TheCommunicator - Fiber Internet It's music to the ears of one local family - nhtc.coop
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The
Communicator
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Fiber
Internet
It’s music to the ears
of one local family
LOCAL
STOCK
MAKING
SCIENCE FUN
INDUSTRY NEWS
Communication at
Rural Connections
By SHIRLEY BLOOMFIELD, CEO
the speed of light
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association
Fiber optics make it possible
An investment
for the future
Expanded broadband access
will lift rural communities
I
n order to thrive, all communities — espe- At the end of the 1970s, Corning Inc. developed a technology that would
cially those in rural America — require reshape communications — fiber optics. Today, it’s a critical component
opportunities and the modern communica- in the networks making our hyperconnected world possible. Streaming
tions tools so vital for jobs, education, health entertainment, social media, video calls, telehealth, online education, work-
and so much more. from-home jobs and so much more depend on this technology.
Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, the NTCA's nearly 850 rural,
community-based broadband providers now
DID YOU KNOW?
have fresh help as they work to complete
• Each fiber strand is made up of a glass
their essential mission. This historic invest-
core thinner than a human hair.
ment will go a long way to connecting all
Americans, even in areas of the country that • Light signals are transmitted through the
are the hardest to reach for service providers. glass, just as you might send a signal down
Of course, the work now truly begins to the tunnel.
deliver on the promise this law offers. The
FCC must prioritize areas of the greatest • To keep the light from simply passing
need. Also, we will work with all key parties through the glass when it changes direc-
to support state leaders as an unprecedented tion, the core is surrounded by a cladding
amount of resources flow into their broadband that reflects light back into the glass.
initiatives.
Care is needed to vet those seeking funding, • The process is similar to mirrors in a tunnel,
to ensure they can truly supply the infrastruc- bouncing the signal from side to side until
ture and services they promise. Throughout it reaches its endpoint.
the effort, we must remember that we need
• A single fiber cable — each fiber is much
to do more than simply build networks. Our
thinner than copper wire — can bundle
commitment must also be to sustain these
hundreds, or even thousands, of fiber
vital communications systems and to ensure
strands.
the services offered over them are affordable
and will meet customer demands well into the • While incredibly thin, fiber is not brittle. A
future. single strand is three times stronger than
We're confident NTCA members will con- steel and more durable than copper.
tinue to serve their neighbors by solidifying
existing networks and expanding service. No • The glass core of a fiber cable is so pure that if the ocean was made
matter where they live, all Americans should of the same glass, you could stand on the surface and clearly see the
have the same opportunity to access vital ocean floor miles below.
communications services needed not only
today, but also for years to come.
2 | January/February 2022
Take a
STAND!
Avoid back and
neck pain while
working from home
O
ver the past couple of years, looking at a monitor at eye level, on the STAY ACTIVE
working from home has gone other hand, puts little strain on your neck It’s a good idea to take breaks through-
from a perk — one that only a and back, while also burning more calories out the day to move around and get the
few employers offered — to the norm for than sitting. blood circulating. While you’re at it, try
many. The benefits for employees range That said, it isn’t comfortable to stand some simple exercises like backbends,
from having your dog as a co-worker to for hours at a time. That’s why the UPLIFT hamstring stretches and planks that can
adding pajama pants to the professional Standing Desk V2 is a good option for help strengthen your core and provide
wardrobe. But working from home can any remote office. The design enhances additional support for your lower back.
also come with hazards. durability and comfort, and easy height If you’re looking for a guided workout,
Whether you’re camped out at a kitchen adjustment encourages users to keep mov- the Seven Home Workout app offers a
table, sprawled across the couch or ing without settling into any position for wide variety of seven-minute routines
luxuriating in bed all day, odds are your too long. that you can squeeze into a busy day. Or
home setup isn’t as ergonomic as that explore the Yoga Studio app to unwind
of an office. This may not be a big deal LOOK FOR SUPPORT with yoga classes for all levels of experi-
when you’re working from home for short When you do decide to take a seat, get- ence and guided meditations that take as
periods. But when those workdays add up ting the proper support can make a big dif- few as five minutes.
to weeks or even months, poor posture and ference. If you don’t have an office chair,
sedentary behavior can create serious back try putting a small pillow behind your MOVE AROUND
and neck pain. lower back to maintain an arched posture. Time can get away from you during a
The good news is that with the right This practice will help put your upper body busy workday, so it always helps to have a
furniture and a little daily activity, it’s easy weight on the chair instead of your spine. reminder when it’s time to take a break. If
to strike a healthy balance with your work- If you’re ready to invest in a new you have an Apple Watch, you set the fre-
from-home routine. chair, the Steelcase Gesture has been quency of these reminders in the Activity
Wirecutter’s pick for more than five years. app. For everyone else, apps like Stand
GET ON YOUR FEET However, if you’re looking to spend less, Up! will schedule notifications throughout
Most people tend to hunch forward the HON Ignition 2.0 is a more afford- your workday to get up and move around.
while sitting, which can put a lot of pres- able option that makes few sacrifices in The Wakeout app will even suggest quick
sure on your lower back. Standing and comfort. exercises for every room of the house.
