Rural Telcos Unite to Advocate for Customers

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FarmersTelecommunications
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Rainsville,AL
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Lafayette,TN
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New HopeTelephone
Cooperative
NewHope,AL
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Telecommunications
Mayfield,KY
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5
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Telephone Cooperative
Walterboro,SC
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Telephone Company
Ardmore,AL
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WestLiberty,KY
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Quitman,TX
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Sunbright,TN
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Connect
McMinnville,TN
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McKee,KY
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Industry News
One VoiceTelco groups unify to bring stronger voice
and new opportunities to rural subscribers
Smith: NtCA and OPAStCO were
both 50-year-old trade associations
comprised of rural telecommunications
providers. how were the two groups
different?
BlOOmfield: NTCA had a very
strong basis in the cooperative movement,
and actually originated as an arm of the
NRECA (National Rural Electric Coopera-
tion Association). The organization itself
was established as a cooperative entity,
with control being held by telephone
cooperatives.
OPASTCO was formed as a home for
those companies that were traditionally
family-owned. When rural telephone sys-
tems were first established, people either
got together and created member-owned
cooperatives, or a family said “we see a
void, let’s fill it,” and they built a tele-
phone company.
Smith: What was the driving force
behind unifying the two organizations?
BlOOmfield: Over the past several
years, we have found that in this indus-
try the issues are all the same. It doesn’t
matter whether you are a cooperative or a
family-owned company, the issues facing
this industry impact all the carriers. Things
that are taking place on the regulatory
front, with state utility commission deci-
sions, with technology transforming at a
daily rate and changing people’s business
models ... these things created an oppor-
tunity for the two organizations to work
more closely together. We all began to
realize that if we bring these forces to-
gether there is more that we can do as one,
as opposed to trying to do the same thing
with two separate organizations.
Smith: What benefit will rural telcos,
and the industry as a whole, gain from
the unification?
BlOOmfield: The first area I would
highlight is advocacy. Because there is so
much dissension and politicking in Wash-
ington, it has become imperative that the
message of the rural telecommunications
industry find a voice, that we speak a little
bit louder. When you have two entities
saying the same thing, they diffuse each
other. When you put all carriers together,
speaking in a definitive voice for the entire
industry, it cuts through the clutter. It al-
lows us to move faster and be more pow-
erful, in a day and age where, frankly, this
industry is still very heavily dominated by
the large carriers.
Another area is the business opportu-
nity front. We now have more than 800
companies at the table, and that will give
us the ability to go to wireless carriers,
go to middle-mile institutions such as
hospitals and educational institutions, and
form partnerships to offer different kinds
of services.
Smith: How do these benefits trans-
late to the consumer at the end of the
line?
BlOOmfield: It will give rural telcos
the ability to create some scope and scale
in order to offer new services. Rural pro-
viders have been terrifically innovative,
but what could they do if they could get a
nationwide presence? What kind of things
could they offer their customers?
Also, so much of the revenue of these
carriers is tied up in the regulatory arena.
If we can be successful speaking with one
voice, we hope to keep local costs low, to
minimize rate increases and to continue
universal service support, which makes
things like advanced broadband afford-
able in these rural communities where you
don’t have the customer base to offset the
costs.
Our interview with Bloomfield continues
in the July/August issue, as she talks about
how the uncertainty surrounding FCC
regulations is threatening the level of ser-
vice and investment in rural communities.
By Stephen V. Smith, Editor
}Editor’s Note: In February, America’s leading telecommunications trade groups voted
to become one association. The unification of NTCA (National Telecommunications
Cooperative Association) and OPASTCO (Organization for the Promotion and Ad-
vancement of Small Telecommunications Companies) created a single group represent-
ing the concerns of rural telcos and their customers across the nation. As of March 1,
the organization became known as “NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.” In an
interview following the vote, we asked Shirley Bloomfield, the CEO of NTCA, about the
impact a unified group will have on rural subscribers.
Shirley Bloomﬁeld
NTCA CEO
2 | May/June 2013
The truth behind what’s driving up
TV subscription costs nationwide
W
hy does my bill keep going up?” It’s a common ques-
tion consumers nationwide are asking, as they watch
the steady climb of TV programming costs. There are
two main factors driving these increases.
1) Cable channels charge us a fee to deliver their
programming to you — and those fees keep rising.
We work to include as many channels as possible in our lineup.
But most channels add an expense to our cost of providing you
TV service.
According to estimates from analysts SNL Kagan and Barclays
Capital, sports programming accounts for four of the top ten
channels as ranked by their monthly subscriber fees. ESPN/ESPN
HD leads their list at $5.06 per subscriber. The NFL Network
comes in at 84¢. Compare that to Nickelodeon’s 52¢, MTV’s 39¢
and Discovery Channel’s 37¢ and you get a clear picture of the
dominant driver behind programming price hikes. (Note: These
estimates are based on fees paid by the large, nationwide provid-
ers, and do not reflect the exact cost we pay for these channels.)
2) Local network affiliates now charge us a fee
to deliver their programming to you — and those
fees keep rising.
There was a time when your “local stations” charged nothing
for a carrier to rebroadcast their signals. Not anymore. In order
for you to enjoy channels such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX,
we must pay them a fee based on our number of subscribers —
and these fees continue to rise each time we renegotiate what is
known as the retransmission consent agreements with them.
SNL Kagan reported in November that the revenue TV station
owners receive from these fees could reach $5.5 billion by 2017
— an even higher number than was previously projected. Why?
“The increased projections are due to the success of a wider range
of TV station owners in securing sequentially higher (retrans-
mission) fees from multichannel operators over the last year of
negotiated deals,” says the report.
Will this trend continue?
Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. Content providers know
that consumers want their channels, and they continue to build
fee increases into their contracts with providers like us. Further-
more, sports channels are negotiating huge deals with teams and
leagues that are driving up their production costs (for example,
in late 2011 ESPN agreed to pay the NFL some 70 percent more
to carry Monday Night Football through 2021). They are pass-
ing these costs on to providers like us nationwide, who have no
choice but to pass the increases on to consumers.
The bottom line is that we are committed to providing all
our subscribers with the channels they want. And as your local
telecommunications company, we are doing everything we can to
control our operating costs and keep our prices as low as possi-
ble. In the end, however, the reality is that TV rates will continue
to move upward as long as content providers keep increasing the
fees we must pay and the number of channels we must carry.
“
Your
Telco
As a provider of TV service, we are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war. On one side,
contentprovidersandnetworksaredemandingmoremoneyeveryyearfromcompanies
like ours who carry their programming. On the other side, consumers demand quality
content but are growing weary of package prices that continue to rise.
(Customers/Subscribers)(Content Providers/Networks)
May/June 2013 | 3
Industry News
One VoiceTelco groups unify to bring stronger voice
and new opportunities to rural subscribers
Smith: NtCA and OPAStCO were
both 50-year-old trade associations
comprised of rural telecommunications
providers. how were the two groups
different?
BlOOmfield: NTCA had a very
strong basis in the cooperative movement,
and actually originated as an arm of the
NRECA (National Rural Electric Coopera-
tion Association). The organization itself
was established as a cooperative entity,
with control being held by telephone
cooperatives.
OPASTCO was formed as a home for
those companies that were traditionally
family-owned. When rural telephone sys-
tems were first established, people either
got together and created member-owned
cooperatives, or a family said “we see a
void, let’s fill it,” and they built a tele-
phone company.
Smith: What was the driving force
behind unifying the two organizations?
BlOOmfield: Over the past several
years, we have found that in this indus-
try the issues are all the same. It doesn’t
matter whether you are a cooperative or a
family-owned company, the issues facing
this industry impact all the carriers. Things
that are taking place on the regulatory
front, with state utility commission deci-
sions, with technology transforming at a
daily rate and changing people’s business
models ... these things created an oppor-
tunity for the two organizations to work
more closely together. We all began to
realize that if we bring these forces to-
gether there is more that we can do as one,
as opposed to trying to do the same thing
with two separate organizations.
Smith: What benefit will rural telcos,
and the industry as a whole, gain from
the unification?
BlOOmfield: The first area I would
highlight is advocacy. Because there is so
much dissension and politicking in Wash-
ington, it has become imperative that the
message of the rural telecommunications
industry find a voice, that we speak a little
bit louder. When you have two entities
saying the same thing, they diffuse each
other. When you put all carriers together,
speaking in a definitive voice for the entire
industry, it cuts through the clutter. It al-
lows us to move faster and be more pow-
erful, in a day and age where, frankly, this
industry is still very heavily dominated by
the large carriers.
Another area is the business opportu-
nity front. We now have more than 800
companies at the table, and that will give
us the ability to go to wireless carriers,
go to middle-mile institutions such as
hospitals and educational institutions, and
form partnerships to offer different kinds
of services.
Smith: How do these benefits trans-
late to the consumer at the end of the
line?
BlOOmfield: It will give rural telcos
the ability to create some scope and scale
in order to offer new services. Rural pro-
viders have been terrifically innovative,
but what could they do if they could get a
nationwide presence? What kind of things
could they offer their customers?
Also, so much of the revenue of these
carriers is tied up in the regulatory arena.
If we can be successful speaking with one
voice, we hope to keep local costs low, to
minimize rate increases and to continue
universal service support, which makes
things like advanced broadband afford-
able in these rural communities where you
don’t have the customer base to offset the
costs.
Our interview with Bloomfield continues
in the July/August issue, as she talks about
how the uncertainty surrounding FCC
regulations is threatening the level of ser-
vice and investment in rural communities.
}Editor’s Note: In February, America’s leading telecommunications trade groups voted
to become one association. The unification of NTCA (National Telecommunications
Cooperative Association) and OPASTCO (Organization for the Promotion and Ad-
vancement of Small Telecommunications Companies) created a single group represent-
ing the concerns of rural telcos and their customers across the nation. As of March 1,
the organization became known as “NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.” In an
interview following the vote, we asked Shirley Bloomfield, the CEO of NTCA, about the
impact a unified group will have on rural subscribers.
