West Georgia Woman Magazine June 2022 by West Georgia Woman Magazine/Angel Media, LLC

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Complimentary

June 2022

West Georgia

Rhonda "Ridgehand" Alexander A Living Legend in Buchanan

Why We Worry and What We Can Do About It

The Best Pet Friendly Vacation Spots Haralson County High School Lady Rebels Deliver a Diamond Dynasty Carrollton’s Cat Cafe Helps Fur Babies Find Forever Homes

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Karate champion Rhonda "Ridgehand" Alexander is now a champion for her students Page 10 Photo by Zachary Dailey

What’s inside... 10 18 28

A Living Legend Fur Babies Are Finding Forever Homes Pet Friendly Vacation Spots

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A Diamond Dynasty Why We Worry and What We Can Do About It

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A Few Changes

I'm sure all of you have been experiencing difficult times due to inflation, formula shortages, shortages of other goods and supply chain issues that continue to plague the country. But did you also know there is a paper shortage? The print industry is really suffering right now. Supply has gone down significantly, and with lower supply, comes higher prices. One reason there is a lower supply is because many paper manufacturers are directing their production efforts to making cardboard for online ordering – particularly Amazon. The more production that is focused on making cardboard, the less we have of the paper we need to print our magazines. My business has endured challenges from this paper crisis as well. Paper prices began increasing exponentially for our special publications this year, such as our annual Bridal issue, Spring Sports preview and our Healthy Woman magazine, and the price of our regular monthly issue has increased significantly as well. Luckily, I have a good relationship with our printer, who continues to get the paper we need to print our magazine, but at a much higher price. To help keep some of the cost down for production, we may be cutting page counts and using various types of paper for the next several months. But all of us at Photo by Zachary Dailey West Georgia Woman magazine are committed to continue providing you the content you've grown to love. This month, we removed the local events from our magazine to reduce the page count. However, we actually included three articles this month about local people in our communities, as well as other articles of interest. Although the magazine may look a little different for awhile, please bear with us as we work through this challenging paper shortage. I have no doubt that we will get through this – just as we made it through the Covid-19 pandemic. After almost seven years of being in business, West Georgia Woman magazine is here to stay. In This Issue Our feature this month is Buchanan resident Rhonda "Ridgehand" Alexander, a sixth-degree blackbelt in karate, who has won numerous championship titles over the years. She received the "Living Legend" award in 2003 – the same title awarded to actor and martial artist Chuck Norris by the American Karate Academies National Association. On page 10, learn more about Rhonda and her commitment to be a champion for her students on and off the mat. Did you know there's a cat cafe in Carrollton, Ga.? Fur Babies Cat Cafe will celebrate its one-year anniversary June 4. On page 18, Corey Cusick tells us how Fur Babies, in partnership with the Carroll County Animal Shelter, is finding forever homes for hundreds of animals in our community. Do you consider your pets a part of the family? Most people do. Almost 70 percent of American households have pets, with dogs being the most popular animal. Of these households, 78 percent take their animal companion on vacation, according to TripsWithPets. On page 28, Sandra Bolan shares with us the best pet friendly vacation spots in the Southeast. From the first day of practice, the Haralson County Lady Rebels softball team had their sights set on one thing – winning the 2022 GHSA Slow Pitch Softball State Championship in late April. On page 30, Corey Cusick tells us more about the team and how they've delivered a diamond dynasty for Haralson County High School. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine! There's much more inside! Please do business with our community advertising partners as much as you can. It is only through their partnership that we are able to give you this beautiful magazine each month. See you next month!

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference. TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia. Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives. This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women! Please be sure to tell them we sent you!

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact us: (404) 502-0251 Online: www.westgeorgiawoman.com

