MAY/JUNE 2021 Connected - Blissful views - FTC
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Connected
MAY/JUNE 2021
Blissful
views
Burns Bluff
enjoying
benefits of fiber
internet
AN ADDED DIMENSION SCREEN TEST
Flying high with drone Online tools help filmmakers
photos and videos break boundaries
INDUSTRY NEWS
ASCENT — ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS
Rural Connections
By SHIRLEY BLOOMFIELD, CEO
A free online
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association resource
Broadband is helps female
entrepreneurs
critical for working
from home
N
early all of us have spent at least
some time this past year working
from home. And while remote
work surged during the pandemic, it
certainly isn’t a new idea. Between 2005
and 2017, according to Statista, there
was a 159% increase in remote work.
Today 11.2% of Americans are working About 45% of businesses are owned or co-owned by women. Spanning a range
from home, up from 5.7% in 2019. And of industries, most of these businesses are small with potential for growth. The
many are growing to prefer it — 22% federal Small Business Association wants to provide support.
of workers say they’d like to work from
home permanently. I believe full-time The free, information-packed online Ascent program offers a range of helpful
remote work makes it difficult to create resources.
and maintain a collaborative work culture,
but I do think that work is likely to have a TAKE A JOURNEY
new face when we get back to “normal.” Experts in women’s entrepreneurship created informational Journeys. Participants
The Foundation for Rural Service can choose any Journey, opting out of sessions with information they already
recently published a white paper entitled know. Each Journey includes Excursions filled with resources needed to master a
“Rural America’s Critical Connections.” topic.
(You can download it for free at
www.frs.org.) The report cites a Global
Workplace Analytics report that states,
“Our best estimate is that 25-30% of the
workforce will be working from home
multiple days a week by the end of 2021.” Exercises and tools Fireside chats Infographics Success stories
What does this mean for broadband,
that critical connection that helps us work
remotely? It certainly means our country ?
needs to continue the work to get broad-
band to everyone — and that in doing
so we must build robust networks using
technology proven to support the speeds
and synchronous connections that work- Discussion guides Videos Key insights Self-assessments
ing from home requires. Regardless of
the work patterns and flexibility we see in
the coming year, one thing is for certain:
NTCA members such as your provider DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
will continue to be at the forefront of
connecting rural America.
Visit ascent.sba.gov
2 | May/June 2021
Secure your Internet of Things
T Security tips
he Instant Pot, a pressure cooker, system gives up a little bit of their internet
is one of the most popular small bandwidth to this network. Instead of a
kitchen appliances of recent years. smart home, Sidewalk can create a smart for IoT devices
Naturally, there’s a model capable of neighborhood.
connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi — an Amazon released a detailed white paper • Change the device’s default pass-
example of the Internet of Things, or IoT. outlining the system’s security features. word. Consider a different device if
instructions for changing the pass-
Smart thermostats, door locks and And while security experts have been
word aren’t readily available.
security cameras are just a few devices on quoted praising the company’s efforts, oth-
the IoT spectrum. Refrigerators, toys and ers have expressed concern about privacy • Long passwords — as long as possible
a range of whimsical gadgets are all on the and the potential for hackers to target the — work best. Make them unique to
bandwagon. And businesses and industry, system. Amazon Sidewalk can be turned each IoT device.
including agriculture, manufacturing and off in the settings section of the company’s
• Many IoT devices connect to smart-
medicine, take advantage of connected smartphone app.
phone apps. Take a few minutes to
devices. As IoT devices proliferate and offer
understand the permissions granted
Like the connected Instant Pot, which new, practical ways to leverage the power to these apps. An internet search will
lets a cook control it via a smartphone app, of the internet, knowledge and a few help here, too.
IoT devices provide convenience, useful practical security steps can offset possible
data and new ways of using technology. risks. In the past, the FBI noted the need • If possible, have a separate network
Cisco, a leader in networking systems, for IoT caution. “Unsecured devices can for devices, such as an internet-con-
estimates that more than 75 billion such allow hackers a path into your router, giv- nected refrigerator and a laptop
devices will be in use by 2025. ing the bad guy access to everything else containing sensitive information.
The utility of what is sometimes on your home network that you thought • Regularly update the devices, and
described as the fourth industrial revolu- was secure,” Beth Anne Steele wrote for turn off automatic updates.
tion is balanced by the need for mindful the Portland FBI office.
caution. These devices offer people with
bad intent potential doorways into private
homes and businesses that use the inter-
net-dependent gadgets.
Meanwhile, companies are finding
new ways of leveraging these systems.
One example is Amazon Sidewalk,
which rolled out earlier this year. Here’s
how Amazon described the innovation:
“Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network
that helps devices like Amazon Echo,
Ring security cameras, outdoor lights and
motion sensors work better at home and
beyond the front door.”
Essentially, Sidewalk links your
Amazon devices to those of your neigh-
bors through a specialized network.