Shirley Bloomﬁeld
NTCA CEO
2 | May/June 2013
The truth behind what’s driving up
TV subscription costs nationwide
W
hy does my bill keep going up?” It’s a common ques-
tion consumers nationwide are asking, as they watch
the steady climb of TV programming costs. There are
two main factors driving these increases.
1) Cable channels charge us a fee to deliver their
programming to you — and those fees keep rising.
We work to include as many channels as possible in our lineup.
But most channels add an expense to our cost of providing you
TV service.
According to estimates from analysts SNL Kagan and Barclays
Capital, sports programming accounts for four of the top ten
channels as ranked by their monthly subscriber fees. ESPN/ESPN
HD leads their list at $5.06 per subscriber. The NFL Network
comes in at 84¢. Compare that to Nickelodeon’s 52¢, MTV’s 39¢
and Discovery Channel’s 37¢ and you get a clear picture of the
dominant driver behind programming price hikes. (Note: These
estimates are based on fees paid by the large, nationwide provid-
ers, and do not reflect the exact cost we pay for these channels.)
2) Local network affiliates now charge us a fee
to deliver their programming to you — and those
fees keep rising.
There was a time when your “local stations” charged nothing
for a carrier to rebroadcast their signals. Not anymore. In order
for you to enjoy channels such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX,
we must pay them a fee based on our number of subscribers —
and these fees continue to rise each time we renegotiate what is
known as the retransmission consent agreements with them.
SNL Kagan reported in November that the revenue TV station
owners receive from these fees could reach $5.5 billion by 2017
— an even higher number than was previously projected. Why?
“The increased projections are due to the success of a wider range
of TV station owners in securing sequentially higher (retrans-
mission) fees from multichannel operators over the last year of
negotiated deals,” says the report.
Will this trend continue?
Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. Content providers know
that consumers want their channels, and they continue to build
fee increases into their contracts with providers like us. Further-
more, sports channels are negotiating huge deals with teams and
leagues that are driving up their production costs (for example,
in late 2011 ESPN agreed to pay the NFL some 70 percent more
to carry Monday Night Football through 2021). They are pass-
ing these costs on to providers like us nationwide, who have no
choice but to pass the increases on to consumers.
The bottom line is that we are committed to providing all
our subscribers with the channels they want. And as your local
telecommunications company, we are doing everything we can to
control our operating costs and keep our prices as low as possi-
ble. In the end, however, the reality is that TV rates will continue
to move upward as long as content providers keep increasing the
fees we must pay and the number of channels we must carry.
“
Your
Telco
As a provider of TV service, we are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war. On one side,
contentprovidersandnetworksaredemandingmoremoneyeveryyearfromcompanies
like ours who carry their programming. On the other side, consumers demand quality
content but are growing weary of package prices that continue to rise.
(Customers/Subscribers)(Content Providers/Networks)
May/June 2013 | 3
Shared
Pages

fred johnson
Executive Vice President and General Manager
Investing in a stronger future
We are investing in our communities. We are committed to
doing more than just providing a basic service to the communi-
ties in our area. We understand that quality of life is about more
than the basics; it’s about having access to services that create
greater opportunities for our families, businesses, schools and
other institutions. We are investing the time and resources into
making sure you have access to those advanced services.
We are investing in technology. Technology is the key that
makes those advanced services possible. Just like electricity
in the 1930s and 1940s, and reliable telephone service in the
1950s, broadband is the new infrastructure that is driving our community development.
We are investing in the equipment and people to deliver broadband technology to every-
one in our service area.
We are investing in education. Today, children in rural America can have the same
opportunities to pursue a top-notch education as their urban counterparts. To take ad-
vantage of those opportunities, the systems and the technology must be in place — from
Wi-Fi tablets to distance learning. We are partnering with our schools by investing in the
broadband network that makes advanced education happen.
We are investing in health care. Technology is changing health care faster than per-
haps any sector. From electronic medical records to telemedicine, technology is helping
people receive better care while helping providers control costs. We are partnering with
health care providers by investing in the broadband network that powers these advances.
We are investing in business. Local businesses are no longer competing with just the
shop next door or in the next town. Now they are competing with companies in other
states, and even other countries, thanks to the Internet. We are partnering with our busi-
nesses by investing in the broadband network that helps them offer the best local service
while competing on a much larger stage.
We are investing in the future of this industry. The progress of rural America is
directly tied to the success of the rural telecommunications industry. On Page 2 of this
issue, you will read how two national rural telco associations have come together to form
one voice in order to be more effective in representing your concerns in Washington,
D.C. In April, leaders from rural telcos across the country met in our nation’s capital to
discuss policy concerns and remind our elected officials that any reforms to this industry
must be fair and workable for rural communities. For every proposed law or regulation
that comes along, we are there to work on your behalf to protect the progress we have all
made together.
These are the kinds of investments we are making — and will continue to make. And
they are guaranteed to yield a return, because ultimately what we are investing in is a
stronger future for you and your family.
For those who put money in the U.S. stock mar-
ket, the past few years have been like a long ride
down a rough road. The same can be said for the
real estate market. But as your telco, we are mak-
ing investments that have guaranteed returns.
From the General Manager
4 | May/June 2013
is a member-owned corporation
dedicated to providing communications
technology to the people of Northeast
Alabama. The company has more than
15,000 access lines, making it the state’s
largest telecommunications cooperative.
is a bimonthly magazine
published by Farmers
Telecommunications Cooperative, ©
2013. It is distributed without charge
to all customers of FTC.
Farmers Telecommunications
Cooperative, Inc.
P.O. Box 217
144 McCurdy Ave. N.
Rainsville, AL 35986
Telephone: 256-638-2144
www.farmerstel.com
Produced for FTC by:
www.WordSouth.com
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Randy Wright, President
Flat Rock Exchange
Gary Smith, Vice President
Fyffe Exchange
Danny R. Richey, Secretary
Geraldine Exchange
Lynn Welden, Treasurer
Bryant Exchange
Kenneth Gilbert
Pisgah Exchange
Gregg Griffith
Henagar Exchange
Randy Tumlin
Rainsville Exchange
ConnectedVol. 17, No. 3 May/June 2013
“We Keep You Connected”
On the Cover:
Alice Pettyjohn
has built a thriving
business at her
place, Alice Circle,
on Highway 35 in
Rainsville.
See story Page 12.
FARMERSTELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC.
FARMERSTELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
FARMERS CELLULARTELEPHONE, INC.
FarmersTelecommunications Cooperative, Inc., Farmers
Telecommunication Corporation and Farmers CellularTelephone,
Inc. (collectively,“FTC”) want you to understand your rights to
restrict the use of, disclosure of and access to your Customer
Proprietary Network Information, or CPNI.You have a right and
FTC has a duty, under federal law, to protect the confidentiality of
your Customer Proprietary Network Information.
WHAT IS CPNI?
It is the information that FTC obtains that relates to the
quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location, and
amount of use of the telecommunications service you subscribe
to from FTC. It includes the information that is found in your bills,
but it does not include subscriber list information (name, address
and telephone number).
Examples of CPNI would be the telephone numbers that you
call, the times you call them, the duration of your calls or the
amount of your bill.
USE OF YOUR CPNI.
CPNI may be used by FTC to market services that are related to
the package of services to which you currently subscribe, when
providing inside wiring installation, maintenance and repair ser-
vices, and when marketing“adjunct to basic”services, such as call
blocking, call waiting and caller I.D. CPNI may also be used for the
provision of customer premises equipment (“CPE”) and services
like call answering and voice mail or messaging, and to protect
Company property and prevent fraud. A carrier may use CPNI to
bill and collect for the services you receive from FTC.
FTC offers additional communications-related services.We
seek your approval to access your CPNI so that FTC can provide you
with information on new services and products that are tailored
to meet your needs or may save you money.
IF YOU APPROVE OF OUR USE OF YOUR
CPNI AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, NO ACTION IS
NECESSARY ON YOUR PART.
You have the right to disapprove this use of your CPNI by con-
tacting us in writing at P.O. Box 217, 144 McCurdy Avenue North,
Rainsville, Alabama 35986, or by telephone at 256-638-2144 or
toll-free at 866- 638-2144, within thirty-three (33) days after this
notice is sent to you. Our drop box located at 144 McCurdy Avenue
North, Rainsville, Alabama, is accessible twenty-four (24) hours
a day, seven (7) days per week. If you disapprove our use of your
CPNI, you may not receive notice of new services or promotions,
but your existing services will not be affected. If you do not notify
us of your objection within thirty-three (33) days, we will assume
you do not object and will use your CPNI for these purposes.You
have the right to notify us at any time to object to the use of this
information.Your election will remain valid until you notify us
otherwise.
Thank you for your patronage!
Important notice to subscribers regarding your
Customer Proprietary Network Information
farmers telecommunications cooperative
is required by the rural utilities service
(rus) to furnish the following information
to members prior to the annual meeting
BYLAWS – ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEE SECTION 2. Election and Tenure of Oﬃce.
The Trustees shall be elected by secret ballot for a term of three years on a rotat-
ing basis with the Trustees from the Pisgah, Bryant, and Geraldine service areas
being elected at the annual meeting of the members of the Co-op in August of
1991 and the Trustees from Rainsville and Fyffe service areas being elected at the
annual meeting of the members of the Co-op in August of 1992 and the Trustees
from the Flat Rock and Henagar service areas being elected at the annual meeting
of the members in August of 1993, and after their election the Trustees shall con-
tinue to serve until the election of Trustees at the annual meeting of the members
of the Co-op at which their term expires or if no election shall be then held, the
Trustees shall continue to hold office until their successors shall have been elected
and shall have qualified. If an election of Trustees shall not be held on the day
designated herein for the annual meeting or at any adjournment thereof, a special
meeting of the members shall be held for the purpose of electing Trustees within
a reasonable time thereafter. Trustees may be elected by a plurality vote of the
members. Trustees shall be nominated and elected as provided hereinafter.