Need a copy? We mail thousands of copies each month to households through Direct Mail or get yours from our racks at Kroger, Publix, Smith Brothers Supply Company, Southern Home and Ranch Center, Food Depot, Neva Lomason Library and 4 a.m. Coffee Roasters (Maple Street) and the Tanner Health System Medical Pavilion in Carrollton; Piggly Wiggly in Bowdon, Franklin and Tallapoosa; Thriftown Inspiring women wanted. in Bremen; Kroger in Cedartown; The Little Giant Grocery in Sargent; Fabiano’s Do you know an interesting woman Pizzaria, Leaf and Bean Coffee, Crook's who should be on the cover of West Grocery (Temple Ave.), Kroger (Bullsboro Georgia Woman? Is there a special Drive and Newnan Crossings Blvd and Lee project or organization you would King pharmacy in Newnan; Tanner Health like us to feature in our magazine? System's Villa Med and Villa West Office Let us know! Email your suggestions Buildings in Villa Rica; Kroger (Chapel Hill to features@westgeorgiawoman.com. Rd., Highway 5, and Ridge R.) and Food Depot on Hiram Douglasville Hwy and Share your special events. Highway 5 in Douglasville; Food Depot and Brickhouse Grille in LaGrange; Food Send your upcoming events to: Depot (Villa Rica Hwy) in Dallas; Universal calendar@westgeorgiawoman.com Fitness in Hiram; WM Grocery and ChuckNeed to advertise? Email: wagon restaurant in Roanoke, Al. and WM Grocery in Wedowee, Al. We have them in larger quantities at Publix (Bullsborough Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com Drive), Lee-King and Thompson pharmaCall 404.502.0251 cies in Newnan, the Apothecary Shoppe The views, opinions, positions or strat- in Douglasville and the Vitamin Shoppe egies expressed by the contributing in Hiram, Publix at Mirror Lake, CVS in authors are theirs alone, and do not Bowdon as well as hundreds of other retail necessarily reflect the views, opinions, locations and medical offices in 18 cities in positions or strategies of Angel Media, nine counties in West Georgia and East LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine Alabama. or any employee thereof. Angel Media, LLC. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information in this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.

Mail correspondence to:

West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Volume 7 • Issue 8 June 2022

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for Cover Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Corey Cusick, Jordan Dailey, Rose Isaacs and Amanda Thomas

Advertising Sales

Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2022. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Print or online reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submissions will be included as space is available. West Georgia Woman reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions that are not in compliance with our editorial policy. If you wish to have your submission returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your submission.

A Living Legend By Amanda Thomas

10Photos by Zachary Dailey

Buchanan Karate Champion is Now a Champion for Her Students 11

f you walk into the Bremen Karate Academy on Music Mill Road, you'll likely find master instructor Rhonda "Ridgehand" Alexander leading a group of students through a series of selfdefense moves. A longtime karate instructor, Rhonda has won countless championship titles over the years, yet that's not what drives her today. She is now a champion for her students, empowering them both on and off the mat through martial arts training that emphasizes respect, discipline and self-confidence. Known for her fierce fighting skills, the sixthdegree black belt received the "Living Legend" award in 2003. This same title was also awarded to martial artist and actor Chuck Norris by the American Karate Academies National Association. But Rhonda’s accolades don't end there. During her professional career, she ranked in the top 10 among U.S. women fighters during the 80s and earned a spot on the 1991-1995 Dream Team. Several championship belts line her studio walls as proof that she not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. Aside from her numerous awards and competition triumphs while breaking barriers as a Black female black belt, she was also the first woman in Georgia to promote and manage an all-female tournament. But before becoming the "Ridgehand," she was a young girl from Spartanburg, S.C., who decided to pursue martial arts after experiencing a traumatic event.

The Art of Self Defense In 1968, serial killer Lee Roy Martin – also known as the Gaffney Strangler – began a killing spree targeting women and young girls in Gaffney, S.C. – about 23 miles from Spartanburg. One of his victims was a 15-year-old girl who

happened to be Rhonda's friend. "I felt like if she had known maybe one selfdefense technique, that could have been enough to save her life," Rhonda says of the tragedy. So, Rhonda asked her dad if she could take karate lessons. "I talked to him about joining a karate class, getting my black belt and maybe I'd have a helping hand in saving somebody's life," she explains. She's not sure why she chose karate but thinks it may have something to do with her admiration for martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. Her favorite Bruce Lee movie is Enter the Dragon, in which he displays his amazing martial arts skills. "I used to watch him and say, 'How in the world did he do all that?'” she recalls. “Bruce was my man.” She also admires martial artist Billy Blanks, the creator of the Tae Bo exercise program. “When I first got into it, my instructor (Sam Chapman) saw something in me that I didn’t even know I had,” says Rhonda, who was 18 years old at the time. “I was very competitive and the only girl in the karate class.” At first, Rhonda was afraid to fight back when sparring with guys stronger than her. “See, what I had been doing is running every time