Why? Well, imagine your internet goes
down while you’re out of town, making
your security-focused Ring Doorbell
useless. With Sidewalk, however, your
internet-connected doorbell would keep
right on working, relying on the internet
connections of your neighbors to power
the system. Everyone on the Sidewalk
May/June 2021 | 3
FROM THE CEO
Reflections on Moon Lake Connected
MAY/JUNE 2021 VOL. 25, NO. 3
Early education can shape your life Connected is a bimonthly magazine
published by Farmers Telecommunications
A
Cooperative, © 2021. It is distributed without
couple of months from now, school doors across our charge to all customers of FTC.
area will close for the summer. At one school, Moon
Lake Elementary, the closure is more final as the
school ends its run as one of our oldest community schools.
This announcement provoked a wave of nostalgia. You see, that
was my school for grades 1 - 6, before kindergartens were the
norm. Six years, three classrooms, three teachers and a lot of
FRED JOHNSON memories. Back then, each classroom held two grades. Some- FTC is the state’s largest member-owned
Chief Executive Officer one asked me recently if that didn’t mean a lot of repetition. I provider of telecommunications services.
suppose so, but we didn’t seem to mind. Ironically, before this It serves Northeast Alabama with a robust
closing was announced, I wrote about my first-grade teacher in broadband network using world-class optical
fiber technology.
my last column. My teacher in the third and fourth grades left an impression on me in two
ways. First, she was the first — but not last — teacher upon which I had a crush. I didn’t
get over it until I was a teenager. Second, and more productive, she encouraged my interest Farmers Telecommunications
in vocabulary. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “Johnson, you were 8.” But really, I Cooperative, Inc.
actually remember her encouraging me to explore words, to learn their meaning and use P.O. Box 217 • 144 McCurdy Ave. N.
Rainsville, AL 35986
them. I still marvel at it actually. And then there were grades five and six. My teacher was
Telephone: 256-638-2144
the late Charles Bell, who after a distinguished education career became DeKalb County www.farmerstel.com
Commission President. The man holds the distinction of having paddled me more than any
other human — my mom used a switch; he used a paddle. I think I deserved 86% of them.
I narrowly avoided what would have likely been the worst one ever by a sheer stroke of BOARD OF TRUSTEES
luck and quick reaction. I was late for school and was persuaded by friends, clearly with Randy Wright, President
my best interest in mind, to hide under his desk and “attack” him when he returned to the Flat Rock Exchange
classroom. It was such a wonderful idea. Meanwhile, a serious ruckus broke out, resulting Garry Smith, Vice President
in almost every boy in the classroom getting a serious whipping. During a break in the Fyffe Exchange
action, I quickly retreated from my grand plan and took up normal residence at my desk. Danny R. Richey, Secretary
Mr. Bell concluded that I should not be punished since, clearly, I was late and not present Geraldine Exchange
during the melee. I still can’t believe I wasn’t ratted out. I never confessed. Lynn Welden, Treasurer
Both my mom and grandmother worked at the school during its early history, and a dear Bryant Exchange
cousin was the lunchroom cook, par excellence, for many years. Frankly, I didn’t really Kenneth Gilbert
know what a “school lunch” was until 7th grade. Mae Shigley cooked for us at Moon Lake Pisgah Exchange
like she cooked for her family. She took pride in making sure her “kids” had a home-cooked
Gregg Griffith
meal while in her lunchroom. It never occurred to me at the time that she probably knew Henagar Exchange
things about them I didn’t.
Randy Tumlin
Between giving me paddlings, Charles Bell drilled U.S. History and civics into us like
Rainsville Exchange
our lives depended on it. Perhaps they did. Maybe they still do. He wasn’t afraid to pray in
front of us, and if we did something wrong, we heard about why it was wrong. We weren’t
merely told it was against the rules. There was no way to avoid being impacted by his Produced for FTC by:
example and discipline. Considering that more than a few of his students went on to be
responsible moms and dads, business leaders, teachers, military commanders, analysts for
the CIA, and generally responsible citizens, I would say he made a difference.
Perhaps this is a good summation. In many ways, my memories of Moon Lake are of a
bit simpler time, a time with fewer distractions. It wasn’t a utopia that doesn’t exist. Sure, On the Cover:
we had our problems. But mostly, parents looked out for kids, both theirs and others. They Burns Bluff at High Falls
made cakes and cookies for the annual harvest festivals to raise money for school supplies. provides a beautiful
They gathered to work on the property. They showed up for the special events. Maybe, just backdrop for weddings
and future development
maybe, it was a time when we didn’t need a federal policy to assure that kids weren’t left in South DeKalb County.
behind. Maybe they didn’t get lost in the shuffle because at this small community school See story Page 8.
everyone knew everyone and dedicated teachers were determined to make a difference in
their lives. All in all, it wasn’t the worst of times to be sure.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Terrell/SoFly Productions.
4 | May/June 2021
FTC NEWS
SMART COMMUNICATION
On the go and in control.
SmartHub is a web and mobile app that allows you to do business with us like
never before:
Manage your account Report service issues
View and pay your bill Receive important notices
All in the palm of your hand and online! Sign up today! farmerstel.com/smarthub
BYLAWS
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative is required
members. Trustees shall be nominated and elected as
provided hereinafter.