January/February 2022 | 3
FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
The
Communicator
Are you ready for the JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 VOL. 21, NO. 1
high-tech fast lane in 2022?
The Communicator is a bimonthly
magazine published by NHTC, © 2022.
It is distributed without charge to all
cooperative members/owners.
We’re here to help you navigate the upcoming year
H
appy new year! From everyone at NHTC, we hope 2022 is
off to a great start. After a season of celebration, the new year Faster, Farther, Better.
gives us a welcome break from weeks of holiday hustle and
is a member-owned corporation
bustle. It also is a good time to pause and contemplate what’s ahead, dedicated to providing
communications technology to the
whether that’s an upcoming vacation, a new job or major milestones residents and businesses of New Hope,
like graduations or weddings. Grant and Owens Cross Roads.
All that potential can be a little daunting. When looking forward, Send address corrections to:
I often find it helpful to look back and appreciate the road that NHTC
brought us where we are today, whether it’s my own personal jour- P.O. Box 452
ney or the rapid evolution of the communications industry. New Hope, AL 35760
256-723-4211
Consider the internet. Fifty years ago, only researchers had the www.nhtc.coop
first inkling of what was to come. In 1972, “All in the Family” was
the top-rated TV show in the country. Roberta Flack’s “The First
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was at the top of the music charts.
And researcher Ray Tomlinson had recently sent the world’s first Garland Elders, President
Owens Cross Roads Exchange
DANIEL MARTIN email to himself using ARPANET, a network of computers linked
General Manager by phone lines to help Pentagon-funded research stations commu- Randy Morrison, Vice President
nicate. Grant Exchange
Just a decade later, companies like Apple and Microsoft were Calvin Bearden, Secretary
already leading the personal computer revolution that put desktops in homes and offices. By Grant Exchange
1992, people were receiving the first of many AOL software CDs. The squawk of computer Mike Whitaker, Treasurer
modems soon filled homes as people used dial-up internet to connect to email and online New Hope Exchange
message boards. Jeffrey Cantrell
Nineteen years ago, the internet became even more of a social space with the launch of Grant Exchange
Friendster, a precursor to Facebook. Social networks wouldn’t become fixtures on phones Jim Duncan
and mobile devices until the arrival of the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad three years later. Even New Hope Exchange
then, the ability to bring medical expertise home with telehealth, take college-level classes Greg Glover
from your couch or stream high-quality movies, music and TV shows — things we can take Owens Cross Roads Exchange
for granted today — would have seemed far-fetched. Barry Jones
In just five decades, we have seen online technology grow from computers that could New Hope Exchange
only send a few characters of text into being the center of a deeply interconnected world. At
Jerry O’Neal
NHTC, we’re proud to be a part of that story, because we have seen firsthand how the service New Hope Exchange
we provide benefits lives and connects communities.
So, as you look ahead to the many possibilities a new year brings, take a moment to con-
sider how far we’ve come. From staying connected with distant friends on social media to Produced for NHTC by:
planning your next big adventure, how many of your goals wouldn’t even be possible without
fast, reliable internet service?
And, just as importantly, what innovation will be the next to transform our lives? I don’t
expect the pace of innovation to slow down, which is why we’ll be here to make sure the
On the Cover:
services, tools and connections you need are always up to speed.
Here’s to a wonderful 2022 as we all keep our eyes on the road ahead. Mike and Angie Rickles
work from their Owens
Cross Roads home,
something that wasn’t
easy before fiber
internet with NHTC.
See story Page 8.
4 | January/February 2022
NHTC NEWS
Best-selling author LIFELINE
releasing second book SERVICE
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
Rhonda Starnes never gave up on her
dream since seventh grade of becoming
a published author.