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us,’” she recalls. “So, that’s what I did.” we got out there to spar because they had instilled Then in her 20s, Rhonda moved to Bremen with in us – as girls and ladies – that guys are stronger,” her cousin and began taking classes in Atlanta. After she says. getting to know her, all the guys in her class began Because of this, she would always back up encouraging her to fight at the national level. running to avoid getting hit. “I was like, ‘Hey, I’m just a little country girl from “One day, I was running and got hit in the nose,” Spartanburg. How do I look going somewhere trying she says. “My nose started bleeding, so I asked to beat somebody?’” she recalls. my instructor if I could go downstairs and clean my But she eventually agreed to compete, so they nose.” raised enough money to send her to Oakland, Calif., After getting permission, she cleaned her nose, where she won in her division. came back upstairs and told the In 1975, she was ranked No. 1 instructor she wanted to get in her eight-state region and back out there and continue competed in her first national fighting. tournament. “I beat him because I Even with all her success, stopped running,” she says. Rhonda was often reminded In the early 70s, two that she was a Black woman professional fighters, Joe Corley in a field dominated by men and Keith Vitali, encouraged – and had to deal with the her to move to Georgia to train prejudice that came with it. She with them after seeing her fight remembers one match that was in Greenville, S.C. “They came up to me and supposed to last two minutes or until someone earned seven said, ‘Wow, you’re the first girl points. we have ever seen who knows “I’m out there fighting,” she how to fight. If you ever come Some of Rhonda's fighting awards adorn the walls to Georgia, you can train with says. “I already got 10 points, of her karate studio.

put me up there because they know I’m an up-and-coming fighter,’” she recalls. She notes that at that time, Linda was beating everybody. “Anybody else could have been up there, but they chose me,” she says. While she and Linda continued to compete against each other, the two became friends. Although Rhonda has won many fights over the years, she Fist of Fury has taken her fair share of hits. She recalls one fight with a During Rhonda’s competitive woman who called herself “The years as a karate fighting Terminator.” champion, she earned the During Rhonda’s competitive years as a karate “Normally, when I go out nickname “Ridgehand.” fighting champion, she earned the nickname and fight, I'm cute with my hair A “ridgehand” is a powerful “Ridgehand." A "ridgehand" is a powerful punch and nails done,” she says. “I punch across the temple that’s across the temple that’s used to dominate an got out there fighting, and ‘The used to dominate an opponent. opponent. Terminator’ hit me so hard all my “The karate circuit gave the nail tips came off my fingers!” nickname to me,” she recalls. “That’s a technique She recalls looking down, trying to catch her I’ve never had to work on.” breath, and seeing all her nail tips on the floor. In the 80s, Rhonda was ranked among the top 10 “I’m like, ‘Oh, Lord have mercy, this girl done female fighters, and became a member of the Dream punched right through me,’” she says. Team a decade later. This aptly named squad was But after recovering from the blow, she ended up formed to increase interest in women’s karate. “They picked the three best female fighters in the winning the match, and the two are still friends. “I tell people we don’t have friends in the ring, but country, and I was one of them,” she recalls. once we come out of the ring, we go out to eat,” One of her teammates was Linda Denley, a Black she says while laughing. woman from Houston known as the “Texas Terror.” Rhonda remembers the first time she appeared in a magazine. Someone had snapped a picture during Teaching Life Lessons one of her fights with Linda. In 1994, Rhonda decided to open Bremen Karate The image captured the moment Linda kicked her Academy on Pacific Avenue, where she taught her in the chest. “Everybody that came up to me asked about that students how to fight and win. “I enjoy teaching children,” she says. “Karate foot in my chest, and I told them, ‘You know, they and I knew two minutes was up. Me and my opponent had our guards up, and I refused to hit this woman again.” Rhonda eventually approached the center referee, who finally called time. “A lot of times, referees deliberately didn’t see my points,” she says. Despite the challenges, she kept winning.

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something.” Her goal is to help her students learn how to defend themselves while also teaching them the importance of respect and discipline. These multilayered lessons have made a big impact on her students. She’ll never forget when one mother told her that she had inspired her two daughters to attend college. They said, “If Ms. Rhonda can go out there and do all that she’s doing in a man’s world, we can do anything we want.” “That made me feel Rhonda’s goal is to help her students learn how to defend themselves while also teaching them good,” Rhonda says with a the importance of respect and discipline. smile. Her students also included her own three children builds their self-esteem up.” – two boys and one girl – all of whom are black She doesn’t teach her students how to beat up belts. They’re all adults now, but she remembers someone or become a bully. She teaches them how when a girl had chased after her son, wanting to to be humble. “I say, ‘We’re in here trying to protect people and fight him. Rhonda watched him run down the road towards ourselves. We’re not here trying to hurt anybody,’” home, not stopping until he reached the door where she says. “If you’re somewhere where you feel like you can help, OK. But never put yourself in danger.” she was standing. He then shouted out to his bully, “You want a And to the parents who are afraid that learning piece of me and my mama?” karate may lead to their kids getting into more fights “I thought that was the funniest thing,” she says, outside of the studio, Rhonda has an answer. “It’s the laughing. complete opposite,” she says. “They get to spar, and we have safety gear on. We spar so much here that they don’t want to fight when they get home or go to school.” She also notes that karate is a sport the whole family can participate in. “If a child has already gotten a belt when their parents start taking classes, they can help them with their technique,” she says. "That really builds up a child’s confidence when they can help their parents learn

Rhonda, left, with two of her karate students at her 35th annual karate tournament April 2.

