LawLers Hwy 72 Wins North Alabama Regional BBQ Sauce Contest

For Further Information
Jeanette Jones

jeanette@visitathensal.com

For immediate release
May 23, 2013
www.visitathensal.com

LawLers Hwy 72 Wins North Alabama Regional BBQ Sauce Contest

Athens, AL - LawLers Hwy 72 store Athens did not win the state championship but they were chosen as the North Alabama regional winner by judges Bobby Shuttleworth of WAFF-48, Evan Carden of Decatur Life magazine and Melinda Dunn of the Decatur/Morgan Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Decatur/Morgan County Farmer’s Market was the host site for the regional contest.

“We are so proud of LawLers and appreciate their participation in the BBQ sauce contest”, said Jeanette Jones, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Co-President.  “We worked really hard getting the word out to our BBQ restaurants to enter the competition.  There will be more contests during the Year of Alabama Food.  We hope other restaurants participate in upcoming contest.”

BBQ sauce championship generates wide press coverage.  Celebrity judges picked the sauce from Phil’s barbecue restaurant in Eufaula as the state “BBQ Sauce-Off

The Central Alabama regional winner was Costas from Birmingham.   Phil’s BBQ from Eufaula was chosen as the Southern Alabama regional winner.

“The Alabama Tourism Department designed the BBQ Sauce-Off as a way of promoting the state’s barbecue restaurants and independent sauce producers,” said contest coordinator Brian Jones. “The regional contests got great coverage and our championship in Birmingham was covered by channel 48 in Huntsville, channel 6 in Birmingham, channel 12 in Montgomery and AL.com. It was also featured in USA TODAY, on public radio and was picked up by the Associated Press,” he said.

Thirty-four sauces were gathered from restaurants and grocery stores across the state for the BBQ Sauce-Off.  Sauces in the contest included: Bailey’s, Baumhower’s, Berdeaux’s, BBQ Shack, Big Bob Gibson, Bishop’s, Bob Sykes, Bryant, Carlile’s, Costas, Crusty Butts & Bones, Dale’s BBQ, Demetri’s, Dreamland, Fat Boy’s, Full Moon, Golden Rule, Jim ‘N Nick’s, Johnny’s BBQ, LawLers, Mike & Ed’s, Mike Elliott’s, Moon Hollow, Noodie’s, Ollie’s, Perfect Bite BBQ, Phil’s, Rob’s, Saban Sauce, Saw’s, Saucy Q, Slaphappy BBQ, Thomas Rib Shack and Viper.  Learn more about Alabama food products, chefs, culinary destinations and events at Facebook.com/AlabamaFood and at www.yearofalabamafood.com.

The sign up process is now open for restaurants to become a part of Alabama Restaurant Week. The process is quick and easy. Any Alabama restaurant that qualifies (and most quality if they are not part of a national chain) only has to entry their basic information at this time.  You have until July 15 to enter your exact fix-priced meal offering Sign up at www.alabamarestaurantweek.com.  See the ABOUT section for a summary of the rules of the promotion.

Alabama Restaurant Week is an August 16-August 25, 2013 promotion and is part of the Year of Alabama Food state tourism campaign.  For more on Year of Alabama Food, contact Brian Jones Brian.jones@tourism.alabama.gov.   For more on Alabama Restaurant Week, contact Grey Brennan grey.brennan@tourism.alabama.gov.

For information and assistance in entering your restaurant, call the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association office at 256-232-5411 or email info@VisitAthensAL.com.

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Athens State Center for Lifelong Learning Offering Summer Courses in Decatur

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 15, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Center for Lifelong Learning Offering Summer Courses in Decatur

                ATHENS, Ala. -  Athens State University’s Center for Lifelong Learning will be offering classes at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur starting this summer.  The classes offered will be some of the most popular courses that have been previously taught at the Center’s downtown Athens facility.

                For youth the classes include Adventures in the Hundred Acre Woods, a drama course that introduces students to character creation from classic literature; Discovering Violin, a course for beginners with less than three months experience; Private Violin and Cello Lessons for students 8 and up; and Painting Fun, a camp where students will create a painting in acrylic.