Now, the retired middle school language LIFELINE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM TO
HELP LOW-INCOME AMERICANS PAY
arts teacher has published her first
FOR PHONE OR BROADBAND SERVICE.
book, “Rocky Mountain Revenge.” Her
second book, “Perilous Wilderness You are eligible for Lifeline benefits
Escape,” releases in May. Her third, if you qualify for and receive one of
as-yet-unnamed work is anticipated the following benefits:
• SNAP
in October. They are all published with
• Medicaid
Love Inspired, the Christian fiction • Supplemental Security Income
division of Harlequin Enterprises. (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
Starnes submitted previous books to writing contests, only to be rejected. • VA Veterans Pension or Survivors
After six-and-a-half years, the publisher accepted “Rocky Mountain Pension
Revenge,” which reached the Publisher’s Weekly bestseller’s list after the Additionally, consumers at or below
book’s release in 2020. 135% of the Federal Poverty Guide-
lines will continue to be eligible for
Starnes taught middle school at Kate a Lifeline program benefit. (State
Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant for determinations of income will no
longer be accepted.) There are no
23 years and retired in 2020 to write full
changes to the eligibility criteria for
time. “I had talked for years about my tribal programs.
dream to write a book,” she says. “My
husband finally told me to do it or stop Some states have additional qual-
talking about it.” ifying programs, allowances and
stipulations. Check with your local
telecommunications provider for
Starnes’ books are available on Amazon information about benefits that may
and most other online bookstores. be available in your state. To find out
whether you qualify for Lifeline assis-
For more about Starnes, visit her tance, please visit lifelinesupport.org
website at www.rhondastarnes.com or call your local telecommunica-
tions provider.
Note: Your internet or telephone
company is not responsible for
Keep an eye out determining who qualifies for these
for new directories! HAPPY programs or who receives assistance.
New Year!
Phone directories will Consumers must meet specific
be delivered in February. criteria in order to obtain assistance
Remember, NHTC’s members with their local telephone and/or
will be listed alphabetically, NHTC wishes all our broadband service, and qualifying is
without the separation of the customers a blessed and dependent upon government-estab-
three exchanges for New Hope, Grant prosperous new year in 2022! lished guidelines.
and Owens Cross Roads.
NHTC January/February 2022 | 5
TRAVEL
Ancient treasures Museums showcase
geologic adventures
E
Story by ANNE BRALY
ntertaining kids while traveling isn’t easy. But there are places just a smidge off the beaten
track, outside the glitz and glamour of big cities, that will spark your child’s interest. Here are
some spots around the South that mix history and science in fun and interesting ways.
Falls of the Ohio State Park with fossils from the quarries behind the the Gulf of Mexico spread its waters
Clarksville, Indiana interpretive center, which is open Monday across the Volunteer State. Fossils of
Jump over the Kentucky state line into through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and these early inhabitants reside at Coon
Indiana and hike across one of the world’s Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The park grounds are Creek in rural McNairy County, one of
most accessible Devonian-age fossil beds. open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fishing, hiking, the most important fossil sites in North
The 390-million-year-old fossil beds are fossil viewing, bird watching and picnick- America.
among the largest exposed Devonian beds ing are among the most popular activities. The Coon Creek Science Center is a
in the world. The park features a spectac- Admission is $9 for ages 12 and up, $7 for great place for kids to visit and discover
ular interpretive center, which features ages 5 to 11, and under 5 is free. Parking some amazing things. There are hands-on
interactive, immersive exhibits. is $2. For more information, visit displays and activities, which allow them
While fossil collecting is prohibited fallsoftheohio.org. to learn through experiments in which
on the beds and river bank, the park they use their senses while having fun.
staff encourages visitors to explore and Coon Creek Science Center There’s a treasure trove of artifacts on
discover the many different fossils that Adamsville, Tennessee display, so allow enough time to see
can be found on the ancient sea bottom. Tennessee was once home to giant everything. To learn more, visit
And you can collect from rock piles mosasaurs, sharks, crabs and clams when memphismuseums.org.
6 | January/February 2022
Children learn
about the dynamics
of science in the
Discovery Lab, one
of several exhibits
at the Hands On
Children’s Museum.
At right, children can
play while learning
about science and
discovery in the
museum’s Scheu
Family Exhibit Hall
& Art Studio in
the General Shale
Learning Center.