She’s then immediately reminded about why she had decided to take karate in the first place. “Martial arts saved my son’s life several times,” she says. “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” In 2009, she returned to South Carolina to take care of her mother, who was sick. “I left everything here to go help take care of my mama,” she says. “But while I was there, I opened up a studio.”

Return of the Ridgehand After spending two years in South Carolina, Rhonda returned home to Bremen after her mother got well. In November 2020, she reopened Bremen Karate Academy on Music Mill Road. “I’m getting a second generation of people that I used to teach that’s married and have children who now come here to learn karate,” she says. She doesn’t compete now due to an injury, which gives her more time to focus on teaching and hosting annual tournaments. Out of all she has accomplished, she’s most proud that she is still able to host karate championships. On April 2, at the Riverside EpiCenter in Austell, she hosted her 35th tournament. Rhonda is proud of her accomplishments but notes that none of this would have been possible without the supportive community behind her. That community includes her family, coaches and teammates who encouraged and believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself. She is a shining example of what it means to be a fierce competitor, both inside and outside the ring. She has dedicated her life to fighting for what she believes in while inspiring others to become the best version of themselves. And she shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Looking back on her incredible journey, Rhonda reflects on all the challenges she overcame and the lessons she learned. “It’s been a struggle, but it’s been a good struggle,” she says. WGW

To learn more about Rhonda "Ridgehand" Alexander and Bremen Karate Academy, call 678.232.1672.

Dailey Life Photography Zachary Dailey, photographer for West Georgia Woman Magazine

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Fur Babies Finding

Forever Homes

Carrollton’s Cat Cafe celebrating one-year anniversary By Corey Cusick

L to r: Fur Babies Cat Cafe founders Sarah Seagle, Jesse New and Becky Preston. Photos by Zachary Dailey.

popular hangout spot on South Street in Carrollton has been “cat”ering to a new cast of clientele over the past 12 months. The brainchild of three west Georgia natives and lifelong animal lovers, Fur Babies Cat Cafe is celebrating its oneyear anniversary on June 4, a milestone the owners are proud to proclaim as pretty much purrfect. “It’s been a whirlwind kind of figuring out what we’re doing. There’s not a ton of cat cafes to base our business on. So we’re figuring it

out as we go. But it’s been really exciting,” notes coowner Becky Preston. “We’ve helped 340-something cats find homes in the last year.” Becky, along with fellow Fur Babies’ founders Sarah Seagle and Jesse New, partnered with the Carroll County Animal Shelter to provide a temporary residence for cats to become tenants in hopes of finding their forever home. Admittedly going into this journey blind to the business aspect of what it would entail, the owners have proven

more than capable of scratching the surface toward assisting the local community, as well as our furry, fourlegged friends, in the mission of providing a safe environment for cats and a resource for the shelter in its battle of overpopulation. “There’s only so much we can do as individuals. But in this concept, we can expose the issue in this community with so many cats and so many people who are uneducated about them,” Jesse says. “We want to not only find homes for them, but

educate those who are here how to care for them, why cats are great animals and how to prevent cats from reproducing.” Sarah is not only part-owner, but offers a bona

Wishing a Very Happy Father’s Day to All Dads in West Georgia – Biological, Foster and Adoptive, or Just Filling the Role of a Father.

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Your Financial

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Left to right: Jennifer Sauls, Director of Operations and Client Services; Andrea Stone, Marketing Director; and Michael Stone, AAMS®, PPC®, AIF®, Wealth Manager, Founder and CEO.

Your family is the most important aspect of your life. Your future, and theirs, depends on how you plan now. Let us help you create a comprehensive financial life plan tailored specifically for you and your loved ones. We refer to ourselves as, “Your Financial Family.” This theme communicates that we are ready to serve your financial needs with the feeling of being at home – with family.