The Co-op is divided into seven (7) geographic service areas and from each such
service area there shall be elected one Trustee to the Board. Members shall be
eligible to vote for every Trustee.
The geographic service areas are set forth as follows: Bryant, Flat Rock, Fyffe,
Geraldine, Henagar, Pisgah, and Rainsville as the same are shown on the map or
plat of the service area on file in the office of the Co-op at Rainsville, Alabama,
to which such map or plat thereof reference is here made for a more complete
description of said service areas.
SECTION 4. Nominations.
It shall be the duty of the Board to appoint, not less than forty (40) nor more
than seventy (70) days before the date of a meeting of the members at which
trustees are to be elected, a committee on nominations consisting of not less than
five nor more than eleven members who shall be selected from different sections
so as to insure equitable representation. No member of the Board may serve on
such committee. The committee, keeping in mind the principle geographic repre-
sentation, shall prepare and post at the principle office of the Cooperative at least
thirty (30) days before the meeting a list of nominations for trustees which shall
include at least two candidates for each trustee to be elected.
Any fifteen or more members acting together may make other nominations by
petition not less than twenty (20) days prior to the meeting and the Secretary shall
post such nominations at the same place where the list of nominations made by
the committee is posted. The Secretary shall mail with the notice of the meeting
or separately, but at least five (5) days before the date of the meeting, a statement
of the number of Trustees to be elected and the names and the addresses of the
candidates, specifying separately the nominations made by the committee and
the nominations made by petition, if any. The ballot to be used at the election shall
list the names of the candidates nominated by the committee and the names of
the candidates nominated by petition, if any. The chairman shall call for additional
nominations from the floor and nominations shall not be closed until at least one
minute has passed during which no additional nomination has been made. No
member may nominate more than one candidate.
cPni:
Understanding
your rights
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2013 | 5
4 | May/June 2013
is a member-owned cooperative provid-
ing a complete telecommunications solu-
tion (voice, Internet, digital TV and wire-
less phone) to the homes and businesses
of Colleton County, South Carolina.
is a bimonthly newsletter
published by Palmetto Rural
Telephone Cooperative, © 2013. It
is distributed without charge to all
member/owners of the cooperative.
Send address corrections to:
Palmetto Rural
Telephone Cooperative
P.O. Drawer 1577
Walterboro, SC 29488
Telephone: 843-538-2020
www.prtc.coop
Produced for PRTC by:
www.WordSouth.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
District 1 - Brian Ackerman
District 2 - Cynthia “Cindy” Colson
District 3 - Donald Wood
District 4 - Joanne Herndon
District 5 - Michael Crosby
District 6 - Furman Hodges
District 7 - Heath Griffith
District 8 - Gloria Warren
District 9 - Travis Avant
District 10 - Lynn Tanner
CONNECTION
The PRTC
On the Cover:
Investing in a stronger future
We are investing in our communities. We are committed to
doing more than just providing a basic service to the communi-
ties in our area. We understand that quality of life is about more
than the basics; it’s about having access to services that create
greater opportunities for our families, businesses, schools and
other institutions. We are investing the time and resources into
making sure you have access to those advanced services.
We are investing in technology. Technology is the key that
makes those advanced services possible. Just like electricity in
the 1930s and 1940s, and reliable telephone service in the 1950s, broadband is the new
infrastructure that is driving our community development. We are investing in the equip-
ment and people to deliver broadband technology to everyone in our service area.
We are investing in education. Today, children in rural America can have the same
opportunities to pursue a top-notch education as their urban counterparts. To take ad-
vantage of those opportunities, the systems and the technology must be in place — from
Wi-Fi tablets to distance learning. We are partnering with our schools by investing in the
broadband network that makes advanced education happen.
We are investing in health care. Technology is changing health care faster than per-
haps any sector. From electronic medical records to telemedicine, technology is helping
people receive better care while helping providers control costs. We are partnering with
health care providers by investing in the broadband network that powers these advances.
We are investing in business. Local businesses are no longer competing with just the
shop next door or in the next town. Now they are competing with companies in other
states, and even other countries, thanks to the Internet. We are partnering with our busi-
nesses by investing in the broadband network that helps them offer the best local service
while competing on a much larger stage.
We are investing in the future of this industry. The progress of rural America is
directly tied to the success of the rural telecommunications industry. On Page 2 of this
issue, you will read how two national rural telco associations have come together to form
one voice in order to be more effective in representing your concerns in Washington,
D.C. In April, leaders from rural telcos across the country met in our nation’s capital to
discuss policy concerns and remind our elected officials that any reforms to this industry
must be fair and workable for rural communities. For every proposed law or regulation
that comes along, we are there to work on your behalf to protect the progress we have all
made together.
These are the kinds of investments we are making — and will continue to make. And
they are guaranteed to yield a return, because ultimately what we are investing in is a
stronger future for you and your family.
Jason DanDriDge
is Chief Executive Officer for PRTC
Colleton County's
Michelle Pye digs
in against Wade
Hampton High
School at the new
ACE Basin Sports
Complex.
See story, Page 12.
For those who put money in the U.S. stock mar-
ket, the past few years have been like a long ride
down a rough road. The same can be said for the
real estate market. But as your telco, we are mak-
ing investments that have guaranteed returns.
MAY/JUNE 2013
VOL. 3, NO. 3
From the CEO
Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative May/June 2013 | 5
PRTC fiber crews are nearly
ready to check several areas
of Colleton County off of their
to-do lists.
Crews have recently finished
work on the area around Snid-
ers Highway west of I-95 and
Cypress Pond, as well as the
area around Estates Drive off of
Academy Road and Lakeshore.
From there, the crews are
moving to Longleaf Drive,
Wade Hampton Avenue, and
Carolina Circle in the Academy
Road area. They plan to cross
off these areas from the list in
mid July.
Work is also beginning
around North Jefferies.
Installation continues around
Bedons, with one crew work-
ing around Phillips Road and
another near Cottageville High-
way. They expect to finish this
area by the end of June.
Crews completing fiber
build in some areas
Bubsy McLaine (left)
and Nick Segura install
a ﬁber line near Wood
Meadows Road.
PRTC is proud to once again support
Relay for Life of Colleton County. This
year's relay will begin at 6 p.m. on May
10 at
Colleton County Middle School.
For those who have never been, relay
teams take turns walking or running
around a track all night long. The event,
which benefits the American Cancer
Society, goes all night because cancer
never sleeps. Each team is asked to
have at least one participant on the
track at all times. Those who aren't on
the track join the party around the site.
The relay also includes luminaries to
remember those who have died from
cancer.
PRTC usually has one of the biggest
teams around and we could use your
support!
Visit our team’s website at main.
acsevents.org/goto/PRTC or stop by
our Retail Center at 292 Robertson
Blvd. to make a donation or dedicate a
luminaria.
We look forward to seeing you at
Relay!
Relay team needs help
Relay for Life of Colleton County
Video on Demand
New Release
Schedule
For a small rental fee, PRTC’s Video on
Demand service gives you access to
new releases as many as eight weeks
before Netflix or Redbox (designated
by an *). To access Video on Demand,
press the“VOD”or“On Demand”but-
ton on the remote or press the“Menu”
button and look for“On Demand.”
APRIL 30
Broken City
Silver Linings Playbook
The Guilt Trip
May 7
Mama*
Jack Reacher
Safe Haven*
May 14
Cloud Atlas*
Texas Chainsaw: Evil Wears Many Faces
May 21
Parker
The Last Stand
Side Effects*
Beautiful Creatures*
May 28
Dark Skies
June 4
Identity Thief*
A Good Day to Die Hard*
Escape from Planet Earth
Warm Bodies
June 11
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Snitch
Quartet
Local Pages
Local Pages

Education Focus
R
eading, writing and arithmetic
are the last things on kids’ minds
during summer vacation. Most are
focused on sports, video games and play-
ing with their friends.
This educational downtime contrib-
utes to what is known as the “summer
slide,” when students lose much of the
skill, knowledge and motivation acquired
during the previous school year. In fact,
a 2011 study conducted by the RAND
Corporation shows that most students lose
a month’s worth of learning by the time
school resumes the following year.
This phenomenon affects children of all
ages and from all economic backgrounds,
but it is most harmful to those students
already struggling to keep up. However, it
can be avoided.
Broadband technology provides access
to numerous websites and applications that
transform computers and Wi-Fi-enabled
tablets into tools that make learning fun
and will help avoid the summer slide. Let's
take a look at a few of the best sites for
your kids to visit this summer.
funBrain.com, for example, is a site
geared toward children in grades K-8 that
offers online activities to boost learning
in math, grammar, science, spelling and
history.
e-learningforkids.org is another site
that specializes in providing fun, edu-
cational activities for children. Others
include thekidzpage.com and pbs.org.
According to many educators, one of
the most valuable things students can do
during the summer to avoid the slide is to
continue reading.
“Just because school is out doesn’t mean
students should take a break from read-
ing,” says Dennis Van Roekel, National
Education Association president, on the
group's website at www.nea.org. “When
students return to their classrooms in the
fall, we want reading to top the list of what
they did this summer.”
There are thousands of books available
on just about any reading level that can
be downloaded to an e-reader or wireless
tablet.
Farfarfia is an app for your smart tablet
that gets kids excited about reading. It
includes more than 100 stories in e-book
form for kids ages 2 to 9, and new titles
are added every week. This app will make
reading fun for your child, and will make
it easy to carry a whole load of books to
the pool, the park or the beach — without
lugging a heavy bookbag.
Keeping
students
off the
summer
slide
By Brian Lazenby
Summer vacation doesn’t mean
your kids have to take a break
from learning. By exploring these
tools and the many others that
are available, your child can still
have fun while staying off the
summer slide.
There are many other apps designed
to keep your kids entertained all
summer (they may not even realize
they are learning!). For example:
are for
children 6 and under who will love
reviewing science and math skills
with favorite characters from PBS
shows.
