oak, pine.

Low Zone

• 10-20 feet or farther from the Maintenance Zone.
• Examples: Redbud, dogwood.

Maintenance Zone

• No vines, shrubs, or trees should be planted within 10 feet of the farthest point on a utility pole.

Retreat center offers rest and relaxation

Heather Hicks loves a good story. She began scrapbooking in high school when she met Mike, the man who would become her husband. She saved movie ticket stubs, photos, and other mementos from their relationship.

“I’ve always had the heart and desire to be able to tell our story,” she says.

Hicks loves to look back at photos of her family, fondly remembering the good times and reminiscing about their lives. As she had children of her own, she began a scrapbook for each of them.

“I want the scrapbook to compliment their story, but not overpower it,” she says.

This passion is exactly what brought her to a scrapbooking retreat at Grand Oak Retreat.

“When you fall in love with something, you want to tell everyone about it. I still love it,” she says.

Story of their life

In 2016, the Hicks family purchased the 30-acre property after attending an event there.

“We had built our forever home in Tennessee, but God had other plans,” she says.

Their home, built by her husband and her father, was near family and friends. But, the Hickses couldn’t deny they were being led to Scottsboro, and they relocated to the Grand Oaks Retreat property.

Hicks estimates they have hosted hundreds of groups at the three-story lodge over the years.

“What’s nice about our schedule is that we have a revolving calendar,” she says. “Once groups come, they usually want to return at the same time the following year.”

Visitors vary from quilters and scrapbookers to small Bible study groups. All guests are provided meals and are offered add-on options like a massage therapist or nail technician for an ultimate relaxation experience. Attendees travel to the Grand Oak Retreat from all over, some coming from as far away as Alaska and India.

“The main thing is for them to be able to come and work on projects and just spend time with their friends,” Hicks says.

Often, when people are together and see what others are working on, it sparks some creativity. Hicks will also teach scrapbooking or card-making classes to groups by request. Some groups like to sit outside, admire the incredible view of Lake Guntersville and enjoy the outdoor fireplace.

“We try really hard to make it an experience where they can just rest. They know food will be taken care of and they don’t have to worry about that,” she says. “Our whole goal is to be able to love on the people who come in. People need to be back with their friends to find laughter again after the last couple of years of uncertainty.”

Hydroponics and aquaponics offer different ways to garden

When most people think about gardening they think about tilling soil, planting seeds, monitoring the sun, and hoping for rain. While that is the most common way to grow food and other plants, there are alternatives that have many benefits, including hydroponic and aquaponic gardening.

Both methods involve growing plants in water instead of planting the roots in soil. In hydroponic farming, plants are provided with the nutrients they need to thrive through the use of water-soluble fertilizers — a process known as “fertigation.” Aquaponic farming is similar, but instead of receiving nutrients from fertilizers, the plants are fed by the fish that are being raised in the same environment.

Although there is scholarly debate as to whether or not they ever actually existed, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World described in legends, could be considered a hydroponic operation. The gardens are said to have consisted of terraces that stood about 75 feet high, lush with green plants watered by a primitive irrigation system.

William Frederick Gericke is considered by many to be the father of modern hydroponics and is credited with coining the term. In the 1930s, Gericke, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, developed his soil-free system of agriculture and grew tomato plants that towered over 25 feet high using only water and a nutrient solution.

Hydroponics Versus Aquaponics

According to Mollie Smith, Auburn University Outreach Programs Coordinator for aquaponics, hydroponic farming is a method better suited for those who want produce crops but have no interest in fish farming. For farmers looking to raise both, aquaponics is a productive, efficient, and cost-effective way to go about it.

“Aquaponics is suitable for fish farmers who are already feeding commercially manufactured diets to fish, accounting for up to 60% of their production costs,” Smith says. “Aquaponics sees incredible water savings by growing plants and fish in the same water. The fish consume the feed, convert a portion of that to fish flesh, and excrete the remainder as ammonia. Bacteria in the water convert the ammonia first to nitrite and then to nitrate suitable for plants.”

Both methods are done in a controlled environment, significantly reducing the threat of pests destroying the crops when compared to traditional farming methods.