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fide testimonial on the calling of becoming a catowner – she turned her dog-loving husband into a fan of felines. After their dog of more than 12 years passed away, she convinced her husband to give it a shot. Becky and Jesse actually played a part in this transition, which ultimately culminated in the origins of Fur Babies on a “random” trip to Chattanooga. “They said we’re going to go somewhere, but we’re not going to tell you where. Well, we ended up at a cat cafe. It was in hopes of trying to turn my husband into a cat person,” Sarah recalls of the road trip. “We went and he was like, ‘Where are we? This is so strange.’ It was so weird, but it was so cool and interesting. That’s kind of where we got the idea. We just thought, ‘Wow. This is awesome and we could do this.’ So that’s kind of where it got started. We just started running with it and everything fell into place.” The visit came in January of 2021 and Carrollton’s first cat cafe was launched exactly five months and two days later. “A lot of people thought we were crazy. A lot of them didn’t understand what the concept was,” Becky says. “When we first opened the cat cafe, we didn’t even really know what it was. We just quickly

fell in love with it. We thought that our community needed this. We had a lot of people who were skeptical about it and we had a lot of people who said this is amazing. And it truly has been amazing.” Fur Babies is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday every week. The cost is $13 an hour to visit the lounge, which includes complimentary water, coffee, iced coffee, hot chocolate or iced tea. The cafe also offers a discounted rate for University of West Georgia students on Tuesdays for a study-hour session between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The adoption rate is $50, and there is currently an adopt-one-get-one-free package. “So if you fall in love with two cats, you get two for the price of one,” Becky says. Another engaging concept of Fur Babies is allowing potential buyers to get a better feel for the cat they are bringing home to become a new member of the family. “It’s helped reduce the amount of cats being returned. Sometimes people adopt pets at Christmas or for another reason, but then they get bored with it. They return it or say this cat wasn’t a great fit for us,” Sarah explains.

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“Here, you get a chance to spend a lot more time with a cat or kitten and you get to see their personality. So you know that, ‘Hey, this cat is great for us.’ At the shelter, you might not get the chance to spend that much time with this particular cat. I feel like here, you’re going to have a better chance to find that forever home.” With one year now in the books, Fur Babies is excited about what the future has in store, noting that a “Catio” has been a hot topic of discussion in creating an area for the cats – and patrons, of course – to lounge outdoors when the weather is nice. But more than anything, Fur Babies is dedicated to its mission of serving as a resource and voice for cat lovers – and those future cat lovers – of West Georgia.

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“We thought by the end of last year we could hopefully do 30 to 40 adoptions and we did well over 300," Jesse says. "So it’s been incredible. I mean, just incredible. Honestly, we didn’t even really have a plan other than let’s get this thing off the ground so we can see what happens. Becky and Sarah have been great to work with and the shelter has been amazing. To be able to help them out and help the community out, it’s been fantastic. It’s more than we ever imagined it would be.” WGW

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Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts. After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro. She is a personal chef who offers cooking lessons, baby food prep, date night dinners for two and more. Learn more about Chef Rose at www.chefrosecooks.com.

Mushroom Asparagus Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Ham Omelet

Make use of leftover ham and asparagus from Easter by making this tasty omelet. Ingredients Ingredients

1 pound pizza dough 3 large eggs Cornmeal, for pan 1 4 tablespoon tablespoonsbutter butter, melted 1 cup fresh chopped 1/4 cup hotmushrooms, sauce 3 asparagus 1/2 teaspoonstalks, garliccut in 3-inch pieces 2 slices ham, cut into strips cups shredded cooked chicken 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, torn grated 8-ounce ball mozzarella, 2 fresh chopped 1/3 cupbasil blueleaves, cheese,finely crumbled Salt and red pepper to thinly taste sliced 1/4 cup onion, 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Preparation Preparation

Preheat ovenbowl, to 500º F. Brush a large baking In a medium whisk together eggs with salt sheet with vegetable oil and sprinkle with a and pepper. of cornmeal. In layer a medium skillet, melt butter on medium high.

Treat dad to this spicy pizza for Father’s Day.

Heat until foamy. Combine melted butter, hot sauce and garlic Add the mushrooms and cook for about 1 powder. minute. Pour half of the buffalo sauce over chicken and toss to coat. and ham and cook until Add the asparagus On a lightlyturns floured surface, shape into asparagus bright green, aboutdough 1 minute. round disc and carefully transfer to preAdd the eggs. pared baking sheet to carefully fold the Use a silicone spatula Add remaining to the the pizza and edges of the buffalo omelet sauce while tilting pan, spread over outer 1-inch allowing the dough eggs toleaving cover the entire surbare.of the pan. face Add chicken, blue add cheese and red Once eggs aremozzarella, nearly cooked, cheese and onion. basil. Bake 15slide to 17 minutes. Gently omelet onto plate, folding into a Garnish with green onions. half moon shape. Serves 1. 6. Serves

Watermelon Whip

Ingredients 1/2 cup watermelon juice, puréed and strained through sieve. 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt 1/4 cup frozen watermelon chunks

Preparation In a blender, combine watermelon juice, ice cream and frozen watermelon. Blend until smooth. More watermelon juice can be added if it's not blending easily. Pour into glasses and serve garnished with a fresh watermelon slice. Serves 1. WGW

For an adult only treat, add two ounces of your favorite vodka or rum before blending.