, another edu-
cational app for children, offers a
unique series of digital storybooks
designed to help your child practice
important reading skills.
is one of
the many apps that offers a variety
of games focused on fundamental
math skills. It provides fun with num-
bers for students ranging in age from
4 to 14, and studies show children
who played the game improved
their scores on a fractions test by 15
percent.
is an app that offers a
suite of games to encourage children
ages 3 to 6 to have fun while learning
key developmental skills such as add-
ing, counting, spelling, phonics and
meteorology.
6 | May/June 2013 May/June 2013 | 7
Nationwide, consumers are reporting
failed connections and poor call
quality when dialing into rural areas
I
called you earlier today, but I couldn’t
get through; it never even rang.”
If you have heard this or similar
complaints from friends, family or busi-
ness associates, there’s a good chance
the problem is not with your local tele-
phone company. According to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC),
telephone subscribers in rural areas “are
reporting significant problems receiving
long distance or wireless calls on their
landline phones.”
The problem appears to lie in the fact
that some long distance and wireless car-
riers, in an effort to cut costs, are contract-
ing with third-party service providers to
route phone calls into rural areas. The
FCC in February announced that it plans
to adopt rules requiring these carriers to
keep records on call attempts to determine
and track the rural call failure rate.
“Our nation’s telephone network is a
valuable asset in part because everyone
has access to it,” says Trevor Bonnstetter,
CEO of Ben Lomand Connect, WK&T
Telecommunications and Ardmore Tele-
phone, serving portions of Kentucky, Ten-
nessee and Alabama. “These call comple-
tion issues are weakening that network,
making it less useful to consumers.”
Fred Johnson, executive vice president
and general manager of Farmers Telecom-
munications Cooperative in Alabama,
agrees. “I’m proud to see the FCC step-
ping up its efforts to address this issue,” he
says. “Substandard service into America’s
rural areas threatens commerce, public
safety and consumer convenience. This is
an issue that must be resolved.”
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?
On its website (www.fcc.gov), the FCC
outlines two problems that are being re-
ported by rural consumers and people who
call them:
fAilure tO COmPlete
» Long distance or wireless callers tell
you they repeatedly hear nothing or
“dead air” for 10 seconds or more after
they dial your number. If they stay
on the line, the call may seem to be
dropped or they may eventually hear a
busy signal.
you they repeatedly hear prolonged
ringing on their end after they dial your
number (e.g., the callers wait 10-20
rings before they finally hang up).
you they repeatedly hear a recording
such as “The number you have dialed
is not in service” or “Your call cannot
be completed as dialed” when they
know they’ve correctly dialed your
number.
POOr CAll QuAlity
“dead air” for 10 seconds or more
before hearing ringing and you answer
your phone.
ringing (e.g., 10-20 times or more)
before you answer the phone — when
you are sure the phone actually rang
only a couple of times before you
answered.
» Consistently after you answer a call,
the voice quality is unacceptable. For
example, one person cannot hear the
other, the sound is choppy, there are
awkward transmission delays after
speaking, or there is an echo.
» Fax machines fail to interoperate.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If someone has trouble completing a
call to you from a long distance or wire-
less telephone service provider, the FCC
recommends that you encourage them to
report the issue to their provider. They will
need the following information:
• the date and time the call was
attempted
• the calling and called telephone
numbers
• the name of the caller’s long distance
or wireless telephone service provider
Next, call your local phone company
and provide the same information so it
may work with the caller’s provider to
isolate the problem.
“
“
“
Education Focus
R
eading, writing and arithmetic
are the last things on kids’ minds
during summer vacation. Most are
focused on sports, video games and play-
ing with their friends.
This educational downtime contrib-
utes to what is known as the “summer
slide,” when students lose much of the
skill, knowledge and motivation acquired
during the previous school year. In fact,
a 2011 study conducted by the RAND
Corporation shows that most students lose
a month’s worth of learning by the time
school resumes the following year.
This phenomenon affects children of all
ages and from all economic backgrounds,
but it is most harmful to those students
already struggling to keep up. However, it
can be avoided.
Broadband technology provides access
to numerous websites and applications that
transform computers and Wi-Fi-enabled
tablets into tools that make learning fun
and will help avoid the summer slide. Let's
take a look at a few of the best sites for
your kids to visit this summer.
funBrain.com, for example, is a site
geared toward children in grades K-8 that
offers online activities to boost learning
in math, grammar, science, spelling and
history.
e-learningforkids.org is another site
that specializes in providing fun, edu-
cational activities for children. Others
include thekidzpage.com and pbs.org.
According to many educators, one of
the most valuable things students can do
during the summer to avoid the slide is to
continue reading.
“Just because school is out doesn’t mean
students should take a break from read-
ing,” says Dennis Van Roekel, National
Education Association president, on the
group's website at www.nea.org. “When
students return to their classrooms in the
fall, we want reading to top the list of what
they did this summer.”
There are thousands of books available
on just about any reading level that can
be downloaded to an e-reader or wireless
tablet.
Farfarfia is an app for your smart tablet
that gets kids excited about reading. It
includes more than 100 stories in e-book
form for kids ages 2 to 9, and new titles
are added every week. This app will make
reading fun for your child, and will make
it easy to carry a whole load of books to
the pool, the park or the beach — without
lugging a heavy bookbag.
Keeping
students
off the
summer
slide
By Brian Lazenby
Summer vacation doesn’t mean
your kids have to take a break
from learning. By exploring these
tools and the many others that
are available, your child can still
have fun while staying off the
summer slide.
There are many other apps designed
to keep your kids entertained all
summer (they may not even realize
they are learning!). For example:
are for
children 6 and under who will love
reviewing science and math skills
with favorite characters from PBS
shows.
, another edu-
cational app for children, offers a
unique series of digital storybooks
designed to help your child practice
important reading skills.
is one of
the many apps that offers a variety
of games focused on fundamental
math skills. It provides fun with num-
bers for students ranging in age from
4 to 14, and studies show children
who played the game improved
their scores on a fractions test by 15
percent.
is an app that offers a
suite of games to encourage children
ages 3 to 6 to have fun while learning
key developmental skills such as add-
ing, counting, spelling, phonics and
meteorology.
6 | May/June 2013 May/June 2013 | 7
Nationwide, consumers are reporting
failed connections and poor call
quality when dialing into rural areas
I
called you earlier today, but I couldn’t
get through; it never even rang.”
If you have heard this or similar
complaints from friends, family or busi-
ness associates, there’s a good chance
the problem is not with your local tele-
phone company. According to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC),
telephone subscribers in rural areas “are
reporting significant problems receiving
long distance or wireless calls on their
landline phones.”
The problem appears to lie in the fact
that some long distance and wireless car-
riers, in an effort to cut costs, are contract-
ing with third-party service providers to
route phone calls into rural areas. The
FCC in February announced that it plans
to adopt rules requiring these carriers to
keep records on call attempts to determine
and track the rural call failure rate.
“Our nation’s telephone network is a
valuable asset in part because everyone
has access to it,” says Trevor Bonnstetter,
CEO of Ben Lomand Connect, WK&T
Telecommunications and Ardmore Tele-
phone, serving portions of Kentucky, Ten-
nessee and Alabama. “These call comple-
tion issues are weakening that network,
making it less useful to consumers.”
Fred Johnson, executive vice president
and general manager of Farmers Telecom-
munications Cooperative in Alabama,
agrees. “I’m proud to see the FCC step-
ping up its efforts to address this issue,” he
says. “Substandard service into America’s
rural areas threatens commerce, public
safety and consumer convenience. This is
an issue that must be resolved.”
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?
On its website (www.fcc.gov), the FCC
outlines two problems that are being re-
ported by rural consumers and people who
call them:
fAilure tO COmPlete
“dead air” for 10 seconds or more after
they dial your number. If they stay
on the line, the call may seem to be
dropped or they may eventually hear a
busy signal.
ringing on their end after they dial your
number (e.g., the callers wait 10-20
rings before they finally hang up).
you they repeatedly hear a recording
such as “The number you have dialed
is not in service” or “Your call cannot
be completed as dialed” when they
know they’ve correctly dialed your
number.
POOr CAll QuAlity
“dead air” for 10 seconds or more
before hearing ringing and you answer
your phone.
ringing (e.g., 10-20 times or more)
before you answer the phone — when
you are sure the phone actually rang
only a couple of times before you
answered.
» Consistently after you answer a call,
the voice quality is unacceptable. For
example, one person cannot hear the
other, the sound is choppy, there are
awkward transmission delays after
speaking, or there is an echo.
» Fax machines fail to interoperate.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If someone has trouble completing a
call to you from a long distance or wire-
less telephone service provider, the FCC
recommends that you encourage them to
report the issue to their provider. They will
need the following information:
• the date and time the call was
attempted
• the calling and called telephone
numbers
• the name of the caller’s long distance
or wireless telephone service provider
Next, call your local phone company
and provide the same information so it
may work with the caller’s provider to
isolate the problem.
“
“
“
Shared
Pages

one World
Adventure company:
A natural approach to learning
W
hen Billy Shugart came back
home to Fort Payne after
graduating from Montreat
College in North Carolina with a degree
in Outdoor Education and Environmen-
tal Science, he learned just how high the
dropout rate had risen for DeKalb County
schools. He and his wife, Angie, became
aware of the vulnerability of low-income
youth and families. Instead of turning a
blind eye to the problem, however, they
decided to do something about it, opening
One World Adventure Company in 2008.
Based in Mentone, One World Adven-
ture is a non-profit organization for area
youth that blends education, life lessons
and environmental awareness programs
with outdoor activities and recreation.
It’s an approach that Angie Shugart says
is “effective in multiple ways: for teach-
ing science concepts, supporting positive
social-emotional development and moti-
vating youth to think and act more respon-
sibly as stewards of the environment.”
The youth that participate in One World
Adventure programs, and in particular
the county’s underserved or at-risk youth,
also build much-needed self-esteem and
learn indispensable tools to confront and
overcome life’s many challenges. “We
provide a supportive environment teach-
ing kids how to respect themselves, others
and their environment,” says Angie. “They
take away important skills reminding them
they are responsible for everything they do
and say.”