                For adults the classes include Painting with Acrylics, a fun and interesting way to learn how to paint with acrylics; Swing Dancing Lessons that will get you up and moving; Introduction to Photoshop Elements 9 for novices and a separate class for beginners; and Computers for Seniors, one-on-one sessions to help set up email, learn to search the web, and research ideas and interests.

                Classes start as early as June 3.  The Alabama Center for the Arts is located at 133 2^nd Avenue NE in Decatur.  Visit www.athens.edu/CLL or call 256-233-8260 for registration or information.  

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Tourism Reaches Out and Hoteliers Answer

For Further Information
Cayce Lee
Cayce@visitathensal.com

For immediate release
May 23, 2013
www.visitathensal.com

Tourism Reaches Out and Hoteliers Answer

With modern media resources access to real time events have become exceptionally easy especially to anyone with internet access.  One of the duties in the Social Media Department of the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association is to keep a finger on the pulse on the community from events to races, road closures to emergencies and share that information on its many services.  It’s times when disaster strikes that the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association (ALCTA) switches gears and provide information not only about blocked roads and power outages but how people can help, needs list, and community response efforts.

On Friday, May 17^th, the eyes of ALCTA turned local as the Limestone community was caught unaware of the spinning storm that would touch down across the county – delaying school children, impacting businesses and delaying community events.  The goal that day was to provide as much accurate information to help the followers of our Facebook and Twitter accounts stay safe and informed.  The day ended with sharing pictures and recounts of the damage as they were flowing over internet.

It was on Monday, May 20^th that ALCTA’s social media eyes turned westward.  Real time feeds were watched and devastation reaped upon the landscape of Oklahoma City and City of Moore rapt our attention.  The raw images spread across the internet, fanning already frayed nerves in the valley.  The pangs of sympathy and sorrow set the wheels in motion with searching solutions to share with the public.

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Social Media Specialist, Cayce Lee, put out the call to area hotels and Best Western manager, Lynn Horn, answered.  Lynn put the wheels in motion at the corporate level to get gift cards shipped into her hotel on U.S. 72, so anyone interested in purchasing them for the Gift Card Rally at the Athens Police Department on Saturday, May 25^th could just visit her location. 

“We want to be part of our community and to help and give back,” said Lynn about adding this new service program to her hotel.

“It’s great to see the response Lynn and the Best Western staff are making.  They’re sensitive to this situation, knowing the pain people experienced following our tornadoes of April 27^th 2011. How our displaced homeowners had to turn to the local hotels for somewhere to live after their homes were destroyed and their lives devastated,” said Teresa Todd, Co-Tourism Director.

 Cayce again reached out to Marriott’s Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel and Spa who recently made headlines for not only hosting the National Tornado Summit but helping convert the Summit’s Marriott Rewards points into rooms for the American Red Cross with enough points to provide 13 nights.  Tracy Swibold, Director of Sales and Marketing of the Renaissance location, responded rapidly to the request, providing information for donating Marriott Rewards points to the American Red Cross.

“We have so many people who travel in the Athens area and Marriott is a well-known chain that offers points for staying at any of their tiers and for partner services.  Someone may not have the ability to offer money right now but they can donate their points to help.  It’s fairly simple, anyone with Marriott Rewards can donate points to the American Red Cross by visiting https://mr.userewards.com/charity/index.jsp, signing in with their Marriott Rewards Number and search American Red Cross and donate,” said Cayce.

Other hoteliers in the area said that gift cards could be purchased at their corporate websites. 

Choice Hotels … www.choicehotels.com
Hilton/Hampton Hotels … www.hhonors3.hilton.com/en/gift-card/index.html
Best Western … www.travelcard.bestwestern.com
Holiday Inn/Intercontinental Hotel Group … http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/giftcard

Jeanette Jones, Co-President said, “We encourage other hotels to get involved and help us help others.  We’re here to help spread the word not only for fun but also disasters.” 

Jennifer Adair said, “If you can’t make it out to the event on Saturday, you can send gift cards directly to Journey Church in Norman, Oklahoma.  So if you send them directly, please let Holly Hollman with the City of Athens know so we can add your amount to our goal.”  Mrs. Hollman can be contacted via email at HHollman@athensal.us with your amounts.  To mail your cards directly to the church helping in the distribution, Journey Church P.O. Box 722764, Norman, OK 73070.