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Hitting the Road

animal companion on vacation, according to TripsWithPets, which provides information on petfriendly accommodations, beaches, activities and restaurants.

How to Choose

The best pet friendly vacation spots

By Sandra Bolan. Photo: Sandra's dogs, Nutter Butter (left) and Stella Blue (right).

eciding where to go on the annual family vacation is no longer just about deciding what will make the kids, and hopefully adults, happy. Many families are now taking into consideration which cities are pet-friendly. Almost 70 percent of American households have pets, with dogs being the most popular animal. Of these households, 78 percent take their

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When deciding where to go on vacation, consider everything you and your dog like to do together. Hiking, hitting the beach, exploring cities on foot and people-watching from coffee shops are the most popular activities. Because they’re outdoor activities, the temperature becomes a factor in deciding where and when to go on a trip. Too hot and everyone is stuck indoors. Too cold and it’s just not fun, and some outdoor activities may not be available. The age and physical capabilities of your pet also has to be taken into consideration. You might be able to handle an 18-mile hike that has a lot of elevation gain and variable terrain, but can your dog? Next, where are you going to sleep? For many years, the only places that allowed dogs were skanky motels, which made camping the defacto choice for pet

owners. For people who don’t like camping or even glamping in an RV, more motels and hotels are allowing pets, including Motel 6, Best Western, the Choice hotel chain, Four Seasons, Hampton Inn and Marriott. Depending on where you stay, the dog’s perks will be better than yours. AirBnB has also become more pet friendly. In 2020, more than 311,000 pets flew within the United States. However, road trips are still the most popular when pets are included.

Local Road Trips One road trip gaining popularity with dog owners is the Georgia Antebellum Trail, which starts in Macon, then heads to Grey, Milledgeville, Eatonton, Madison, Watkinsville and ends in Athens. What makes this 100-mile trek pet-friendly is each of these towns has special events, trails, beaches, restaurants or stores that allow dogs to partake

770.462.5005 along with their humans. If a seaside vacation is more to your liking, within Georgia, Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach allows leashed dogs all year long. Saint Simons Island beaches are slightly more restrictive. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 9 a.m. and and 6 p.m. between Memorial and Labor Days. Lake Lanier’s Tidwell Park has many beach entrances for dogs. Some entire cities are quickly gaining a reputation for being pet-friendly. That includes Asheville, N.C., which has numerous hotels and restaurants welcoming to pets. There are also two dog parks

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near downtown and an abundance of hiking trails within the Blue Ridge mountains. The Biltmore Estates, with more than 8,000 acres to explore, allows dogs on its grounds and on its outdoor patios. Charleston, S.C. is also popular with dog owners. Charleston Carriage Works, which offers historical city tours, lets you bring Fido. Sullivan’s and Morris Island beaches allow dogs, and there’s even an indoor dog pool – Wag-n-Splash. Edisto Island, S.C. has a dog-friendly beach, and your four-legged travel companion is allowed on Botany Bay Ecotours. In Birmingham, Ala., once you’ve hiked the 11 miles of trails in Ruffner Mountain National Preserve, you can both relax at any number of restaurants or make a night of it in its many pet friendly hotels.

Specialty Vacations Among the growing number of vacation destinations dedicated to dogs and their humans is 4 Paws Kingdom Campground and Dog Retreat. Located in Rutherfordton, N.C., 4 Paws claims to be the first and only dog-dedicated campground within the United States. The dog resort has cabins for rent or you can roll into the resort in your RV. It has a swimming pond, numerous off-leash dog parks, along with an agility park. The resort is located within the Blue Ridge mountains, which provides ample dog friendly hiking opportunities and outdoor activities. Before you hit the road, check your hotel and excursion policies. “Pet friendly” means different things to different entities. Some hotels, motels and RV parks charge a pet fee, while others have size limitations and breed bans. When going to the beach or for a hike, abide by all leash laws and rules. It only takes one family to ruin it for all the other traveling dog owners. WGW