Already, more and more schools are
starting to emphasize this type of character
education to help solve behavioral prob-
lems and improve academic achievement.
Incorporating these components into their
programs is something that One World
Adventure takes very seriously.
“Because character education creates
success, we help build an individual’s
view of themselves, others or the envi-
ronment in a positive light,” says Angie.
“Through group challenges and outdoor
activities designed to make you think out-
side the box, character education helps you
solve problems, make solid decisions and
effect positive change in one another.”
It also helps the youth differentiate
between perceived risks in an activity,
such as rock climbing, and real-life actual
risks, and to take charge of their behavior
accordingly. “When we are doing an activ-
ity such as hiking, climbing, rappelling or
kayaking,” Angie says, “we always use the
phrase ‘make good steps.’There are rocks
and roots that you can trip on. When you
trip, you fall. Falling hurts. Through peri-
ods of activity debriefs, we can relate this
phrase to real life. We want to teach kids
about having fun but being responsible.”
And not just responsible for themselves
and their actions, but also for the environ-
ment. That is a cornerstone of One World
Adventure’s mission, to “foster steward-
ship of the environment and teach ap-
preciation and the importance of the wise
use of natural resources,” says Angie. That
includes the Little River, which runs past
One World Adventure. In 1991, the river
was designated an Outstanding Natural
Resource Water (ONRW) by the Alabama
Environmental Management Commission.
Recently, the global water advocacy group
Waterkeeper Alliance (www.waterkeeper.
org) accepted One World Adventure’s
By Diana LaChance
Founders Billy and Angie Shugart with their
youngest daughter Ellie.
Rock climbing teaches
important skills and
builds confidence.
PhotoscourtesyofAngieShugart.
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative8 | May/June 2013
application to become the Little River
Waterkeeper.
“Having our camp on an ONRW makes
the river an even greater place to edu-
cate youth,” says Angie. “Becoming the
Little River Waterkeeper only made sense
because of our commitment to children,
their future and the natural resources they
inherit. The Waterkeeper monitors the
quality of Little River and serves citizens,
protecting their rights to clean, healthy
water.”
In the five years since its inception, One
World Adventure’s camps have served
around 200 campers from the DeKalb
County area each summer. These include
their Summer Adventure Day Camp, an
outdoor adventure education for kids aged
7 to 13, and their Watershed Exploration
Team, a five-day science exploration trip
for kids aged 14 to 18. Statewide school
enrichment programs reach another 200
students and teachers annually.
Part of the attraction of the camp is its
rates, which are kept relatively low thanks
to a combination of factors. “First,” says
Angie, “we are a public charity, so we
raise funds through grants and annual
fundraising events that are fun for the
entire family.” Second, fees are set on a
sliding scale to make the programs more
affordable to the county’s underserved
residents. And third, she adds, “several lo-
cal businesses contribute to a scholarship
fund helping provide when there is a need
for financial assistance.”
Angie says the goal isn’t to make money;
it’s to reach children. “We believe par-
ticipation in outdoor education programs
impacts a young person’s personal and
social skills,” she says. “Hiking, swim-
ming, paddling and climbing are all great
for the body as well as the mind. When you
are out in the woods, no one cares if you’re
driving a Lexus or wearing Aeropostale. It’s
humbling and it’s simple.”
It’s also a message that has resonated
with One World Adventure’s campers.
“We are so fortunate to have such wonder-
ful feedback,” says Angie. Every camper
has reported favorable experiences, saying
not only did they have a wonderful time,
but that they will come back every year.
“They also gained a better sense of
purpose and understanding of their actions
and the environment,” she adds. “Parents
and teachers have reported increased con-
fidence and self-esteem, positive relation-
ships among students or siblings, and re-
duced discipline and behavior problems.”
While it would be easy for Angie and
her husband to become satisfied with all
they have already done for their fellow
county residents, their goal instead is to
grow and meet even greater challenges
across the county and the state. “We hope
to see this type of education flourish in
our local community, throughout DeKalb
County and in the state of Alabama,” she
says. “We hope more teachers will take
advantage of our programs. In the near
future we are looking at a facilities expan-
sion with more to offer.”
Even with One World Adventure’s
exciting plans for expansion, Angie and
her husband remain grounded by — and
focused on — the natural beauty that sur-
rounds them. “Staying connected to nature
is the most important part of a person’s
life; we are nature,” she says. “They don’t
call it the great outdoors for nothing!”
Team building
activities like
this one teach
participants
about trust.
As an alternative to traditional field day games, these youth learn team
building skills.
Adventure Day campers rock
climbing at Cherokee Rock Village.
To learn more about One World
Adventure, visit us online at
oneworldadventureco.com
➜
8 | May/June 2013
Jenkins is back
T
he news hit Israel Jenkins like a lousy haircut — things
didn’t look good, but there was nothing he could do but
wait and see how it turned out.
The shopping center where he’d run his barbershop for 11
years was being renovated and he had to leave. He feared moving
the shop, which relies on repeat customers, would put a serious
crimp in his business.
“When you have to move, in some ways it’s like starting over,”
says Jenkins, who celebrated the grand opening of Professional
Barbershop on Feb. 15.
But the barber, with his constant upbeat attitude and strong
faith, has found a new home a few doors down from the PRTC
Retail Center that he says is probably going to work out better
than his last location. “It’s a good spot,” he says. “Sometimes,
when the devil tries to steal your joy, the Lord’s going to make it
work out better.”
Jenkins feels like that will be the case with his new shop,
which now has plenty of parking and is located alongside a major
road in Walterboro. Those are two necessities for a barber, based
on his experience.
And luckily for Jenkins, there is plenty of that experience to
draw on. Officially, he’s been buzzing, clipping and snipping hair
around Colleton County for 27 years. He started after being laid
off from a manufacturing plant that closed in 1986. He earned his
certification, started cutting and by 1992 opened his own shop.
But his education in hair care goes back further than that. As a
boy, he would help his uncle sweep up his barbershop. “I’ve got
it in my bloodline, in my spirit to cut hair,” he explains.
Over the years, there are some families that have trusted Jen-
kins to trim four generations of hair. Donte Calloway has been
coming to Jenkins' shop — wherever it’s been — since he was 5
years old. Now 20, he says he wouldn’t go anywhere else. “It’s
everything — the haircuts and the people,” he explains.
Though Jenkins acknowledges that it may take time for his cus-
tomer base to gel, he believes the commitment he and his two ap-
prentices make to doing good work will keep customers coming
back. “A bad haircut is something you can’t hide,” he says. “You
can’t wear a hat all of the time. You have to do quality work.”
Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative
Longtime barber reopens
on Robertson Boulevard
Space is immediately available in the shopping center on Robertson Boulevard where
the PRTC Retail Center is located. If you are interested in opening your business in this
great location, please contact PRTC about leasing options.
TOP: Israel Jenkins works on customer Donte Calloway, of Walter-
boro. BOTTOM: Jenkins cuts the ribbon to officially open his shop
along with Mayor Bill Young (second from left) and PRTC's Chuck
Crabtree (right of Jenkins).
W
hat if it’s a stressful Monday
and you need something to
cheer you up?
Comedy: 150 choices to choose from.
What if it’s a rainy Saturday and you
feel like watching something scary?
Horror: 70 choices.
Or what if there’s a big mixed martial
arts fight coming up and you don’t want to
miss it?
Whatever you’re looking for, Video on
Demand (VOD) and Pay-Per-View (PPV)
from PRTC have you covered. “There’s
a lot of really good content out there that
you can rent from the comfort of your own
home,” says Chris Green, PRTC’s systems
engineer.
When PRTC brought Mediaroom
consoles to video customers in 2011 and
2012, it came with a host of new fea-
tures. But the VOD and PPV services are
quickly becoming member favorites.
movies at your CommanD
The primary offerings through PRTC’s
VOD service are movies, which usually
cost $4.99 to rent. Many of the films are
fresh from theaters and available on VOD
as much as eight weeks earlier than Netflix
or Redbox. “You’ve got thousands of
movies to choose from,” says Green. “It
covers everything from horror to comedy.”
This month, new releases include
“Silver Linings Playbook,” “Mama” and
“Cloud Atlas.” Some classic movies, like
“Ghostbusters,” are also available through
VOD. “The options are growing every
day,” Green says.
In addition to movies, nearly 40 chan-
nels also offer their shows for free on
VOD. Discovery, HBO and other net-
works upload hit programs like "Game of
Thrones" so PRTC members can access
them at a time convenient for them. The
network VOD content is available to
members who have the network in their
subscription package.
Pay-PeR-View:
ComeDy, ConCerts anD
ComPetitions
While PRTC’s PPV offerings don’t
provide the flexibility of on-demand
streaming, they do give members access to
events they couldn’t see any other way.
The PPV content, which can be found
on Channel 950, is a mix of comedians,
live and classic concerts, boxing, mixed
martial arts and wrestling.
The fights, which can usually be pur-
chased for about $39.99, are particularly
popular among PRTC members, Green
says. “We have lots of wrestling fans,” he
explains.
Both VOD and PPV are strong offerings
that are growing in popularity. Already,
PRTC members rent hundreds of movies
each month and industry experts expect
that number to increase.
“The customer response has been
great,” Green says. “We expect that as
more members find out about the service,
more will give it a try and see just how
convenient it is.”
watch what you want,
when you want
VOD and Pay-Per-
View give members
unprecedented
access to movies
and events
May/June 2013 | 9
.
Local Pages
Local Pages

CONgAREE NATiONAL PARK
Located southeast of Columbia, S.C., the Congaree National
Park claims to preserve the biggest section of old-growth bot-
tomland hardwood forest in the region. What that means is
visitors should be prepared to see trees like they’ve never seen
before. In fact, to find a “taller” forest you have to travel out
west to the famous redwoods and sequoias.