SECTION 3. Qualifications
fifty percent (50%) or more of the regular meetings
of the Trustees during each twelve (12) month period
beginning with the month of a trustee’s election. The
Any member shall be eligible to be nominated, elected President or Secretary shall provide prompt notice of
by the Rural Utilities Service.
and remain a Trustee of the Co-op who: (a) Resides in any violation of this section which would disqualify a
(RUS) to furnish the following information to the geographic area for which the Trustee is elected member from service on the Board, at which time such
members prior to the annual meeting. and has resided there for more than two-hundred-forty member’s office shall be deemed vacant. Nothing con-
BYLAWS – ARTICLE IV | SECTION 2. Election and (240) days during the preceding twelve (12) month tained in this Section shall invalidate any prior action
Tenure of Office period. taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.
The Co-op is divided into seven (7) geographic service (b) Is not an employee of the Co-op or a wholly-owned SECTION 4. Nominations.
areas and from each such service area there shall be subsidiary of the Co-op or in any way financially inter- It shall be the duty of the Board to appoint, not less
elected one trustee to the Board. Members shall be eli- ested in a competing enterprise or a business engaged than forty (40) nor more than seventy (70) days
gible to vote for every Trustee. The geographic service in the selling of end-user communications services before the date of a meeting of the members at which
areas are set forth as follows: Bryant, Flat Rock, Fyffe, or supplies or maintaining communication facilities, trustees are to be elected, a committee on nominations
Geraldine, Henagar, Pisgah and Rainsville as the same other than a business operating on a cooperative non- consisting of not less than five nor more than eleven
are shown on the map or plat of the service area on profit basis for the purpose of furthering rural tele- members who shall be selected from different sections
file in the office of the Co-op at Rainsville, Alabama to phony. Provided however that a member of the Board so as to ensure equitable representation. No member of
which such map or plat thereof reference is here made of Directors of any subsidiary corporation wholly owned the Board may serve on such committee. The commit-
for a more complete description of said service areas. by the Co-op, who is not otherwise employed by such tee, keeping in mind the qualifications for office, shall
The Trustees shall be elected by secret ballot for a subsidiary, shall not be considered as an employee prepare and post at the principal office of the Co-op
term of three years on a rotating basis with the Trust- of such subsidiary for the purpose of determining at least thirty (30) days before the meeting a list of
ees from the Pisgah, Bryant and Geraldine service areas qualification to serve as a Trustee of the Co-op. nominations for trustees which shall include at least
being elected at the annual meeting of the members (c) Is not closely related to an incumbent Trustee or two candidates for each trustee position to be elected.
of the Co-op in August 1991 and the Trustees from the an employee of the Co-op. As used herein, “closely Any fifteen (15) or more members acting together may
Rainsville and Fyffe service areas being elected at the related” means a person who is related to the principal make other nominations by petition by delivering such
annual meeting of the members of the Co-op in August person by consanguinity or affinity, to the second petition to the Headquarters of the Cooperative during
1992 and the Trustees from the Flat Rock and Henagar degree or less, i.e., a person who is either a spouse, normal office hours not less than twenty-two (22)
service areas being elected at the annual meeting of child, grandparent, grandchild, parent, brother, sister, days prior to the meeting and the Secretary shall post
the members in August 1993 and after their election aunt, uncle, nephew or niece, by blood, marriage, adop- such nominations at the same place where the list of
the Trustees shall continue to serve until the election tion or in-law, of the principal. However, no incumbent nominations made by the committee is posted. The
of Trustees at the annual meeting of the members of Trustee shall lose eligibility to remain a Trustee or to Secretary shall mail with the notice of the meeting or
the Co-op at which their term expires or if no election be re-elected as a Trustee if such Trustee becomes separately, but at least five (5) days before the date of
shall be then held, the Trustees shall continue to hold a close relative of another incumbent Trustee or of the meeting, a statement of the number of trustees to
office until their successors shall have been elected a Co-op employee because of marriage to which the be elected and the name and addresses of the candi-
and shall have qualified. If an election of Trustees shall Trustee was not a party; neither shall an employee lose dates, specifying separately the nominations made by
not be held on the day designated herein for the annual eligibility to continue in the employment of the Co-op the committee and the nominations made by petition,
meeting or at any adjournment thereof, a special if he or she becomes a close relative of a Trustee if any. The ballot to be used at the election shall
meeting of the members shall be held for the purpose because of a marriage to which he or she was not a list the names of the candidates nominated by the
of electing Trustees within a reasonable time thereaf- party. committee and the names of the candidates nominated
ter. Trustees may be elected by a plurality vote of the (d) To remain a trustee, the incumbent must attend by petition, if any.
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2021 | 5
TRAVEL
Marvelous vistas
about the hotel’s glorious heyday. But
people continue to come to see the mag-
nificent gardens tended by Mother Nature.
Sometimes too many people, Kelley adds,
Rhododendron make summertimes scenic so he offers a suggestion should you go.