delivering a diamond dynasty in haralson

Lady Rebels reflect on program’s third state title for slow pitch softball

By Corey Cusick

Photo by Keith Hardin

until the final week leading up to the tournament isa Warren is walking off into the sunset of the that this would be her last hurrah at Haralson. hills of Haralson. “I had been thinking about my career and how Following 22 years as an educator, it was about to come to an end with us playing for administrator and head coach at Haralson County High School, the veteran softball skipper capped off a championship, so it was exciting,” she says. “The her career in storybook fashion behind the program’s girls really put forth their best effort. They wanted to win the state championship for me, but at the third state title over the past six years at the 2022 GHSA Slow Pitch Softball State Championship in late same time, I wanted it for them. It’s been emotional, but it’s also been a April. fun season. This is a Competing among great group of kids the eight-team field and we had a lot of at Twin Creeks Park in athletic ability on this Woodstock, the Lady team. They were wellRebels unleashed an deserving of winning a unblemished climb to state championship.” the crown, rattling off The Lady Rebels a 4-0 run during the avenged a pair of two-day tournament losses to Cherokee to bring home another during the regular state championship banner, marking the season in the championship bracket first since back-toen route to the title. back title tilts for the Following a 23-2 Tallapoosa talents in 2017-18. thrashing of Oconee in quarterfinal round, Lisa notes how it The Haralson County High School softball seniors with their coaches. Haralson County didn’t really sink in Photo: Keith Hardin.

prevailed in a 3-2 nail-biter against Cherokee – an incredibly low-scoring affair for slow pitch – and defeated West Laurens, 6-1, to advance to the finals, where it met up with Cherokee once again. In the double-elimination format, Cherokee would have had to defeat the Lady Rebels twice in order to take home the hardware, but Haralson’s scrappy squad didn’t allow for any late-season dramatics, delivering the ‘W’ in an 18-15 slugfest to seal the deal. “We had this revenge thing going on, so to beat them on top of winning the title, it was the icing on the cake,” recalls Lady Rebel senior outfielder Rylie Harrell. Rylie was one of six seniors on this year’s squad – along with junior standout Morgan Martin as another key upperclassmen – numbers that gave Lisa high hopes entering the 2022 spring campaign. “We had 17 girls, and six of them were seniors. Morgan Martin, the AJC slow pitch player of the year, was our only junior,” Lisa says. “I felt like we were solid from the very beginning, even our younger players. Of course, the schools we were playing were bigger classifications, so you’ve always got that to think about. But at the end of the day, it’s high schools competing against high schools.”

“I had been thinking about my career and how it was about to come to an end with us playing for a championship, so it was exciting. The girls really put forth their best effort. They wanted to win the state championship for me, but at the same time, I wanted it for them."

Photo by Zachary Dailey

Morgan, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year for slow pitch softball, served as an integral piece to the puzzle and said it’s somewhat bittersweet to have the season end – despite going out on top – due to the lifelong friendships the girls developed over the years.

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“Now that it’s over, it’s kind of sad because I’m friends with all the seniors and I don’t want them to leave,” Morgan says. Of course, they couldn’t leave on a better stage, something everyone in the program is soaking up as an achievement that will only grow greater with time. “It was really special. Ending something like that is tough anyway, so to go out so excited made it emotional, but not in a bad way. I hate ending something and being like, ‘Dang, we’ve got to come off the field.’ Coming off the field after winning that, there was so much joy,” Rylie says. Rylie was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, while fellow senior Mallory Garner was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Morgan, who will lead the troops back to the trenches as a senior next season, had no idea she would be in the running for state player of the year by the AJC, the latest of several honors for this accomplished athlete in both fast and slow pitch softball. “That was a big surprise. When she called my name, I was like, ‘Oh, what?’ I was shocked,” she says. Since the first day of practice, the Lady Rebels had one goal in mind. The fact that it was their head

coach’s final season leading the program only added to the motivation. “We’ve been talking about it the whole year. We wanted to get the win for us and for coach Warren,” Rylie says. “With this being her last year, we wanted it to mean something to her and send her out with a championship.” And that they did – something Haralson County High School and the entire community has rallied around in support of the girls upon creating memories and friendships that can never be taken away. “We really know how to come together,” Rylie says. “It’s something special that we’ll always have. Just a great way to go out.” As for Lisa, it served as the perfect send-off for a career dedicated toward giving back and being a champion for the game she loves. “I’m a true slow-pitch competitor at heart, and being able to go out with a championship is a happy ending,” Lisa says. “Leaving the coaching part of it is hard. It’s been a huge part of my life. Softball led me to college, where I earned a degree for a career that I’m getting ready to retire from. So I’m very thankful for the opportunities I’ve had. I love it and I’m going to miss it.” WGW

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Why We Worry

orrying and and What We feeling anxious are normal and Can Do About unavoidable parts of life. When it’s not ‘normal’ is when it becomes excessive, persistent and uncontrollable. Since worrying and being anxious are an intrinsic part of our lives, By Sandra Bolan we need to find ways to control those emotions and use them to our advantage.