One of the nation’s newest national parks, Congaree offers
everything from a 2.4-mile boardwalk to the ominously-named,
11-mile King Snake Trail. Rangers say the best way to see the
park, however, is by water. Canoes and kayaks can be rented
from outfitters in Columbia, or you can register for one of the
park’s guided canoe tours.
www.nps.gov/cong
SAVAgE gULf
Dotted with waterfalls, unusual rock formations and lush
gorges, the trails at Savage Gulf State Natural Area in Tennes-
see have been ranked among the nation’s best by Backpacker
magazine. Not all of the park’s 50 miles of trails are as savage
as the name states, but there is a good mix of routes from short
walks to multi-night backpacking adventures.
The area is also popular with rock climbers for features like
the Stone Door, a 10-foot wide, 100-foot deep crack in the rock.
Located on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, Savage
Gulf offers fantastic views during leaf season in the fall.
www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/savage
THE DUCK RiVER
The 270-mile Duck River has more species of fish than all of
Europe, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation. A 37-mile section of the river has been des-
ignated a State Scenic River and is a perfect spot for beginning
paddlers. The river is mostly moving flat water with only a few
easy rapids that can be easily portaged.
Paddlers will enjoy a variety of wildlife, along with forested
banks, rocky cliffs and even a cave or two. At least three outfit-
ters offer canoe or kayak rentals from Columbia and Chapel
Hill, so not having a boat is no excuse to stay on the banks.
www.tn.gov/environment/tn_consv/archive/duckriver.htm
The Southeastern U.S. is an outdoor lover’s
paradise. Whether you're looking for a rugged
multi-day hike or an afternoon paddle along a
quiet creek, the region has something for ev-
eryone. But before packing up, spend some
time exploring the Internet to ensure you get
the most from your adventure.
Six outdoor destinations and
the technology that can
enhance the nature experience
✔ Map
✔ Compass
✔ Water
✔ Extra food
✔ Extra clothes
✔ First aid kit
✔ Pocket knife
✔ Sun protection
✔ Flashlight
✔ Matches and
firestarter
–Source: Sheltowee Trace
By Andy Johns
Canoeists
at Congaree
National Park
10 | May/June 2013
THE SHELTOWEE TRACE
Running for about 300 miles through East Tennessee and Kentucky, the Sheltowee Trace
offers hikers a multi-night long-distance trail experience or a collection of shorter day trips.
Some of the highlights along the route include Cumberland Falls, Natural Bridge State Resort
Park and Cave Run Lake. For some variety, sections of the trail are open to mountain bikes,
horses and some off-road vehicles.
www.sheltoweetrace.org
NORTH/SOUTH TRAiL
While many trails will wear you out climbing mountains, the North/South Trail at Ken-
tucky's Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is wide and relatively flat,
making it easy on hikers. Like other long distance trails, the North/South offers appealing
segments for single day hikes or the full 60-mile distance for multi-day trips. The trail offers
a few views of nearby Kentucky Lake, but the big attraction to hikers here is the solitude and
wildlife. Deer and turkey roam the LBL, and there are even bison in one designated area off
the trail. Mountain bikes and horses are allowed, but motor vehicles are prohibited.
www.lbl.org/Hiking.html
WALLS Of JERiCHO
The Walls of Jericho is a great example of two states working together. Tennessee and Ala-
bama (with the help of private groups) have teamed up to protect 21,000 acres on their border
that feature 200-foot cliffs, endangered species and unusually shaped rocks. Getting to the
Walls is a 7-mile round-trip hike with several small stream crossings. Hikers need to be sure
to wear good boots, bring plenty of water and pay attention to the weather.
www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/jericho
Web-based tech-
nology can add
to your hiking ex-
perience before,
during and after
your hike. Here
are three ways
technology can
help you on the
trails.
BEfORE:
Websites like backpacker.com/
destinations and gorp.com
(which stands for "Good Ol’Raisins
and Peanuts," a popular trail snack)
offer countless maps, images and
user reviews for hikes in your area.
Research ahead of time so you
don’t miss spectacular side trails —
and so you'll be aware of hazards in
the area.
DURiNg:
The Audubon Society and other
groups have developed apps for
smartphones that can enhance
your nature experience. Apps like
give you access to
thousands of bird call sound files
and photos to help identify species
you may run across.
AfTER:
Mobile apps like allow
you to map your route as you go.
Most of them have features that
allow you to review your pace,
elevation gain and distance
covered so you can analyze your
trip. Many also allow you to share
your route with friends so they can
see where you’ve been and try it
themselves.
Lower Greeter Falls
in Savage Gulf
Zebra swallowtail butterfly
at Congaree National Park
A great blue heron at
Congaree National Park
A green anole lizard at
Hiker at the
Walls of Jericho
Upper Greeter Falls
in Savage Gulf
PhotoscourtesyofTennesseeStateNaturalAreas
andCongareeNationalPark.
May/June 2013 | 11
CONgAREE NATiONAL PARK
Located southeast of Columbia, S.C., the Congaree National
Park claims to preserve the biggest section of old-growth bot-
tomland hardwood forest in the region. What that means is
visitors should be prepared to see trees like they’ve never seen
before. In fact, to find a “taller” forest you have to travel out
west to the famous redwoods and sequoias.
One of the nation’s newest national parks, Congaree offers
everything from a 2.4-mile boardwalk to the ominously-named,
11-mile King Snake Trail. Rangers say the best way to see the
park, however, is by water. Canoes and kayaks can be rented
from outfitters in Columbia, or you can register for one of the
park’s guided canoe tours.
www.nps.gov/cong
SAVAgE gULf
Dotted with waterfalls, unusual rock formations and lush
gorges, the trails at Savage Gulf State Natural Area in Tennes-
see have been ranked among the nation’s best by Backpacker
magazine. Not all of the park’s 50 miles of trails are as savage
as the name states, but there is a good mix of routes from short
walks to multi-night backpacking adventures.
The area is also popular with rock climbers for features like
the Stone Door, a 10-foot wide, 100-foot deep crack in the rock.
Located on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, Savage
Gulf offers fantastic views during leaf season in the fall.
www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/savage
THE DUCK RiVER
The 270-mile Duck River has more species of fish than all of
Europe, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation. A 37-mile section of the river has been des-
ignated a State Scenic River and is a perfect spot for beginning
paddlers. The river is mostly moving flat water with only a few
easy rapids that can be easily portaged.
Paddlers will enjoy a variety of wildlife, along with forested
banks, rocky cliffs and even a cave or two. At least three outfit-
ters offer canoe or kayak rentals from Columbia and Chapel
Hill, so not having a boat is no excuse to stay on the banks.
www.tn.gov/environment/tn_consv/archive/duckriver.htm
The Southeastern U.S. is an outdoor lover’s
paradise. Whether you're looking for a rugged
multi-day hike or an afternoon paddle along a
quiet creek, the region has something for ev-
eryone. But before packing up, spend some
time exploring the Internet to ensure you get
the most from your adventure.
Six outdoor destinations and
the technology that can
enhance the nature experience
✔ Map
✔ Compass
✔ Water
✔ Extra food
✔ Extra clothes
✔ First aid kit
✔ Pocket knife
✔ Sun protection
✔ Flashlight
✔ Matches and
firestarter
–Source: Sheltowee Trace
By Andy Johns
Canoeists
at Congaree
National Park
10 | May/June 2013
THE SHELTOWEE TRACE
Running for about 300 miles through East Tennessee and Kentucky, the Sheltowee Trace
offers hikers a multi-night long-distance trail experience or a collection of shorter day trips.
Some of the highlights along the route include Cumberland Falls, Natural Bridge State Resort
Park and Cave Run Lake. For some variety, sections of the trail are open to mountain bikes,
horses and some off-road vehicles.
www.sheltoweetrace.org
NORTH/SOUTH TRAiL
While many trails will wear you out climbing mountains, the North/South Trail at Ken-
tucky's Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is wide and relatively flat,
making it easy on hikers. Like other long distance trails, the North/South offers appealing
segments for single day hikes or the full 60-mile distance for multi-day trips. The trail offers
a few views of nearby Kentucky Lake, but the big attraction to hikers here is the solitude and
wildlife. Deer and turkey roam the LBL, and there are even bison in one designated area off
the trail. Mountain bikes and horses are allowed, but motor vehicles are prohibited.
www.lbl.org/Hiking.html
WALLS Of JERiCHO
The Walls of Jericho is a great example of two states working together. Tennessee and Ala-
bama (with the help of private groups) have teamed up to protect 21,000 acres on their border
that feature 200-foot cliffs, endangered species and unusually shaped rocks. Getting to the
Walls is a 7-mile round-trip hike with several small stream crossings. Hikers need to be sure
to wear good boots, bring plenty of water and pay attention to the weather.
www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/jericho
Web-based tech-
nology can add
to your hiking ex-
perience before,
during and after
your hike. Here
are three ways
technology can
help you on the
trails.
BEfORE:
Websites like backpacker.com/
destinations and gorp.com
(which stands for "Good Ol’Raisins
and Peanuts," a popular trail snack)
offer countless maps, images and
user reviews for hikes in your area.
Research ahead of time so you
don’t miss spectacular side trails —
and so you'll be aware of hazards in
the area.
DURiNg:
The Audubon Society and other
groups have developed apps for
smartphones that can enhance
your nature experience. Apps like
give you access to
thousands of bird call sound files
and photos to help identify species
you may run across.
AfTER:
Mobile apps like allow
you to map your route as you go.
Most of them have features that
allow you to review your pace,
elevation gain and distance
covered so you can analyze your
trip. Many also allow you to share
your route with friends so they can
see where you’ve been and try it
themselves.
Lower Greeter Falls
in Savage Gulf
Zebra swallowtail butterfly
at Congaree National Park
A great blue heron at
A green anole lizard at
Hiker at the
Walls of Jericho
Upper Greeter Falls
in Savage Gulf
PhotoscourtesyofTennesseeStateNaturalAreas
andCongareeNationalPark.
May/June 2013 | 11
Shared
Pages

W
hen people visit the new ACE Basin Sports
Complex for the first time, they will notice
the immaculate green grass. They’ll notice
the comfortable plastic seats at the Championship
Field. They’ll notice the smooth infields.