Story by ANNE P. BRALY
“South of Carver’s Gap is an area
C
known as the Rhododendron Gardens,
limb to the top of Roan Mountain, the flora and fauna. In 1794, Andre which you can drive to, park and hike
a 5-mile ridgetop along the Micheaux discovered alpine species rarely from there,” he says. “There is a small
Appalachian Trail, in the month found outside of the New England and user fee you have to pay to enter the
of June, and something magical happens. Canadian latitudes. Five years later, John area, but it is well worth it. That area is
The view, normally green with vegetation, Fraser hiked up the mountain, collecting accessed by turning south at Carver’s
turns into a blanket of crimson as the specimens of rhododendron and noting Gap.”
rhododendron opens in full bloom. the existence of the fir tree we now know Bauer’s attachment to “The Roan,” as
“The views are spectacular — and that’s as the Fraser fir. And yet another early she calls it, began in college when she
an understatement,” says Keith Kelley, explorer was Elisha Mitchell, for whom was a student at East Tennessee State
ranger for the Cherokee National Forest, Mount Mitchell is named. University. Her botany professor intro-
Watauga District. But it wasn’t until the magnificent duced her to The Roan, and the rest, as
It’s this view that people have been Cloudland Hotel opened high atop Roan they say, is history. She’s now been with
traveling to experience for generations, Mountain that it became known to the Tennessee State Parks for 38 years, the
according to Jennifer Bauer. She is the general public and word of its rhododen- first 21 of which were spent working as
author of three books about Roan Moun- dron — the largest proliferation of wild an interpretive ranger at Roan Mountain
tain. The most recent is “Roan Mountain: rhododendron in the world — spread State Park. The position enabled her to
A Passage of Time.” across the South and beyond. Today, little conduct research in an effort to learn more
As early as the 1700s, botanists made remains of the Cloudland other than a for- about the natural history of The Roan and
their way up the mountain range to study est service marker providing information its people. Bauer is now the park ranger
at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in
Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Roan’s highlands, which reach up to
Where does Roan Mountain get its name? 6,285 feet at its peak, is where you’ll find
Some say the name refers to the reddish color of the mountain when the Rhododendron Gardens — toward the
rhododendron comes into bloom in early summer or when the mountain west end of the highlands at the end of
ash berries appear in autumn. But, according to the United States a U.S. Forest Service road that turns off
Department of Agriculture, there’s another theory. Some say it comes from Carver’s Gap at the North Carolina/
from Daniel Boone’s roan-colored horse, because the man and his horse Tennessee state line.
were frequent visitors to the area. “When they are in full bloom, you see
a sea of crimson flowers in areas where
there are not many spruce and fir trees
popping up among them,” Bauer says.
“But even with the trees, it’s a beautiful
sight. In other areas of the mountain,
you’ll walk through areas that are in dif-
ferent stages of transition between balds
to forests. In these areas the rhododendron
reaches for the sun and blooms among the
spruce and firs. All of these unique habi-
tats present a feeling of great beauty and a
sense of visiting an enchanted forest.”
Any time of year is worth visiting,
Kelley notes. “But in June, the rhododen-
dron are in bloom, along with some of the
other vegetation, which offers incredible,
breathtaking scenery.”
6 | May/June 2021
Grow it yourself Balding
Rhododendron grows best in cooler climates and acidic
The Appalachian Trail travels
soil — definitely not the hard-packed red clay found
along the highest ridges of the
throughout the South. There are hybrid varieties, though,
Roan Mountain range, which
that have been developed for the southern garden. But
separates Tennessee and
that’s no guarantee they will survive. Rhododendrons do
North Carolina. A portion of the
not like high heat and wet soil. However, if you’re willing to
highlands is a red spruce and
try, here are some tips from Southern Living.
Fraser fir forest. Other areas
of The Roan are described as
• Start with heat-tolerant plants.
“bald” communities. Just as the
• Pay attention to the soil and have it tested for acidity.
name implies, balds are areas
Also, plant your rhododendron in an area that drains
on mountaintops where the
quickly and contains lots of organic matter, such as
forest ends and thick vegetation
chopped dead leaves, cow manure and ground bark.
of native grasses and/or
Again, no clay.
shrubs begins. One of the most
• If your ground is flat, plant the rhododendron in a
popular areas along the entire
raised bed.
Appalachian Trail from Maine to
• Finally, choose a location that is lightly shaded in the
Georgia is the portion that crosses
afternoon and shielded from strong winds.
the balds of Roan Mountain, says
Jennifer Bauer, former ranger at
Roan Mountain State Park and a
board member of Friends of Roan
Mountain.
How the balds developed is
anyone’s guess, but scientists now
believe they may have formed
during the last ice age when
constant winds and freezing
temperatures caused trees to
make a hasty retreat down the
mountaintop. Mammoths and
other beasts acted as Mother
Nature’s personal weed eaters,
keeping the balds grazed. Now
that the woolly beasts are gone
and temperatures have warmed,
balds are beginning to grow
some “hair.” But Roan Mountain’s
balds still shine. Among the most
popular are the balds starting at
Carver’s Gap and going north.