Although the idea of fish waste fertilizing water is a great plan, not just any species of fish will work. Tilapia are highly recommended, because they can easily adapt to different conditions and they are also less likely to contract parasites or other pathogens. Specifically, Nile Tilapia are the most popular fish to use in an aquaponic system, according to Smith.

“Nile Tilapia are also a tropical fish and cannot live outside in our temperate climate,” she says. “Since this species would need to come inside a building or a greenhouse from October through April, they are a good candidate for growing in confinement and capturing their wastes.”

Depending on other variables, some fish that would be suitable to use would be koi, crappie and catfish, to name just a few.

Both hydroponics and aquaponics are important methods of growing crops. Food can grow indoors — whether that’s inside a large, commercial greenhouse or on someone’s kitchen windowsill. Moving the growing process indoors, where the environment can be closely monitored controlled, allows people to grow food year-round.

“These types of gardening are important for producing food in environments where either space or water is limited and preventing contamination of the local environment through nutrient runoff,” Smith says.

Give It a Grow

• Set a timer for your lighting system. Most plants require at least six hours of light per day, but more is always better.
• Keep the temperature consistent between 68 and 70 degrees. This is when plants are happiest.
• Air flow is important to make sure plants are getting carbon dioxide so they can grow faster. If your room doesn’t have good air flow, consider getting a fan or an air circulation system.
• If your water is high in minerals, it’s best to filter it. Nutrients will not dissolve in water high in minerals as effectively as it does in water with lower mineral content.

Source: The Spruce website

Vigilance needed to weather tornado season

Recent history reveals no shortage of tornadic systems that inflicted widespread damage, injuries, and death throughout the Southeast.

Northeast Alabama is no exception, as many tornados come through the area each year. The spring months are no longer the only time tornados hit, as many now come in the fall and some even during the unseasonably warm winter days.

On March 3, 2019, a tornado struck near Beauregard, Alabama, killing 23 people. A major tornado outbreak that ranged from Arkansas to Virginia in late April 2011 killed 324 across six states, including 317 on April 27 alone.

While tornados provide an inherent danger — sometimes with little warning — cooperative members can take some preventive steps that can save lives and reduce injuries.

Before the Storm

Pay attention to weather reports through the media. Forecasting of conditions that could lead to tornadic weather has improved throughout the years.

• If conditions appear to be right for tornadoes, identify your home’s safe places and discuss them with family members. Basements, storm shelters or windowless interior rooms on the lowest floor offer the best protection during a tornado.
• If occupying a mobile home, create evacuation plans to a sturdier shelter.
• Sign up for emergency weather alerts or purchase and program a weather radio to keep informed of any watches and warnings.
• Create an emergency preparedness kit in case debris clogs area roadways and/or causes damage to the power grid. Kits should include an adequate supply of water, nonperishable food items, flashlights, batteries, and any necessary medications. For more details on creating an emergency preparedness kit, visit the Department of Homeland Security website, or the American Red Cross website.
• The American Red Cross recommends trimming dead or diseased tree limbs near homes to reduce the amount of potential debris. Red Cross officials also suggest securing any loose items that may be outside, like patio furniture or grills.
• Install permanent shutters that can cover windows quickly before a storm hits.

During the Storm

• When a tornado warning has been issued, execute the evacuation or safety plans you have created. For further protection, use your arms to shield your head and neck and use furniture or blankets to provide additional cover, DHS officials recommend.
• Stay away from windows or doors.
• If outside or in a vehicle, seek sturdy shelter immediately. If none is available, lie flat in a ditch or depression and use your arms to cover your head, the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends. Be mindful of potential flooding in those locations.

After the Storm

• Continue to monitor weather reports to ensure the danger has passed. Return home from an evacuation only when authorities have deemed it safe.
• If trapped inside a structure a tornado impacted, cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing in dust, DHS officials recommend. Attempt to notify authorities by tapping on pipes, sending texts, or using a whistle.
• Exercise caution when entering damaged structures and stay away from buildings where the smell of gas lingers, ESFI officials urge. Watch out for broken gas lines and fallen power lines and report them to authorities.
• Wear protective gear like gloves and boots when walking near or handling debris.
• Unless it is an emergency, use text messages or social media to communicate with loved ones. Phone systems are extremely busy and can be damaged in a tornado.