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Finding shark teeth on Folly Beach is
— sometimes peacefully, others not —
around the South. And one of their favor- If you go
a great way to learn about the giants that ite gathering places was a watering hole » Where: Hands On! Discover Center
once roamed the seas — and the many in what would become Gray, Tennessee, and Gray Fossil Site, 1212 Suncrest Dr.,
that continue to do so — and Folly Beach outside Johnson City. Gray, Tenn.
is one of the best places to find their teeth Fast forward a few million years, and » Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday
and learn how to identify all the different today, paleontologists are unearthing a through Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
species. massive amount of bones at the Gray Also, open on Mondays from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. during March, June, and July
Wade into the water and start your hunt, Fossil Site. Experts say they could dig for
only.
sifting through the sand with special tools another 100 years and still not find every-
for shark teeth — maybe even one from thing that lies beneath. Now, kids, parents, » Information: visithandson.org or
423-434-4263.
a megladon. For more information, or to grandparents and others can come and see
book a tour, visit chsfossiladventures.com. what paleontologists have found and learn
so much more in the neighboring Hands and see how fast these creations can go
Cook Museum of Natural Science On! Discovery Center. or spend time at the Bernoulli table while
Decatur, Alabama “The fossil site itself offers an up-close exploring the science of how objects are
Kids can learn all about the birds, the experience where children of all ages able to fly. They’ll be having so much fun
bees, the flowers and the trees and more can see an active dig site,” says Andy they may not realize they’re learning many
by spending a day in Decatur at the Cook Marquette, the Discovery Center’s pres- of the same things about energy that they
Museum of Natural Science, a museum ident and CEO. “They can come within learn in school, says the center’s Director
that began with a small collection of inches of giant fossils and learn about the of Operations Keith Maultbay. “It makes
insects from John Cook, the founder of process from finding a fossil to putting it science fun,” he says.
Cook’s Pest Control. It’s now grown into in collections.” The second floor of Hands On!
a state-of-the-art museum with numer- Discovery Center is all about the dig.
ous exhibits including cave systems, the Hands On! Discovery Center Large glass windows allow views of the
weather, outer space, rivers and streams, Johnson City, Tennessee paleontologists at work, piecing together
oceans and forests and more, including The center grew from a small children’s the intricate bones of a massive mastodon
— yes — insects. Many exhibits include museum in downtown Johnson City to discovered in the center’s backyard several
hands-on elements to keep kids busy and what it is today: a beautiful, new building years ago. Also on view in the collection
entertained. Log onto cookmuseum.org for with numerous interactive exhibits like the room are more bones and tusks.
more information and tickets. “dig pit” in the Paleo Hall where visitors Buy a ticket and take a paleo tour of the
can dig for themselves and see what actual dig site. Another ticket gets you into the
Gray Fossil Site paleontologists experience. Life-size Tesla Theater to witness an electrifying,
Gray, Tennessee replica skeletons of many of the creatures Guinness record-holding experience that
There was a time — some 5 million that once called the Gray Fossil Site home honors the great inventor Nikola Tesla.
years ago — when small horses, mast- now surround the hall. Watch in amazement as the world’s most
odons, alligators, tapirs, rhinoceros, In addition to the paleo exhibits, the powerful, musical, bi-polar Tesla coil
camels, saber-toothed tigers and other Main Exhibit Hall is the place where kids turns 240 volts into 200,000 volts of pure
creatures roamed the hills and meadows can make their own air rockets and air cars electricity.
January/February 2022 | 7
Keys to
Internet lets couple keep piano lessons and
success
real estate business on track
Story by LISA SAVAGE | Photography by MARK GILLILAND
A
ngie Rickles remembers how something that wouldn’t have been possi- their home. Angie called NHTC to see
nervous she was that Wednesday ble with their previous internet provider, about the possibility of getting NHTC’s
night as a 9-year-old playing they say. fiber internet. “I figured the worst thing
the piano for the first time at church. The The couple lives just outside NHTC’s that could happen is they could say no,”
music director asked her to fill in, and she traditional service area on Old Highway she says.
picked some songs from the hymnal she 431. They were dissatisfied customers However, as part of NHTC’s plan to
knew she could play. of a major national provider and found extend service to the Berkley community
Now, decades later, Angie still plays themselves on a first-name basis with and other underserved areas, the coop-
for the congregation, and she erative was able to bring fiber
and her husband, Mike, serve to the couple’s home. In 2019,
as music ministers at the same
church where she first played.