Anxiety vs. Worry Anxiety is a person’s response to the unknown, an anticipated threat, a fear of failure or embarrassment. Worrying, on the other hand, is mental distress or agitation resulting from concern over something anticipatory. In essence, you worry because you’re anxious. Anxiety and worry feed off each other, causing a vicious cycle of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. Worrying also falls into two categories: productive/ solvable and unproductive/unsolvable. Productive worrying is when you worry about paying the bills and you don’t have the money. It becomes productive because you take action – you call the creditors and come up with more flexible payment options or you take on more hours at work. Worrying becomes unproductive when it paralyzes you into doing absolutely nothing, causing you to get evicted from your home or have creditors hunting you down.

•

Why We Worry People worry to pre-empt disappointment. They actually believe it lowers the likelihood of a bad outcome. Each time you worry about something, but nothing tragic happens, in your mind worrying prevented the negative outcome you anticipated, which perpetuates the worrying. Other people believe if they don’t worry about something, or everything, they’re being complacent and unproductive. It’s also not normal when worrying and anxiety start to take a toll on your emotional and physical well-being – you may have insomnia, suffer from headaches and stomach problems, as well as find it difficult to concentrate.

•

• Reframe your thoughts. Shift your thoughts from worrying about long-term outcomes to focusing on what you can do today. For example, you’re worried about getting cancer. Workout daily and eat well. You’re worried about your child getting a scholarship to college. Instead, focus on her daily studying habits. You’re worried about losing a certain amount of weight by a specific date. Concentrate instead on cooking a healthy meal for dinner. Create a worry period. Another way to curtail the worrying and anxiety is to create a worry period, which is a specific amount of time, at a set time each day, you allow yourself to worry about absolutely everything. Once the timer goes off, you’re done worrying and you move on to the rest of your day. Hopefully during that worry period, you also come up with solutions. Stop and challenge your anxious thoughts. Recognize when you’re worrying. By acknowledging it you now have a choice in how you respond – continue to let it fester or let it go. Get up and move. Exercise is a natural, drugfree anti-anxiety treatment because it releases the body’s happy hormones – endorphins. You can even pick workouts like boxing that let you punch things, to help further reduce those pent up anxious emotions. Another option is yoga or meditation, which switches your brain’s focus from worrying about the future to centering in on the present. Talk it out. Verbalizing your feelings makes them less threatening. Talk to someone who is non-judgemental – a friend, family member or therapist. By keeping your worries to yourself, it causes them to build up and get worse.

We can let our anxieties paralyze us, or we can be proactive and put into motion actions that reduce anxiety and stress. Part of what makes life exciting is its unpredictability. Embrace it and while doing so, live in the moment and let the future take care of itself. WGW

Kids Korner

Summer Snail

By Jordan Dailey Photos by Zachary Dailey

Pompoms, assorted colors Hot glue gun and glue sticks Googly eyes Pen or marker Instructions Cut a snail's head out of the yellow construction paper as pictured. Cut the pipe stem in half and glue both halves to the back of the snail's head, leaving about 2-inches showing. Glue the googly eyes to the end of each pipe stem. Glue the snail head to the inside of the plate as pictured. Glue assorted pompoms to the back of the paper plate. Draw a mouth on the snail's face.

Materials Paper plate Orange pipe stem Yellow construction paper

Hot Air Balloon Materials

4 pieces of construction paper, assorted colors 1 piece of brown construction paper, cut lengthwise into a 2- to 3-inch-wide strip. Scissors String Hot glue gun Glue sticks Instructions Cut the 4 pieces of construction paper in the shape of a hot air balloon.

Happy Father’s Day

Fold each shape in half. Fold a long piece of string (about 4-feet in length) 4 times over. Glue the string in the center of the balloon, leaving about 3- to 4-inches in length at the bottom and about 8-inches in length at the top. Tie a knot in the end of the string at the top. Glue each color of the balloon on top of the string in the center of the fold. Roll the brown construction paper into a basketshape and glue together. Glue the 4 pieces of string at the bottom of the balloon to the inside of the basket. Alternatively, you could use a toilet paper roll for the balloon basket. WGW

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