They are, in order:
• Round Bald
• Jane Bald
• Grassy Ridge
• Yellow Mountain
• Little Hump Mountain
• Hump Mountain
May/June 2021 | 7
What’s in a name
Burns Bluff at High Falls is home to wedding venue and log cabin community
Story by LISA SAVAGE
K
aren Tillery loves old log cabins log cabin — something historic,” Karen
and the history behind them. She Tillery says.
and her husband, Glenn, never They found the perfect aging cabin.
dreamed this love, combined with the It was in such bad shape the real estate
mountaintop vistas on their land near High agent refused to go inside with them. They
Falls in southern DeKalb County, would bought it and went to work. The resto-
lead to such an adventure. ration took a couple of years, and they
Yet here they are, hosting weddings turned it into a vacation rental. That pro-
with breathtaking views for brides from all cess sparked Tillery’s love for log cabin
over the country, developing a community restorations.
of vacation homes and working with the The couple also dreamed of acquiring
DIY Network television show “Barnwood mountaintop property. They searched for
Karen Tillery and her husband,
Builders.” They purchased bluff property two years. In 2007, Tillery’s husband saw Glenn, are creating a unique
in 2007, and in 2020, the couple opened an advertisement in a real estate publica- area at Burns Bluff at High Falls.
Burns Bluff Weddings. The first cabin at tion for 22 acres and beautiful views. “We
their nearby development, Burns Bluff at had to hike through the woods to get to it,” a wedding venue never crossed my mind,”
High Falls, should be completed this year. she says. “Then it opened up into the most Tillery says.
amazing view I’ve ever seen in my life.”
THEIR STORY They bought the land, moved an old WEDDING VENUE
Several years ago, the Tillerys lived in log cabin to the property and began the One weekend, Glenn Tillery walked the
Huntsville and wanted to purchase a house restoration process. It opened for rental in Burns Bluff land and prayed over it. While
on Lake Guntersville. “My husband said 2010. A few years later, they restored an staying in one of their cabins, he read
he’d go along with it if we bought an old 1800s cabin at Burns Bluff. “At that point, the notes in the visitor books. People had
8 | May/June 2021 Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative
Burns Bluff at High Falls
provides amazing views.
Adam Willoughby, an
FTC install and repair
technician, installs fiber.
come for honeymoons and anniversaries, their property, adding features that made it restrictions require 65% of a structure’s
and one couple had gotten married at the larger and more suitable for weddings. exterior be reclaimed from a historic
cabin. After reading the stories, he came “We call it the ‘charn’ because it’s a structure. “We want this community to
up with the idea of the wedding venue. cross between a church and a barn,” she reflect history, and we’ve reinvented ways
He thought a 30-by-50-foot pole barn says. to preserve history,” she says.
already on the property would be perfect.
It had green metal siding and a dirt floor FAST FIBER ABOUT THE NAME
and a capacity for 75. Karen’s thoughts Tillery marketed Burns Bluff Weddings Choosing a name for the property was
were quite different. She researched wed- as a destination location, advertising in easy once Tillery learned the history of the
ding venues across the country and learned online publications like The Knot and land.
an average wedding guest list ranges from Wedding Wire. The venue hosted its first George Burns, a freed black slave,
150 to 200 people. wedding in June 2020, and there were 13 traded a gun for a portion of the land in
“We decided if we’re going to put this more by the end of the year. “We have 1891. He and his wife, Harriet, lived in a
much into this to go ahead and make it brides from Indiana, Texas, Utah, and log cabin on the bluff with their daughter,
something special,” Karen Tillery says. several from Florida,” she says. Sarah, who stayed there until her death.
They purchased a neighbor’s adjoining Several challenges had to be addressed “Every single person we have spoken to
44-acre parcel in 2018, which included along the way to accommodate guests. about our land and about the Burns family
a large lodge-style house. Karen Tillery, Cell phone and internet service in the rural speaks of them with such honor and
a licensed builder, had begun working area posed an obstacle, and there were no respect,” Tillery says.
with “Barnwood Builders” in 2015 on a good options. Working with FTC to come Some of the old-timers in the area
project in Langston. During the renovation up with a way to extend their service to shared stories with Tillery of picnics and
of the original lodge at Burns Bluff, the the bluff property, the development qual- adventures on the bluff. “It’s our dream
“Barnwood Builders” crew added a log ified for a grant that helped pay the costs. that Burns Bluff at High Falls becomes a
entry and log skins around the first floor “Now we can boast that we have fiber place people make wonderful memories
exterior to tie it into the Tillerys’ log cabin internet, and it makes such a huge differ- once again,” she says. “It’s a place for
business model. ence,” Tillery says. families, groups, teams and friends to
Since then, Tillery has designed more Last year, the venue even streamed come and gather, for picnics along the
than a dozen projects and has appeared on several wedding ceremonies. “Without the stream or for hikes down the mountain.