We would both have had NHTC put in the necessary
infrastructure, also providing
She also teaches piano in the
studio at her home in Owens
to totally stop working if service to some of the Rickles’
neighbors. “We had no idea, at
Cross Roads, and she offers an
option for online lessons. Mike, not for NHTC internet. the time, how important that
would be,” Mike says.
a real estate agent, relies on
an online presence to compete — Mike Rickles In March 2020, when
COVID-19 forced a transition
in today’s real estate market, to a much more virtual society,
creating elaborate videos and uploading that company’s technicians. “I knew their there was no way Mike or Angie would
them to his website. names, their wives’ names and their kids’ have been able to continue their jobs
The Rickles use a lot of bandwidth, but names, and I really don’t want to know my from home without NHTC’s fast internet.
with fast fiber internet from NHTC, technicians that well,” Mike says. “What “We would both have had to totally stop
they breeze through their we had was better than dial-up internet, working if not for NHTC internet,” Mike
daily schedules — but not much better, and we always had says. “We haven’t had any problems.
a problem.” And I can say we have never had to have
They learned a few years ago that a technician come out. I’m sure they’re
NHTC’s fiber internet serves The Mead- nice people, but I don’t even know them,
ows subdivision, which is only much less their names. That’s a good
a short distance from thing.”
Adobe stock images by xiaoliangge and zentilia
CONNECTING THROUGH MUSIC
Angie grew up in the Big Cove
community, and Mike grew
up in Huntsville.
8 | January/February 2022
Their paths crossed in the music depart- says. “But a few loved the Zoom option so times longer. Now those videos upload in
ment at the University of Alabama in much, they chose to continue.” 25 to 30 seconds.
Huntsville, and they’ve been together Now, she combines the options, often It’s that type of service that sets NHTC
ever since. Angie earned a degree in providing a Zoom session if the student apart, he says. “You can’t get better
piano performance, and although Mike can’t make it to the studio. “It was a life- internet service than what we have with
minored in music, he has a business saver for me,” she says. NHTC,” Mike says. “When you have
degree. The couple married in 1990, set- Once she started teaching through internet, you expect to be able to sit down
tling in the Owens Cross Roads area. videoconferencing, Angie also uses the at your computer and have service without
Mike had other jobs in his field before internet for other tasks like billing and any interruptions. It’s vital to my liveli-
he became a licensed Realtor in 2008 and invoicing. “It’s so much easier now,” she hood. It’s as vital to us now as any other
opened his own business. However, teach- says. “I was forced into a whole new way utilities.”
ing piano is all Angie has ever known. of doing things, and it worked for me. It’s
“It’s all I ever wanted to do, and I could still working for me.”
also be a stay-at-home mom,” she says.
Much has changed for Angie since the AT HOME
early years when students came to her While Angie works downstairs each day
home studio and she taught all lessons in the piano studio, Mike works upstairs
in person. In March 2020, the pandemic in his office. “We both can easily use the
forced her to close her studio and stop internet at the same time, and there are no
the lessons. “I thought I’d be shut down problems,” he says.
a couple of weeks, but then I realized this Mike produces short narrated videos
wasn’t blowing over,” she says. as tools for sales and uploads them to his
She notified her students by email about website, mikerickles.com. “I’m selling
an option for lessons through Zoom. the dream of living in this area, and being
All her students of all ages chose to use able to show that through video makes all
the videoconference format. That trend the difference in the world,” he says. Prior
continued through October 2020. “A few to fiber internet, uploading videos took
students started to trickle back in,” Angie between 30 minutes and an hour, some-
Mike Rickles, a
local real estate
agent, produces and
uploads videos to
his website.
Angie Rickles taught piano
lessons virtually during the
pandemic. The method was
so successful, some students
have chose to continue.
NHTC January/February 2022 | 9
Locator apps
Connected for safety and security
W
ith the help of a locator app on about events like a child arriving at school
a mobile phone, parents can be are easy to receive.
aware of just about anywhere
their family members roam — assuming WWGlympse
families have reviewed and accepted the The free Glympse app lets friends and
app’s policies. loved ones know your travel status, so you
While some might find this concept never have to worry if you’re running late.
intrusive, these apps can be helpful for busy They’ll know. Users can send a Glympse
schedules or a comfort during troubling alert to anyone with a web-enabled device.
times, late nights or long trips. Here are a
few of the top locator apps on the market WWiSharing
and what they can do. Know where your friend or family member
is at any moment. The iSharing app pro-
WWLife360 vides real-time alerts when someone leaves
The premium version of Life360 can tell home, work or school. In-app messaging is
you where your family members’ phones just one of the features, some of which are
are at any given moment. Notifications only available in the premium version.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
The role of the CFPB, which Congress established in 2010, is
to hold financial institutions accountable for following federal
financial laws and to protect and educate consumers.
The bureau’s website, consumerfinance.gov, has a section ded-
icated to youth financial literacy and offers more than 200 edu-
cational activities designed for kids of all ages. The list of topics
is extensive and includes entrepreneurship, budgeting, managing
credit and preventing fraud and identity theft.