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22nd Annual Athens State Alumni Golf Classic a Huge Success

For Further Information

Guy McClure

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 22, 2013

www.athens.edu

22^nd Annual Athens State Alumni Golf Classic a Huge Success

ATHENS, AL- The 22^nd Annual Athens State University Alumni Golf Classic on May 16 was a success. “This was our best year ever,” stated Trish Di Lullo, Alumni Director. “Our 1:00 pm flight was sold-out with 103 golfers, and we had a record number of sponsors.”  

“A special thank-you goes to Jerry Evans and Greenbrier Restaurant for donating lunch, Pepsi of Decatur for donating the beverages, McClary Ford for covering the hole-in-one prize, $1,000,000 shoot-out, putting contest and Closest to the Pin prizes, HealthSource of Athens for their prize donation and to the Golf Committee and volunteers for pulling it all together,” continued Di Lullo.

First place went to Mark Yarbrough, Ben Yarbrough, Terry McDonald and Brian Askew; second Place was David Hyman, Scott Weaver, Joe Haney and Barry Manning; and third place was Larry Sharp, David Williams, Robert Burton and Jeff Wilson. The women’s longest drive went to Heather Carlton, men’s to Aaron Bishop and closest to the pin to Brian Moore (hole 3), Ric Patterson (hole 17), JJ Donahue (hole 13) and John Worley (hole 8).

All proceeds raised from the Golf Classic go directly to scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Based on early estimates, nine (9) students should receive funding from the 2013 tournament.

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Attached Picture (L-R):  Golf Scholarship Recipients Erica Smith, Krystal Holland, Paige Green and Alumni work-study Nick Bolding 

Special Needs Rodeo Rescheduled For June 23

Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo

Athens, AL

http://www.limestonesheriffrodeo.com/

PRESS RELEASE

Special Needs Rodeo Rescheduled For June 23

Sheriff Mike Blakely would like to announce that the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting the annual Special Needs Rodeo on June 23, 2013 from 3pm until 5pm at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena on Hwy 99. 

This year’s scheduled Special Needs activities for May 17 were cancelled due to weather. 

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and all the volunteers associated with this event wish to extend an invitation to all our Special Needs clients that had originally planned to attend this past Friday.  All activities will be free of charge as always. 

All volunteer workers please contact Dawn Blakely if you wish to participate at 256-233-8711.  If any additional information is needed please contact Sheriff Mike Blakely at 256-232-0111.

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Retired Athens State Professor Inducted into Honorary Society

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 17, 2013

www.athens.edu

Retired Athens State Professor Inducted into Honorary Society

                ATHENS, Alabama – Athens State University Professor Emeritus Dr. Joe Brasher has been  elected into the honorary Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi.  The Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter was established to recognize men and women who have made significant contributions of service to the Society and exemplified its ideals and excellence in education.

                “Election into the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter is a lifetime award and limited to 100 living members,” states Executive Director Faye Snodgress in her letter congratulating Brasher.  “Like the Laureate nomination and selection process, current Chapter members will assist in the selection of new members of the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter every biennium.”

            Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, founded by Dr. William Bagley in 1911 at the University of Illinois, was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. Pioneering from its beginning by including women as well as men, Kappa Delta Pi grew from a local chapter to the international organization it is today, comprising 600 chapters and more than 40,000 members.

                Brasher is invited to attend the 49th Biennial Convocation in October in Dallas, Texas. During that Convocation he will be formally inducted into the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter.

                Brasher retired from Athens State in 2011 after serving Athens State University for 26 years in the capacity of Professor of Education in the College of Education.

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Athens State Offering Technical Instructional Design Option

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 17, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Offering Technical Instructional Design Option

ATHENS, Ala. – At the beginning of the 2012/2013 academic year, Athens State University added an option to the Career and Technical Education major in the College of Education that prepares students to work as instructional designers and trainers. The Option in Technical Education: Instructional Design addresses a need for bachelor-degreed instructional designers in schools, community colleges, business and industry. 