“Barnwood Builders” several times. fiber internet from FTC, this would have This bluff’s history is now part of our
While planning the wedding venue, Til- been impossible,” she says. story.”
lery created a computer-generated image The Tillerys also established 12 building
of her vision and posted it on Instagram. lots to sell for vacation homes. The fiber
She learned that a master timber framer internet extends to them, as well. Deed
had just taken down an old church, circa
1892, in Pennsylvania, and the structure
Learn more about the Burns Bluff wedding venue and the development
matched her vision. The couple bought the
church, and the builder reconstructed it on
at their websites. Burnsbluffweddings.com | Burnsbluffathighfalls.com
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2021 | 9
Final cut
How the freedom of the internet
is transforming filmmaking
Story by DREW WOOLLEY
S
ome filmmakers learn their craft “It gives you really specific boundaries
by making home movies in the with the content you’re allowed to create,
backyard. Others go to film school. which is 59 seconds,” she says. “So the
Madelaine Turner likes to say she got her challenge and excitement as a storyteller,
education on YouTube. director and creator is getting your point
“That’s essentially where I got my film across and making those 59 seconds really
degree,” she says. “Movies were my first enjoyable for your audience.” Her growth as a filmmaker hasn’t gone
love, but filmmaking wasn’t something I Within those confines, Turner has unnoticed. As a freelance screenwriter,
pursued for a long time. Until quarantine explored her wide-ranging creative inter- Turner has been able to point to her online
started.” ests, from short films paying homage to portfolio and hundreds of thousands of
At 27 years old, the California native Jane Austen costume dramas and French followers to build connections within the
considers herself a senior by the standard heist movies to abstract dream sequences movie industry. And thanks to the algo-
of apps like TikTok. Of the app’s 500 mil- and a cyberpunk take on “The Wizard of rithms of apps like TikTok, Instagram and
lion active users, nearly half are estimated Oz.” Each new style gives her a chance to YouTube, more people are discovering her
to be in their teens and early 20s. learn more about the filmmaking process work every day.
Originally, Turner’s quick videos were both during and after filming. “It allows you to come across content
just a way to stay connected with her “I’d never really used a green screen from someone with virtually no follow-
younger siblings. But she began to view or After Effects before,” she says. “Now, ing,” Turner says. “And from my per-
the platform as a way to genuinely flex her taking on a new genre is really exciting spective, I was putting my stuff out there
creative muscle after a positive response because it allows me to push the boundar- and very quickly engaging an audience
to her Wes Anderson tribute video, “The ies of what I know how to do and chal- that gave me the permission to go bigger,
Anderson Guide to Surviving a Global lenges me to figure out how I can convey further and more creative.”
Pandemic,” filmed using only objects she this effectively without having a whole That audience is one of the reasons
had in her apartment. production crew.” Turner doesn’t expect she’ll ever stop
making short-form videos online, even as
she pursues her larger filmmaking dreams.
The real-time feedback she receives on
those platforms has already shaped her as
a filmmaker and may come to shape the
industry itself.
“A traditional filmmaker might go years
in between films, whereas on TikTok you
get this microenvironment of trying new
things and getting that quick feedback,”
she says.
“So I think I’ve been lucky to hyper-de-
velop my style as a filmmaker because
of that feedback loop. Hopefully I can be
Madelaine Turner puts her
spin on genres ranging part of a generation of filmmakers that is
from French heist movies able to bridge that gap between the inter-
to cyberpunk. net and the mainstream.”
10 | May/June 2021Long distance
For every film festival that was able to pivot to digital in 2020, there
were many more that had to be canceled altogether. With so much
of the industry on hold, a team of five cinephiles in Brooklyn started
the entirely online Long Distance Film Festival, harnessing the power
of broadband to give rural and urban filmmakers around the world an
outlet for their creativity.
“There was a certain freedom to starting an all-online festival,”
says Festival Director Elias ZX. “It was much cheaper than doing it in
person. We didn’t sell tickets and had unlimited capacity so friends,
family and fans of the filmmakers were able to join from around the
globe and watch the festival in its entirety.”
To pull it off, the team partnered with the independent Spectacle
Theater and Kinoscope to stream its 15 selected short films to
hundreds of viewers around the world. Plans for a second edition of
the festival are already underway, with submissions open for 2021.
Industry standard
Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington was making last-minute
arrangements for the Mississippi-based event when the state’s governor banned
gatherings of more than 100 people. Using Eventive’s brand-new online festival platform,
she quickly pivoted to take the event virtual.
“We were one of the first virtual festivals with Eventive and had to learn a lot
very quickly, mostly that a lot of our community doesn’t have good internet
access,” she says. “That was restricting in some ways, but it also expanded who
could see them to a new audience.”
Moving forward, Addington anticipates OFF will have a hybrid format,
combining the accessibility of a virtual festival with the in-person
experience of a live event.
“This will be what we do from here on out,” she says. “Not everyone
can travel to Oxford, but they can still take part in the experience. It
makes absolute sense for this to become a standard in our industry.”
May/June 2021 | 11BIRD’S-EYE view
far for the organization to use on their
website and for promotions.
“This is such a unique approach,”
Dersham says. “These videos and
photos show the scenery in a way that
we weren’t able to see before. It’s much
Videos provide a unique tourism tool different than videos or photos taken
from a plane. He can capture the images
Story by LISA SAVAGE
from any height, and it feels like you,
yourself, are flying through the air.”
LOVE OF NATURE
Using a drone for videography and
photography seemed like a natural
progression for Terrell, a creative who
enjoys the outdoors. He grew up near
Albertville and hiked many of the local
trails, and he loved visiting new places.