FAMZOO
FamZoo is a comprehensive finance app for families. It creates
a virtual family bank with parents in the banker’s seat. Through
Money wise
the app, parents can pay their children’s allowances, track their
spending and savings and even encourage charitable giving.
FamZoo isn’t free — the cost ranges between $2.50 and $5.99
Financial education with digital tools a month depending on which option you choose. One- and two-
month free trials are available at famzoo.com.
F
ewer than half of U.S. states require students to complete GOHENRY
personal finance education, although there have been GoHenry, aimed at kids as young as 6 years old, provides
recent efforts in many states to focus on this form of parents with a prepaid debit card for their children and an app
education. the whole family can use to keep track of spending, savings and
There is, however, a wealth of online resources and apps to progress toward financial goals.
help parents teach children to safely navigate the financial seas. GoHenry offers a one-month free trial, after which, the service
Here are a few of the sites and apps available to parents looking charges a monthly fee of $3.99 per child. For more information,
to teach their kids real-world money lessons: visit gohenry.com.
10 | January/February 2022Which
MUSIC
STREAMING
SERVICE
is right for you?
WHAT IS
LOSSLESS
I
t’s never been easier to discover a new favor- Audiophiles can enjoy lossless tracks at the base
ite band or find that hidden gem of a song tier of $10 a month with about 20 million tracks AUDIO?
you can’t stop playing on repeat. A wealth of currently available at the highest quality. Apple
music streaming apps boast exhaustive libraries, says the rest of its 70 million-plus track library Most music streaming
classic hits and new buried treasures all at your will be available in that format by the end of the services compress audio
fingertips. Whether you’re looking for crystal year. files to save space. That
clear audio, curated playlists or a soundtrack to means some data has to
keep up with your runs, there’s something for TIDAL be discarded, and audio
everyone if you know where to look. TIDAL used to have the crown when it came quality suffers. Lossless
to lossless audio, but at $20 a month it’s now a audio still compresses
SPOTIFY tough sell against other more affordable options. these files but retains all
Spotify is synonymous with music streaming If you can’t wait for Apple Music to update its the details of the original
for a reason. Its interface is easy to navigate and library, TIDAL’s catalog is already fully avail- audio recording. You can
always has new recommendations based on what able in lossless format, with a few even stream- hear the difference most
you’re already listening to. If you have friends ing at “Master” quality up to 9,216 Kbps. And often in frequencies like
on the service, you can share your listening while TIDAL may have made its name with those from the crash of
activity and see what others are playing from major hip-hop artists, the genres available now a cymbal in a rock song
Spotify’s library of 70 million tracks. Audio are about as diverse as other top streaming apps. or the bass of a hip-hop
quality, on the other hand, varies based on your track.
account. Free users can stream at decent qualities AMAZON MUSIC
if they’re listening on standard headphones or The biggest benefit of Amazon’s music service is Higher-quality audio
a Bluetooth speaker. Premium users can stream that it’s already available to anyone with a Prime tracks are also much
at higher quality for $10 a month, and Spotify subscription. But that may not get you as much larger than lossy audio
has announced plans to roll out a hi-fi tier with as you think. Despite having access to more than formats. So make sure
lossless audio quality in the future. 75 million tracks, ad-free tier users may notice you have the necessary
certain albums and artists are off-limits without data coverage if you’re
APPLE MUSIC a paid subscription. At least that buys you access streaming on the go and
Apple Music’s social options are similar to what to lossless audio, but if you’re looking for easy adequate bandwidth if
you’ll find on Spotify, even if there are fewer access and discoverability, there are probably you’re listening over the
curated options for discovering new favor- better options. internet at home.
ites. But the real selling point is audio quality.
January/February 2022 | 11ON TARGET
AG Composites’ reach is worldwide
from Owens Cross Roads
Story by LAZ DENES | Photography by MARK GILLILAND
O
n many a workday morning, Dave which specializes in the design, develop- after graduating from the Naval Academy.
Tandy can’t help but smile when ment and production of high-resolution “He recommended we start with an M14,
he rolls up to his 4,000-square- imaging systems. In 2009, Tandy’s love so I made one, and it was a complete
foot manufacturing facility on Hamer for telescopes, space and technology failure. I have it framed in a shadowbox,
Road in Owens Cross Roads and sees 50 lured him away from various government and I call it Serial No. 1. But the second
or so cars parked in the employee lot. contractor positions he held supporting one I made, I could actually shoot it. So I
He’s the founder of a fast-growing Army and NASA programs in Huntsville. went to an M14 online forum and asked
company called AG Composites, which It was then that he combined the masters people for input, and it just exploded from
produces high-end, carbon fiber gunstocks in engineering degree he earned from the there. One thread had 700 posts, about
for some of the largest firearms manufac- University of Pennsylvania and the MBA 70,000 to 80,000 views, and lasted three
turers in the world. But while business has he earned from the Ivy League institu- or four years. So, I figured I was on to
tripled each of the past three years, the tion’s elite Wharton School and began something.”