But if they look closely, or get out their smartphone
or tablet, they will notice streaming video cameras and
high-speed Wi-Fi. “Technology-wise, we’ve added a lot
out here that we’ve never had before,” says Chris My-
ers, parks and recreation director for Colleton County.
Through a partnership with the county, PRTC has
provided wireless Internet to fans at the park and
streaming video to fans who could not attend. In all,
PRTC has placed more than a dozen cameras around
the complex. All five fields have home plate and third
base cameras. Some of the fields also have a first base
camera.
PRTC Chief Technology Officer Tony Stout says the
plan for now is to stream the video online, but he says
it’s possible that in the future some of the games could
be shown on PRTC’s local cable channel.
The same fiber connection that enables the video
stream extends to the register at concession stands,
so Myers and other staff members can better keep up
with inventory. The new complex is so wired that park
employees will even be able to log in at home to turn
off lights on the field.
Colleton County High School Head Softball Coach
Rusty Adams, who hosted his annual Walterboro Grand
Slam Jamboree at the new complex in February, has
been impressed with the playing surface and the off-
field amenities like Wi-Fi. “I don’t think anybody could
have predicted it would turn out this nice,” Adams says.
“It’s something for Colleton County to be proud of.”
After the first few tournaments, Myers says visitors
share Adams’ enthusiasm. “They’ve been excited,”
he says. “We’ve gotten nothing but 5 out of 5 on the
comment cards.”
Thecrackofthebat!Theroarofthecrowd! ThespeedoftheWi-Fi?
By Andy Johns
Brittney Risher
warms up for the
Colleton County High
School Cougars
softball team.
12 | May/June 2013
-
Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative May/June 2013 | 13
tournament ComPetition
For a long time, the only connection
coaches were worried about was the one
between the bat and ball. Now, many
traveling teams are using mobile apps and
tablets to score games and keep statistics.
At the ACE complex they can upload the
stats to team or league sites right from the
bleachers. “A lot of the travel ball parents
are excited they can play here,” Myers
says.
And that excitement will be key to the
park’s success. Adams, in his 32nd year
of coaching, says the park should pay
dividends by helping bring in tournaments
which can be an economic boon for the
county. “To attract quality teams, you’ve
got to have quality facilities,” he says.
In all, 30 tournaments are already
booked for 2013, up from only six in
2012. And each one can bring in big
league dollars for the county. Myers esti-
mates that a small tournament for adults
in February generated $12,000 in sales at
area hotels, restaurants and gas stations.
Spartanburg’s Tyger River Park baseball
and softball complex brought $17.6 mil-
lion into the surrounding area in 2012,
according to news reports.
Myers acknowledges that Tyger is a big-
ger facility, but he thinks ACE Basin has
differentiated itself enough to become an
economic all-star for Colleton County.
He says the streaming video is part of
what will make the park stand out to tour-
nament organizers. “It separates us from
some of the other parks,” Myers explains.
“It’s not a common thing you see.”
The five new fields fit in with seven
existing fields, making plenty of room for
teams to play and practice. “There are few
places you can park and walk to 12 fields,”
Myers says.
In addition to the technology built into
the new park, the design features other
subtle enhancements. The backstops are
nets instead of chain link, which offers a
cleaner view of the field. There are also
electrical boxes buried around the pitching
rubber, which has helped the park land a
big machine-pitch tournament this July.
PRTC CEO Jason Dandridge sees the
park accomplishing two big missions in
the community.
“I played youth sports and my kids
play youth sports, so I know firsthand the
lessons and life skills they can teach,”
Dandridge says. “I’m especially excited
that we could partner with the county on
this project, not only for the dollars it will
bring into our community, but for the op-
portunities it will give our children.”
TOP: Skylar Maxey runs to home
plate, scoring a run for the Cougars
in their ﬁrst game of the Walterboro
Grand Slam.
MIDDLE/BOTTOM: PRTC installed
more than a dozen cameras around
the complex to capture the game
action and stream it on the Web.
By Kerry Scott
F
or as long as she can remember, Alice Pettyjohn has had
a knack for art. While attending Auburn University she
studied industrial and graphic design, learning many of
the computer programs favored by the art community. But even
before college, she was “designing” signs and breakthrough ban-
ners as a member of the Sylvania Rams cheerleading squad. “I
jokingly tell people that’s where I got my start,” she says.
Until about five years ago, she limited herself to creating gifts
for friends and family. She never really charged for her work. “My
friends would tell me I could make a living doing this,” says Pet-
tyjohn, “and after a while I started to believe them.”
She began offering art lessons and selling paintings and murals.
But eventually the art began to take up too much space in her
home so she decided to rent a commercial space and do her art
full-time.
When Pettyjohn first saw the rock house on Highway 35 in
Rainsville that would become Alice Circle, she knew it had poten-
tial. “It was a place with character and charm,” she explains.
Originally, her plan was to use the two front rooms for art
lessons and parties with the rest of the house essentially going
unused. But it didn’t take long before ideas began popping into
her mind about how she could use the rest of the space. “It’s such
a cute place,” she says. “I started thinking it would be lonely in
here with only the two rooms in use. Then I started visualizing
what different displays would look like and how the other rooms
could be used.”
Reaching out to her friends first, Pettyjohn began renting space
to other artists and craftsmen, giving them an opportunity to show
off their handiwork and earn some extra money at the same time.
“I’m really glad to have them here,” she says. “Not everyone
would stop in just to see my stuff. Because we have so many dif-
ferent items — from clothing and accessories to crocheted items
to beauty aids to housewares, and even sandwiches and cupcakes
— people may come by to get one thing and see a dozen other
items they fall in love with. They really help make the place what
it is.”
And what exactly is Alice Circle? Pettyjohn describes the shop
as “Etsy and Pinterest rolled into a store.” While she says it isn’t
possible for everything to be handmade, many things are. “The
items sold that aren’t handmade must have some creativity that
goes into them in order to be here, and I don’t want to sell items
that are overly commercial,” she says.
Pettyjohn hopes her place leaves a lasting memory for all who
come through. She feels nostalgia when remembering after-school
visits to Super D for an Icee as a child. “I would love for kids
to say ‘I remember art lessons at Alice Circle’ or ‘I used to get a
cupcake every time I went there,’” she says. “I want this to be a
fun place that makes people happy.”
There’s a lot of work that goes into making the shop the place
of her dreams, though. The business is only open three days a
week — Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“A lot of people ask why I don’t open through the week but I
Alice Pettyjohn describes her
place as “Etsy and Pinterest”
combined in a shop.
Art lessons, parties and
showers are among the
activities offered at Alice
Circle.
H
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative12 | May/June 2013
just can’t,” she says. “That’s my painting
and creating time and I need every bit of
it to stay on top of the custom orders that
I get. Much of what I do can’t be done
while customers are here or food is being
prepared.”
While Pettyjohn admits to putting in
some really long hours at the shop, she
says “I always have a smile on my face.”
She believes that those who have a creative
side need a way to release it in order to be
happy. She also believes they need to be
inspired.
Many of her inspirations for design
come from others. “I see things that I like,
then I make my own version of things,”
she explains. Most of those creations end
up being shared with her more than 1,400
followers on Facebook. Art classes often
follow as a result of a Facebook post to
teach others how to make their own.
Some might say that isn’t good for busi-
ness, but Pettyjohn doesn’t think so. “I
don’t mind teaching anyone how to make
something,” she says. She rationalizes that
not everyone will want to spend the time
and energy to make their own and things
trend so quickly that she’s always thinking
ahead for the next big thing.
While on the lookout for what that might
be, Pettyjohn is grateful for what she’s
been able to accomplish so far. “I used
to dream of a way to do what I love and
still pay the bills,” she says. “I’m living a
dream. I’m doing something I love. I’m
making people happy and I’m earning a
living. It’s awesome.”
Art students get to work with
several different mediums.
Join us for
Crossroads FreedomFest
Saturday, June 22
Rainsville City Park
Entertainment throughout the day
Performances by H.O.P.E. Puppet Team
Concessions
Car Show
Fireworks at dark sponsored by City of Rainsville and FTC
All proceeds go to support mission programs at First Baptist Church Rainsville
For more information call 256-638-8637
Register now for
Rainsville FreedomFest 10K & 5K
Visit rainsvillefreedomfest.racesonline.com for complete details
H
HPerformances by RFBC’sH
H.O.P.E. Puppet Ministries
(Helping Others Prepare for Eternity)
HEntertainmentthroughoutthedayH
HFREEDOMFEST 10K & 5K RACEH
Pre-register online at
www.rainsvillefreedomfest.racesonline.com
HCRUISE-IN CAR SHOWH
HCONCESSIONSH
HHUGE FIREWORKS SHOWH
SponsoredbyFTCandtheCityofRainsville
For more information call 256-638-8637
H
Rainsville City Park
Saturday, June 22
CRoSSRoadS
FReedomFeSt
with special guest
miChael engliSh
After a rewarding solo career in gospel music where he won
several Dove awards, English joined the GaitherVocal Band in
2009. His soulful voice, combined with his gift for connecting with
audiences, has kept him in the forefront of the Christian music
world. His latest solo album is entitled“Some People Change.”
Local Pages
Local Pages

Anartfired
bypassion
Southern Kitchens
Smokerunsinhisblood
Anne P. Braly
Food Editor
E
ric Stephenson was just 16 years
old when he learned that a little
bit of flame, a smoker filled with
wood and a careful eye produces incred-
ibly good meat. It was then that his dad,
James, opened a barbecue restaurant in
Geraldine, Ala., and employed his son to
work after school and during his sum-
mers off. Soon, Eric became a master of
the flame under his father’s watchful eye.
Now 32, Eric owns his own barbecue
restaurant, Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que in
Rainsville, Ala. It has a take-out drive
through, as well as a covered front porch
with a handful of picnic tables where
folks can “eat-in.”