He began taking photos on the hiking
trails and other scenic locations as he
honed his photography skills.
With an interest in technology, he pur-
chased a drone, obtained his pilot’s cer-
tificate and proper documentation, and
began videoing and photographing some
of the most scenic places in the area. He
produced videos of places like DeSoto
Falls, High Falls and Buck’s Pocket
State Park and started posting the videos
visit to DeKalb County as part of a on his Facebook page. The unique
67-county tour for Alabama’s bicenten- footage captured a lot of attention, and
nial celebration. Kevin Terrell of SoFly his videos received thousands of views.
Productions captured the footage and Terrell uses the drone to capture images,
produced the video. plugging the transmitter into his phone.
DeKalb Tourism, Mountain Lakes “I can see the image the drone sees right
Chamber of Commerce in Jackson on my phone,” he says.
Kevin Terrell of SoFly County and similar organizations use He did videography in his spare time
Productions captures many of Terrell’s videos and photos on while working in the television installa-
photos and video
images using a drone. their websites in their efforts to attract tion industry. He had already seen a shift
I
visitors and promote the region. “The from traditional satellite and cable tele-
magine the sensation of soaring just video illustrates why the natural beauty vision to internet-based TV with more
above the water before it cascades to of Northeast Alabama is so critical to people watching on their phones, and he
a creek below or of floating over the the state’s tourism efforts,” says John worried about the industry that provided
edge of a high overlook. Dersham, president and CEO at DeKalb an income for his family. That’s when he
That’s how it feels watching an atten- Tourism. “Kevin does such a great job.” decided to take a shot at establishing his
tion-grabbing video featuring spectac- Terrell was one of the first in the area own business, and he began SoFly Pro-
ular drone footage of mountain vistas, to use drone videography and photogra- ductions. “I basically trusted God and
waterfalls and area landmarks in DeKalb phy geared toward the tourism industry, told myself if I need to stop doing this
County. The video, offering a vantage and DeKalb Tourism became his first and find another job, God would show
point rarely seen before, kicked off a client when he started SoFly Productions me that,” Terrell says. “So far, I haven’t
2019 event surrounding Gov. Kay Ivey’s in 2016. He has created 11 videos so slowed down.”
12 | May/June 2021 Farmers Telecommunications CooperativeA unique view of Little River Falls.
UNIQUE VISION than someone just shooting a video. It
Kevin Terrell makes it sound easy, but provides a vantage not usually seen in
he has a unique vision for productions marketing images. Even people who
and what he hopes to accomplish, says have lived here for a long time see his
Sarah Stahl, marketing and tourism work and have a new appreciation for
director for the Mountain Lakes Cham- the area. They’ve never seen it from that
ber of Commerce in Jackson County. point of view.”
Stahl works with Terrell on a regular In her role, Stahl also represents the
basis and often accompanies him on municipalities in Jackson County, and
hikes to capture many of the images and she worked with Terrell to create videos
videos he creates for the organization. representing each area. “People see these
“He believes strongly that this area has videos and share them on Facebook, and
Kevin Terrell obtained a
so much to offer, and he has partnered it strikes a chord with them,” she says.
drone pilot’s certification
and started his business, with the right people to spread that mes- Stahl says many of the projects with
SoFly Productions. sage in such a unique way,” she says. SoFly Productions promote the region’s
When Stahl started in the marketing livability, and that aspect provides tools
Now, Terrell works long hours trying role, she discovered the website and for companies working to recruit new
to keep up with the work, gaining other marketing tools needed new and employees. “This is a wonderful way to
new projects every week. He recently updated photos. “We didn’t have many showcase our area and offer views that
completed a project for the new Sand images out there of places in Jackson we haven’t seen before,” she says.
Mountain Park and Amphitheater in County,” she says.
Albertville. He also does wedding vid-
eography and photography and has little
She had worked with Terrell on a
project with a previous employer and Learn more
time for another passion — constellation knew his videography and photography
SoFly Productions on Facebook or
and star photography. As the business would provide a much-needed boost for
see the videos on tourism websites.
grew, his wife, Tiara — also a photog- showcasing Jackson County. “His work
visitlookoutmountain.com
rapher — began working with him in is flawless,” she says. “He’s a videog-
Mountainlakeschamberofcommerce.com
editing and photography. rapher, but his work is much better
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2021 | 13SOUTHERN KITCHENS
PEA SALAD WITH
SMOKED ALMONDS
2 (16-ounce) packages frozen
peas
6 ounces smoke-flavored
almonds, finely chopped
1/2 a sweet onion or more, to
taste, finely chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise (reduced fat
OK)
1/2 cup sour cream (light OK)
Perfectly pleasing peas
Ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
cheese
Enjoy a surprisingly flexible legume Place frozen peas in a colander and
I
rinse them under cold water until
f you’re denying yourself the simple frozen peas to a handful of mint leaves thawed. Drain and transfer them to
beauty of peas, it’s time to rethink and a half cup of Parmesan cheese, blend a large bowl. Add the almonds and
your weekly menu. Full of healthy them together in a food processor and add onions. Mix well. Fold mayonnaise, sour
benefits and flavor, they should be a part olive oil as the machine is running until cream and black pepper into the pea
of everyone’s diet. you get a smooth, thick consistency. mixture until evenly coated. Transfer
Peas’ nutrition profile includes manga- If you’re lucky enough to have a gar- to a serving container and top with
nese, protein, fiber, vitamin A and folate, den full of the green pods filled with fresh shredded cheese. Cover and refrig-
with lots of lesser vitamins to boot. And peas, you’ve done yourself a favor. Just erate until serving. Before serving,
their neutral flavor allows them to go go outside and grab a handful of taste and you may want to blend cheese into
from smoothies at breakfast to salads for nutrition. If not, grab a bag of frozen peas the mixture, or leave it on top for a
lunch and pot pies for dinner. They’re — they’re just as good for you. prettier presentation.