Naval Academy grad and former officer in manufacturing and selling telescopes.
the U.S. Marines often can’t help but think Some six years later, Tandy began EARLY DAYS
back to the time, a mere six years ago, exploring other product offerings. With the help of his brother-in-law,
when it was just him; his brother, Matt “We used a lot of carbon fiber in pro- Tandy began building the gunstock opera-
Tandy; and his brother-in-law, Adam Hunt ducing our telescopes, so I spoke with a tion out of his backyard shop. After a year
— and their collective vision. Marine buddy and asked what other prod- of prototyping and “onesie and twosie”
AG Composites actually evolved from ucts can be made from carbon fiber, and he sales online, Tandy’s brother joined them
Dave Tandy’s initial entrepreneurial said gunstocks,” says Tandy, who served and recommended expanding the product
endeavor called AG Optical Systems, as a Marine officer from 1993 to 1998 offering.
12 | January/February 2022 NHTCDave Tandy at AG
Composites works on
stock designs.
coming in from the likes of Springfield
Armory, Bergara North America, Ala-
bama-based Kimber and the iconic brand
Remington, which had a plant in Hunts-
ville before filing for bankruptcy in 2018.
Matt Tandy, left, and
The business moved into a 4,000-square-
Dave Tandy, founded AG foot facility on Hamer Road, and since
Composites based in relocating there in January 2020, the We receive hundreds of calls each week,
Owens Cross Roads. company has swelled to 70 employees and and having reliable service is extremely
ships hundreds of gunstocks each week. important. NHTC has delivered.”
“We developed a bolt-action stock for As for the future of the company, Tandy
hunting and target rifles and ended up BIG MARKET sees unlimited potential. “We’re kind of
winning a good-sized contract which, for In addition to the large companies, AG God-fearing people, and making a profit
us, meant producing 100 stocks a month Composites sells gunstocks to gunsmiths is just a part of it. We want to work hard
for what we thought was a reputable com- worldwide and creates custom designs for and have success, but we also view it as a
pany,” Tandy says. “That was a lot for a individuals, including big-name celebrities mission,” he says.
three- or four-person team.” and entertainers. “My motto is that I really can’t change
Turns out that “reputable” company Interestingly enough, AG Compos- the world, but maybe one person’s world,
failed shortly thereafter due to corruption ites has experienced its growth without so we invest in our employees and their
in its executive ranks, leaving Tandy with spending a single dollar on advertising or families,” Tandy says. “We constantly tell
a more than $100,000 invoice that was marketing. “Our main growth vehicle has our team that, as we get successful, we
never paid. been word of mouth — we don’t actively can’t do it without you, so we’re going to
“That was a low point,” Tandy says. advertise anywhere,” Tandy says. “Social share that success with you. We want them
“Fortunately, we had another big customer media allows us to remain very well to stay here, so we want to make sure their
come along, and that basically launched connected to our customer base and vice overall benefits working here are better
us. We grew from a handful of us to 25 versa. than they can get anywhere else. So, it’s
people. My driveway was just packed “We’ll have to credit NHTC for a good the right thing to do, at the end of the day.
with cars every morning at about 6:30. We part of that as our provider of internet, We’re blessed that we’ve been able to help
grew as much as we could on my personal phone and security system requirements support 70 families in Owens Cross Roads
property, adding parking space and square since we were founded in 2015,” he says. and New Hope and, if we keep doing the
footage to my shop.” “NHTC’s service has been reliable, afford- right thing, the future looks pretty posi-
Meanwhile, major contracts began able and critical to our business growth. tive.”