“The individuals looking for these types of jobs will not require a Class B teaching certification,” states Christopher Inman, Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology.  “They will, however, require knowledge of how students learn as well as how technology can be utilized to facilitate learning.  The advent of widely available technological possibilities in the teaching cycle has caused a void in the number of skilled instructional designers who understand curriculum, instructional technique and how to design online and technology-based coursework at all levels.  This option is in an answer to this need.”

Instructional Designers engage students or employees in the learning process, encourage their participation, and address specific learning needs.  The program at Athens State will advance the student’s knowledge of instructional design and learning theories and provide practical application experience in designing, delivering, and evaluating training. Further career options in instructional design include: training consultant, technologist trainer, corporate trainer, and program designer. For more information, visit www.athens.edu/college_edu.   

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                                                                                                                           For further information:

                                                                                                                           Guy McClure

                                                                                                                          Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 17, 2013

www.athens.edu

Fiddlers Convention named a Top 20 Southeastern Event

                Athens, Ala.- For the third time, the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention has been honored as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events.  The event also received this tribute in 2003 and 2007.

The Southeastern Tourism Society feels that each festival or event in the South represents a special piece of our culture and heritage and has been naming Top 20 Events since 1983.

The Southeastern Tourism Society is a non-profit organization whose goals and objectives are to develop, market, and promote travel to and within the Southeastern states. The organization has more than 450 members in ten Southeastern states. 

                This year's Fiddlers Convention will be October 4 and 5 on the campus of Athens State University. The event has historically attracted more than 15,000 people for the two-day event, with more than 200 musicians expected to participate.

Competition for the convention’s top award “Fiddle Champion” is always strong and this year will be no different. Prize money totaling $11,870 will be awarded in 18 different categories.

                Approximately 150 booths featuring old-fashioned arts and crafts are part of the convention. Convention goers will see everything from traditional artwork to coal-fired metal works.

                Contests begin on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7p.m., and will resume on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 a.m. Cost is $8 for Friday, $10 for Saturday and $15 for both days. Children ages 12 and under are free with a parent.

This year's special guest will be musical comedian Mike Snider performing Friday, October 4th at 4:00p.m. and 6:00p.m.  Snider, a native of Gleason, Tennessee, made his way on the country music scene in the 1980's with his incomparable wit and stellar banjo playing. Mike first worked his way into people's hearts through his hundreds of spots on TNN's Nashville Now, and his seven-year stay in the cornfield on "Hee Haw". In addition to his television work, Mike and his band entertained crowds for seven years at Nashville's Opryland USA.

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For Further Information

Guy McClure

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

May 15, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Names Members of Leading Edge Institute

            ATHENS, Ala. - Athens State University Assistant Professor of Justice Studies Dr. Quanda Watson-Stevenson was chosen as a faculty advisor for the 2013-2014 Leading Edge Institute (LEI), XII class for Women. She will represent Athens State University along with three students. 

                The three students chosen are Ms. Krystina Lovell, Ms. Stephanie White, and Ms. Whitney Elizabeth Smith.  Lovell is a junior majoring in Criminal Justice.  Her future career plans are to work with juveniles in the juvenile justice system as a Juvenile Probation Officer.   White is a junior majoring in Education and would like to work with children with disabilities.  Smith is a senior majoring in Business. She plans to own and operate her own car dealership business.  She also plans to enroll and complete the MBA program offered at Athens State University in collaboration with UNA.  

                The Leading Edge Institute is a dynamic leadership program dedicated to working with college women across the state of Alabama. Leading Edge Institute brings women together to develop their leadership skills, expose them to critical issues facing Alabama and, most importantly, inspire them to make a difference in our state. 

                Membership in the organization requires a week long training session, completion of a service program for the Athens community, and attendance to a Winter Conference in early 2014.  The Athens State representatives will attend the conference along with several female students and professional women across the State of Alabama from various colleges, universities, businesses, and political arenas.

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Pictured:  Front:  Dr. Quanda Watson-Stevenson. On stairs left to right:  Stephanie White, Whitney Elizabeth Smith, Krystina Lovell.