Visit our site to see a map that’s updated when outages occur so you can stay updated on the restoration process. Simply click the blue “View Outage Map” button on the top of the homepage.

Watch Versus Warning

Tornado Watch: A tornado watch means conditions may be right for tornadoes to spawn in the next few hours. Watches usually cover large areas, including portions of several states.

Tornado Warning: A warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar and is an imminent threat to the area in the warning. Warnings cover smaller areas, sometimes just a portion of a county.

Tornado Classifications

All tornadoes are classified on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which measures wind strength of a three-second gust during the storm.

• EF0: 65-85 mph
• EF1: 86-110 mph
• EF2: 111-135 mph
• EF3: 136-165 mph
• EF4: 166-200 mph
• EF5: above 200 mph

Neversink pit is a natural wonder

Beneath the Appalachian foothills lies a whole other world.

Each day, people go about their lives on the surface, often oblivious to the entire ecosystem just underfoot. There are more than 17,000 known caves in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, known in caving circles as the TAG system. A high concentration of those caves can be found in Jackson County, Alabama, including the very popular Stephens Gap Cave, Valhalla, and Limrock Blowing Cave Preserve.

Neversink is just one of several notable sites in the area, but it’s not an average cave. Neversink is an open-air pit, managed and preserved by Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. “It’s a natural wonder,” SCCi Vice Chair Tom Whitehurst says. The pit measures 162 feet deep, or about 15 stories from its 100-foot wide mouth to the bottom. A seasonal waterfall cascades into the pit, and in the summer months, the ledges are covered with ferns and moss. The temperature within stays around 60 degrees year-round, which means a welcome break from summer heat and a nice change from frigid winter temperatures at surface level.

Adventure Awaits

Anyone planning on visiting Neversink to hike or enjoy some vertical caving must apply online to get a same-day permit. There’s no charge, but the permits help SCCi keep track of group sizes. Once you request the permit, you have to sign a liability release.

A primitive trail, a path without steps or pavement, begins near the site’s small parking lot. Hikers should make an effort to stay on the marked trail at all times. It’s about a 300-foot vertical climb to the top, where a bench is located. Take a right turn, and then Neversink will be in view. “I would consider it to be a moderate hike because of the slope,” Whitehurst says.

Inexperienced cavers or hikers should not try to descend into the pit. There’s no way in or out without using advanced roping skills. “We’ve had to rescue people who thought they could just climb out,” Whitehurst says.

To descend into the pit, one must rappel. Then, cavers must scale the rope to get out by using mechanical ascenders. “You just basically inch your way up the rope, and it’s really physically demanding,” Whitehurst says.

Visitors are urged to use extreme caution at all times near the mouth of the pit. The very bottom of Neversink simply isn’t visible from above. A good rule of thumb, Whitehurst says, is to keep at least a body length’s distance from the edge, even where the land is flat.

The bottom of the pit consists mainly of boulders. Neversink has no horizontal element, so it doesn’t have a cave that extends beyond the pit. But there are some inhabitants. “There’s a substantial ecosystem that includes salamanders and snails,” Whitehurst says.

Well-kept Secret

Whitehurst, a retired geologist for an environmental engineering consulting firm, worked in Texas until he semiretired in 2001. A former Alabamian, he moved to north Alabama in 2007, and his decades-long love for caving was revived.

“The TAG system is the mecca for caving in the U.S.,” Whitehurst says. “It’s not the Rocky Mountains or geysers, but if you want to see great things you can pretty much step out your back door.”

Organized cavers have known about Neversink for decades, but the site largely remained a treasure known only by locals until it was featured in a National Geographic story in the 1980s or ’90s.

Whitehurst started off exploring caves in 1969 as a spelunker outside of Birmingham, where he became acquainted with the local caving club. Spelunker is a term for a hobbyist who enjoys exploring caves. A caver is considered to be more experienced and interested in cave preservation, and in some cases, even mapping caves.

His father connected him with a former college roommate who was a serious caver. “We learned what you’re supposed to do and what you shouldn’t,” he says.