“I loved working with my dad growing
up,” Eric says. "I was able to see first-hand the pride he took in his work. Before his death,
he laid out a blueprint for me through multiple conversations. That’s where the idea for
Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que began. It’s in my blood.”
His first barbecue hut was a Saturday-only business located next to his house. When that
building was destroyed by a tornado in April of 2011, he reopened in a new location along
Highway 35 in downtown Rainsville. Now folks can smell the smoke from the hickory pit
five days a week.
From pork sandwiches to rib plates, Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que reigns in Rainsville.
Eric took time out from smoking to answer a few barbecue questions:
Q: Do you prefer using gas or charcoal?
A: Neither. The best method is to use all wood when smoking meat. It gives it a whole lot
better flavor.
Q: What are the best woods to use?
A: Most all hardwoods are good — pecan, hickory, oak, cherry.
Q: How do you get juicy meat?
A: Don’t pierce the meat; it creates holes that let the juices escape. Brining the meat is a
better option. I brine all of mine, from the chickens and turkeys to pork butts and ribs.
Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when smoking meat?
A: Allowing the flame to touch the meat or cooking it at too high a temperature. That
scorches the meat, and the smoke won’t have time to penetrate the inside of the meat.
Q: How do you know when the meat is done?
A: I can tell just by touch. But people who are new to smoking meats should use a meat
thermometer. I cook my pork butts to at least 175° F. Makes them more tender, too.
My dad was never too fond
of barbecue. As a result, I really
never experienced smoked foods
until well beyond my youth. In
fact, it wasn’t until I was well
into my third decade of life that
I not only learned to love barbe-
cue, but also learned there was
more to it than I ever knew — all
because of an invitation to judge
one of the most esteemed of all
barbecue competitions, the Jack
Daniel’s World Championship
Invitational. In accepting the
invitation, I also took classes to
become a certified judge.
I went back several years to
judge this event and came to
discover that barbecue is an art.
It’s a sixth sense in many barbe-
cuers who are born to the flame,
it seems. As years go on, they
become adept at putting on the
heat to produce just the right
amount of smoke to marry with
the juices flowing through the
meats. These sons — and daugh-
ters — of the South have smoke
in their veins. It’s an all-consum-
ing passion, and one shared by
many now that it’s gone beyond
the back yard to become a global
cuisine. Just take a look at Eric
Stephenson’s recipes in the ad-
joining story and see if you don’t
become addicted to his fiery pas-
sion… if you’re not already.
Email Anne Braly at apbraly@gmail.com.
Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que H 832 Main St. East H Rainsville, Ala.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. H Tuesday – Saturday
Phone: 256-717-4080
House special: Pulled pork barbecue plate with coleslaw and baked beans ($6.25-$7.75)
FOLLOW THE SMOKE TO...
Stephenson
learned the art
of barbecue
from his father.
14 | May/June 2013
Sweet ’n Savory Rub
This rub adds a zesty flair to whatever
meat you put on the grill.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
Mix together all ingredients and store in
airtight container. May be used as a rub
for chicken, beef or pork. Makes about 1
cup rub for 2-3 pounds meat.
When ready to use, sprinkle rub onto
meat and allow to rest for 5 minutes
before grilling. Or, rub onto meat, wrap
meat in foil and refrigerate overnight to
grill the next day.
Bourbon Smoked
PorkTenderloin
Makes an elegant entree or one that can
be served with baked beans and coleslaw
for tasty picnic fare.
2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
of silver skin
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
2 tablespoons molasses or strong
honey
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 bay leaves, crushed
5 teaspoons dried thyme
5 teaspoons dried sage
3/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
Combine the bourbon and molasses.
Add the remaining ingredients and roll
the pork in the marinade. Refrigerate 8
hours, or overnight, turning occasionally.
Remove the pork from the marinade,
season with salt, and smoke, basting with
marinade for 15-20 minutes. The pork
may then continue to cook on a smoker,
be finished on a grill, or be roasted in a
350° F oven until reaching an internal
temperature of 145-150° F. Remove pork
from heating source and let rest 15 min-
utes before serving.
Ribs with Spicy Barbecue Sauce
The sauce tickles these ribs with lots of
flavor.
1 3-pound rack of ribs
SAUCE:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Place ribs in pan. Combine all sauce
ingredients and pour over ribs. Cover ribs
and refrigerate for 2 hours, turning ribs
frequently. Drain sauce from ribs, reserv-
ing sauce. Place ribs over medium coals
and grill over direct heat for 1 hour, turn-
ing ribs and basting often with sauce.
BBQ: A mouth-watering Southern tradition
Using nothing but wood will give your ribs that
distinct smoke ﬂavor that barbecue lovers crave.
Stephenson's ribs with
spicy barbecue sauce
May/June 2013 | 15
Anartfired
bypassion
Southern Kitchens
Smokerunsinhisblood
Anne P. Braly
Food Editor
E
ric Stephenson was just 16 years
old when he learned that a little
bit of flame, a smoker filled with
wood and a careful eye produces incred-
ibly good meat. It was then that his dad,
James, opened a barbecue restaurant in
Geraldine, Ala., and employed his son to
work after school and during his sum-
mers off. Soon, Eric became a master of
the flame under his father’s watchful eye.
Now 32, Eric owns his own barbecue
restaurant, Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que in
Rainsville, Ala. It has a take-out drive
through, as well as a covered front porch
with a handful of picnic tables where
folks can “eat-in.”
“I loved working with my dad growing
up,” Eric says. "I was able to see first-hand the pride he took in his work. Before his death,
he laid out a blueprint for me through multiple conversations. That’s where the idea for
Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que began. It’s in my blood.”
His first barbecue hut was a Saturday-only business located next to his house. When that
building was destroyed by a tornado in April of 2011, he reopened in a new location along
Highway 35 in downtown Rainsville. Now folks can smell the smoke from the hickory pit
five days a week.
From pork sandwiches to rib plates, Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que reigns in Rainsville.
Eric took time out from smoking to answer a few barbecue questions:
Q: Do you prefer using gas or charcoal?
A: Neither. The best method is to use all wood when smoking meat. It gives it a whole lot
better flavor.
Q: What are the best woods to use?
A: Most all hardwoods are good — pecan, hickory, oak, cherry.
Q: How do you get juicy meat?
A: Don’t pierce the meat; it creates holes that let the juices escape. Brining the meat is a
better option. I brine all of mine, from the chickens and turkeys to pork butts and ribs.
Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when smoking meat?
A: Allowing the flame to touch the meat or cooking it at too high a temperature. That
scorches the meat, and the smoke won’t have time to penetrate the inside of the meat.
Q: How do you know when the meat is done?
A: I can tell just by touch. But people who are new to smoking meats should use a meat
thermometer. I cook my pork butts to at least 175° F. Makes them more tender, too.
My dad was never too fond
of barbecue. As a result, I really
never experienced smoked foods
until well beyond my youth. In
fact, it wasn’t until I was well
into my third decade of life that
I not only learned to love barbe-
cue, but also learned there was
more to it than I ever knew — all
because of an invitation to judge
one of the most esteemed of all
barbecue competitions, the Jack
Daniel’s World Championship
Invitational. In accepting the
invitation, I also took classes to
become a certified judge.
I went back several years to
judge this event and came to
discover that barbecue is an art.
It’s a sixth sense in many barbe-
cuers who are born to the flame,
it seems. As years go on, they
become adept at putting on the
heat to produce just the right
amount of smoke to marry with
the juices flowing through the
meats. These sons — and daugh-
ters — of the South have smoke
in their veins. It’s an all-consum-
ing passion, and one shared by
many now that it’s gone beyond
the back yard to become a global
cuisine. Just take a look at Eric
Stephenson’s recipes in the ad-
joining story and see if you don’t
become addicted to his fiery pas-
sion… if you’re not already.
Email Anne Braly at apbraly@gmail.com.
Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que H 832 Main St. East H Rainsville, Ala.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. H Tuesday – Saturday
Phone: 256-717-4080
House special: Pulled pork barbecue plate with coleslaw and baked beans ($6.25-$7.75)
FOLLOW THE SMOKE TO...
Stephenson
learned the art
of barbecue
from his father.
14 | May/June 2013
Sweet ’n Savory Rub
This rub adds a zesty flair to whatever
meat you put on the grill.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
Mix together all ingredients and store in
airtight container. May be used as a rub
for chicken, beef or pork. Makes about 1
cup rub for 2-3 pounds meat.
When ready to use, sprinkle rub onto
meat and allow to rest for 5 minutes
before grilling. Or, rub onto meat, wrap
meat in foil and refrigerate overnight to
grill the next day.
Bourbon Smoked
PorkTenderloin
Makes an elegant entree or one that can
be served with baked beans and coleslaw
for tasty picnic fare.
2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
of silver skin
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
2 tablespoons molasses or strong
honey
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves, crushed
5 teaspoons dried thyme
5 teaspoons dried sage
3/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
Combine the bourbon and molasses.
Add the remaining ingredients and roll
the pork in the marinade. Refrigerate 8
hours, or overnight, turning occasionally.
Remove the pork from the marinade,
season with salt, and smoke, basting with
marinade for 15-20 minutes. The pork
may then continue to cook on a smoker,
be finished on a grill, or be roasted in a
350° F oven until reaching an internal
temperature of 145-150° F. Remove pork
from heating source and let rest 15 min-
utes before serving.
Ribs with Spicy Barbecue Sauce
The sauce tickles these ribs with lots of
flavor.
1 3-pound rack of ribs
SAUCE:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Place ribs in pan. Combine all sauce
ingredients and pour over ribs. Cover ribs
and refrigerate for 2 hours, turning ribs
frequently. Drain sauce from ribs, reserv-
ing sauce. Place ribs over medium coals
and grill over direct heat for 1 hour, turn-
ing ribs and basting often with sauce.
BBQ: A mouth-watering Southern tradition
Using nothing but wood will give your ribs that
distinct smoke ﬂavor that barbecue lovers crave.
Stephenson's ribs with
spicy barbecue sauce
May/June 2013 | 15
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