inexpensive and add a lot of texture and
color to any plate. FOOD EDITOR
ANNE P. BRALY
Try tossing them with pasta and a IS A NATIVE OF
creamy Alfredo sauce. Or use peas as a CHATTANOOGA,
topping for a baked potato with cheese TENNESSEE.
and sour cream. You can also make an
incredible pesto sauce for buttery rounds
of crusty bread. Simply add a bag of
14 | May/June 2021CREAMY CHICKEN POT PIE
Peas add taste, color and texture to this creamy dish.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Dump the mixture out onto a clean surface and
1 tablespoon sugar use a rolling pin to roll the butter into thin sheets,
1 teaspoon salt combining it with the flour. Use a bench scraper
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into to scrape the rolling pin and to bring the mixture
cubes back into a pile as necessary. Continue until all
1/2 cup cold buttermilk of the butter is incorporated into the flour. The
1 or 2 tablespoons cold water mixture will be very flaky. Return the mixture to
1 large egg, beaten, for the egg the bowl and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes
wash to chill the butter.
For the pot pie filling: Remove from the freezer and add the buttermilk.
1/4 cup unsalted butter Use a spoon, and then your hands, to stir the
1/3 cup diced onion mixture until it comes together into a ball. If the
2 medium carrots sliced (about 1 mixture is too dry, add the water a tablespoon at
GREEN PEA cup) a time. Divide the dough into 2 parts and flatten
BANANA SMOOTHIE 1 stalk celery sliced (about 1/2 cup) them into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap
2 cloves garlic minced and chill in the fridge while you make the filling.
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 frozen banana
1 teaspoon salt To make the filling, heat the butter over medium-
1 cup spinach
1/2 teaspoon black pepper high heat in a large skillet. Add the onions,
4 mint leaves or more, to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme carrots, celery and garlic and cook until tender,
1 1/2 cups almond milk
1 tablespoon minced fresh Italian stirring occasionally. Whisk in the flour, salt, black
1 tablespoon almond butter,
parsley pepper, thyme, parsley, chicken broth and heavy
optional
1 3/4 cups chicken broth cream. Whisk until there are no flour lumps, then
1/2 cup heavy cream simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes
Combine all ingredients in a
3 cups shredded chicken or turkey or until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the
blender. Blend until smooth, about
1 cup frozen peas shredded chicken or turkey and frozen peas.
1 minute. Add more almond milk
Remove from heat and set aside.
if needed to achieve your desired
First, make the pie dough. Combine the
consistency.
flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add Preheat the oven to 400 F. Remove the pie dough
the cubed butter and toss to coat. from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface,
use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a
12-inch circle. Dough should be about 1/4 inch
thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan. Pat
with your fingers, making sure it is smooth. Trim
the extra overhang of dough with a knife and
discard.
Pour the filling into the dough-lined pie pan.
Roll out the second disk of dough and carefully
cover the pie. Trim the extra overhang off the
sides. Seal the edges by crimping with a fork or
your fingers. With a sharp knife, slice a few small
slits in the center of the top crust. Using a pastry
brush, brush the crust and edges with a beaten
egg.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden
brown. Cool for 10 minutes, allowing the filling to
settle and thicken a bit. Cut into slices and serve.
May/June 2021 | 15Presort STD
US Postage PAID
Permit #21
Freeport OH
P.O. Box 217 • 144 McCurdy Ave. N.
Rainsville, AL 35986
Rainsville
June 26
FREEDOM FEST
Free Admission!
Gate opens at 1 p.m.
at the Field of Dreams behind Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center
OUR BIGGEST FIREWORKS SHOW! 9(weather p.m.
permitting)
Made possible by FTC and the City of Rainsville
y Huge car, truck and motorcycle show!
y Free entertainment for the kids — face paint-
ing, pony rides, rock climbing wall, inflatables,
mechanical bull, dixie swing, slides, magical
balloons and caricature art!
y Lots of food vendors and arts and crafts!
Entertainment
HEADLINER JOHN STONE
TAKES THE STAGE AT 7:30 P.M.
Other entertainment throughout the day includes the
Willie Underwood Family, The Sharps, Fortner Brothers
4-Christ, David Dawson and Hunter Kennamer.
For more information call 256-638-7800 | Rainsvillefreedomfest.comYou can also read