Whitehurst became involved with SCCi in 1997 when the organization began a fundraising campaign for Neversink. He contributed to the fundraiser and joined SCCi in the process. “It’s kind of interesting how I came to be involved,” he says, “because Neversink was the cause of it all.”

When the property in the Fackler area came up for sale, SCCi decided to buy it to protect it from overuse, while still allowing access to the public. It was the third preserve acquired by the conservancy, following two other properties that were donated.

Exploring caves and sites such as these can be a fun adrenaline rush, but Whitehurst cautions visitors to respect the elements. “It’s OK to be a little scared, but it’s about understanding what Mother Nature is capable of,” he says.

About SCCi

Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. was formed in 1991 by a group of recreational cavers whose mission was to maintain and preserve caves. The group is based in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and manages 35 preserves over a seven-state area. To learn more about the SCCi and to apply for a permit, visit the Save Your Caves website.

Kennamer Cove Trading Post keeps history alive

When people walk into the Kennamer Cove Trading Post, they take a step back in time. The building evokes the nostalgia of an old-fashioned general store with its wood and stonework, local crafts, and a sense of community. The Trading Post is the center of the community known as Kennamer Cove, located on Cathedral Caverns Highway.

“That’s what I love about this place,” owner Cheryl Kennamer says. “Sometimes people come in and they just need to talk to somebody. I feel like I have a ministry here where I can help others.”

Kennamer is a one-woman operation when it comes to making sure things are running smoothly day-to-day at the Trading Post, which is also a venue space for local events and gatherings.

Her husband and son — Steve and Chris, respectively — built the Trading Post.

“It took them five years to build,” using lumber cut and milled by Steve’s father, she says. “Steve’s dad and his family have all lived here for generations. The Kennamers are now all over the U.S., but this is where they got their start.”

Family Tradition

Kennamer Cove is located in a valley surrounded by a lush landscape of pines, rolling hills and ridges. Some the area’s first settlers were ancestors of the Cherokee, and the cove eventually became part of the Cherokee Nation in the early 1800s. The land was rich in resources and game, and the river was the lifeblood that meandered through the valley.

In 1815, the majority of the Hans Kennamer family moved from Mississippi territory to settle into the cove, which later became known as Kennamer Cove. The families lived and worked on the land and watched Mississippi and Alabama enter statehood, which meant the cove officially became part of the United States. In 1830, the Kennamer families purchased the property from the public land office in Huntsville for $1.25 per acre.

Cheryl and Steve Kennamer purchased the property as newlyweds, initially unaware of the details of the area’s history. Work began to build the Trading Post in 1997.

“When Steve and Chris built the building, I don’t know if they really had a plan or not,” Cheryl Kennamer says. “I just tell everyone my husband built me a job.”

The building began as a gift shop, but it evolved into an event space for people who need somewhere to celebrate birthdays, family reunions, Christmas parties, and weddings. There’s an upstairs wedding chapel and a large banquet room that’s very popular.

Unique features like a grinder from an old grist mill are displayed in the Trading Post, along with a moonshine still that was used up until the 1980s. An indoor waterfall was crafted using stones the Kennamers carried by hand from their property. The interior is a unique blend of cedar and walnut, which creates a two-toned effect. Parts of the floor, though concrete, were hand stamped to look like wood.

Deborah Holder McBride, an art teacher at the DAR school in Grant, painted murals on the walls in the banquet room depicting the four seasons and what the cove likely looked like when it was first being settled. She used photos of old home places, including the old Butler Mill, as references.

Life of the Party

While there is an endless to-do list of tasks to accomplish when coordinating events, Kennamer has it down to a science. “I can do pretty much anything,” she says. She offers everything from setting up the tables and chairs to renting linens and even doing the cooking.

While running the event space and the shop keep her busy, she finds fulfillment in her job and says it’s a real labor of love. “I am a people person, and I love doing extra things for people,” she says. “I like to go out of my way to make sure things are right.”

The Trading Post welcomes visitors to browse through the gift shop, which features handmade crafts. Kennamer makes the items herself, including aprons, ornaments, sock dolls, and painted gourds.

Growing up, Kennamer was not always as outgoing as she is now. “I hated being that way, so I did a lot of praying and the Lord took care of it. He might be regretting that now,” she says with a chuckle.