NHTC January/February 2022 | 13SOUTHERN KITCHENS
ROUX
the day BASIC ROUX
I
t’s a given that pretty much everything of so many dishes, roux becomes a chame- 1 stick (8 tablespoons)
is improved by the addition of a sauce. leon. It can change from brown to red and unsalted butter or 1/2 cup
That’s why we put mustard on hot to black. The longer the roux cooks, the peanut oil
1/2 cup flour
dogs and ketchup on fries. Good sauces darker and more intensely flavored it gets.
cling to food, which means they need Cooking the roux has two main ben-
In a large pot or skillet, warm the
body. efits. First, it gets rid of the raw, starchy butter or peanut oil to medium
There are many ways to achieve this, flavor of the flour. Second — and this heat and then stir in the flour.
including making a roux, the foundation is with darker roux — it adds color to a Cook for 10 minutes, constantly
for wonderful sauces for meats, fish, dish. White and blond roux are used for stirring, to make a lightly browned
poultry and vegetables. But it’s also the light-colored sauces, such as cheese sauce roux, or continue stirring and
beginning of many pots of gumbo, and and bechamel. Brown roux is used for cooking for up to 30 minutes for
roux is the underpinning for unbelievably darker sauces, such as stews and gravies. a dark roux. The roux will darken
creamy Creole dishes. Here is a recipe for basic roux. Add milk as you stir, from very light brown
Roux is nothing more than equal parts and shredded cheese for a lovely cheese to copper or peanut butter brown,
of butter or oil and flour. The addition of sauce for vegetables. Or, use roux as the then to light chocolate brown,
then dark chocolate brown and
warm liquid, whether water, stock or milk, foundation for gumbo or mac and cheese.
then very, very dark brown.
works to swell the small granules of flour, It’s a versatile concoction that’s an import-
which trap the liquid to thicken the roux. ant step in making so many good foods.
Careful though — one of the most import-
ant things to remember when making a
roux is to avoid adding the flour to a hot FOOD EDITOR
© deniskarpenkov/Adobe Stock
liquid. The result is something every cook ANNE P. BRALY
dreads: a lumpy sauce. IS A NATIVE OF
CHATTANOOGA,
In French cuisine, roux is cooked to one TENNESSEE.
of three stages: white, blond or brown. In
New Orleans, where roux is the beginning
14 | January/February 2022SEAFOOD GUMBO In a large pot, make a basic roux,
allowing it to cook to a dark brown
1 recipe basic roux (dark brown) stage.
Vegetables:
In a separate skillet, melt the
1 tablespoon butter
tablespoon of butter over medium
1 cup chopped celery
heat. Add and stir the celery, green
1 cup chopped green onions onions and bell pepper, cooking until
1 green bell pepper, chopped tender, about 10 minutes. Add the
Tomato sauce: cooked vegetables to the pot with the
6 cups water roux.
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Stir the water, tomato sauce,
sauce Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, hot
2 cloves garlic, minced pepper sauce and thyme into the
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste vegetable mixture. Bring the mixture
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to a gentle boil, reduce heat to
medium low and simmer for 1 hour.
to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Stir okra into the vegetable mixture
Seafood and okra: and cook it until tender, about 15
1 pound fresh or frozen chopped minutes. Add the fish, stir gently,
okra and cook it until the flesh is
1 pound white fish such as catfish, easily flaked with a fork, about 5
cut into 2-inch pieces minutes. Gently stir shrimp into
1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined the mixture and cook until the
shrimp shrimp are bright pink, about
Final seasonings: 3 minutes. Season with the
1 tablespoon gumbo file powder, file powder and more salt; stir.
or to taste Makes about 8 servings.
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste ©Mark Gilliand
THREE-CHEESE MAC AND Melt the butter and saute the shallot,
then whisk in the flour and cornstarch
CHEESE With Bechamel Sauce to a thick paste. This is your roux. Cook
the roux on medium-low heat until it is
1/3 cup butter
light brown. Add the milk and cream and
1 shallot, finely chopped
cook it, stirring, until the sauce comes to
3 cloves garlic minced
a simmer. Remove from heat and keep
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
stirring about 4 minutes. The sauce will
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
thicken as it cools. This is your bechamel
2+ cups whole milk
sauce.
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
To the sauce, add and stir in the white
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
pepper, cayenne pepper and dry mustard.
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard, preferably
Test the temperature with your finger.
Colman’s
If it’s too hot to touch, let it cool longer.
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded
If it’s just uncomfortably warm, it’s the
6 ounces sharp white cheddar
perfect time to add the cheeses in stages,
cheese, shredded
stirring constantly. Add extra milk if it’s
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese,
too thick. Taste the sauce, and add salt
shredded
if it’s needed. Pour the sauce over the
1/2 tablespoon salt
cooked and drained pasta and stir. Serve
2 pounds macaroni, cooked
immediately. Makes 12-14 servings.
January/February 2022 | 15Faster, Farther, Better.
P.O. Box 452
New Hope, AL 35760
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