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Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association

2018 Spring Newsletter

Chairman’s Summary

Membership in the Association is currently at 534 families. As Membership Chair, Diane Lunsford has

done a great job in promoting the Organization and, with her continued leadership, we expect to add

members in the upcoming year.

All the Members of the Board have worked extensively to promote the goals and activities of the

Association.

Sylvia French, as Vice Chairperson, has worked very hard, often taking on the duties of the Chairperson

during his absences, and has worked on all the programs and activities.

Vickie Stapler, as Treasurer, has performed the duties of the position admirably and has worked on

most activities, including managing the social media page.

Nancy Burnes has taken on the Newsletter and been heavily involved in other activities, including the

work of the Hospitality Committee and Coordination with the Website.

Tracy Rice has taken on the job of planning and executing the Kids Fishing Day event with great

success, and has worked extensively on the majority of programs and activities.

Mike Tranum headed up the Fish Habitat Project, and has worked extensively on issues related to

safety on the lake.

Ginny Oxford has headed up the Hospitality Committee and worked with several of the other activities.

Gene Crouch was extensively involved in the production of the Membership Directory and with

promotion of the events of the Association, including photographs and drone footage for the

publications and the website. He has also been instrumental in signing up members from new

purchasers of lake property.

Nan Ferebee has served as Board Member, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chair of the Hospitality

Committee for the Association. She has kept the minutes, processed renewal and new memberships,

accomplished the mass mailings, paid the bills, maintained the bank and association records, and has

been a complete delight with her willingness to take on big tasks with a cheerful presence.

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Mike Browning provides free web hosting, domain name registrations, and the email contact system

necessary for maintaining the website, updating the news, posting photos of events and activities, and

providing email notifications to members. The facility he has designed and updated saves the

Association a lot of money on supplies, postage, and processing while making it possible to provide up

to date information to members on a more current basis.

These folks work on behalf of the association without pay. When you have occasion to see or speak

with them, please convey your appreciation for what they do.

Alabama Power Company has its activities well underway to provide for the Relicensing of the lake

through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This is a very complicated process and

Alabama Power has included many activities to involve stakeholders in the process. Stay informed of

developments through the Association Website and the Alabama Power Company Shorelines app.

The Fox Creek Birding Trail is open again for business. It always grows up over the winter and it is

necessary to cut the grass and clear the trails in the wooded area. Carlton Amason has just completed

that work, so take time to visit the project and enjoy the hiking trail and the opportunities for bird

watching.

On a recent pontoon trip on the Little River between Mile Marker 14 and Lakeside, we were thrilled to

see a bald eagle, two osprey, and a red tailed hawk. A lot of folks don’t see these spectacular raptors in

their lifetime. We are fortunate to have the experience. While you are out on the lake, keep an eye out

for them.

The Summer on The Lake event came off very successfully. Even though the event was held relatively

early, in April, many exhibitors participated. Attendance by residents and property owners was strong

even though many other local events competed for attendance. Randy and Eric Morris of Wedowee

Marine provided their Marina South location, free of charge, for the event which brought together lake

residents and property owners with local officials, candidates for office and providers of products and

services. Many thanks to exhibitors and to Sheila Smith and Wanda Hagan of Alabama Power Company

for signing up participants and organizing and managing the event.

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2018 Professional Women’s Luncheon

The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce held the 28th annual Professional Women’s Luncheon at

the Roanoke First United Methodist Church’s MacDonald Family Life Center on Tuesday, March 20th.

Over 200 women attended this year’s event.

Keynote speakers from Tanner Health System and Regional Medical Center focused on women’s health. Dia Smiley, DO with Tanner Health, Vascular Department, focused on heart issues specific to women. Samantha Baggett, FNP, with RMC’s, Roanoke Rural Health System, spoke on heart issues as well as other health concerns specific to women. Both covered services offered to women at their Randolph County facilities.

The LWPOA table, above.

The MacDonald Family Life Center was beautifully decorated with tablescapes designed by all groups,

businesses, and organizations attending this luncheon. WM Grocery catered a delicious meal for all

attendees to enjoy as they listened to this year’s speakers.

Summer on the Lake

The second annual “Summer on the Lake” event at Wedowee Marine South was a spectacular success.

The event was organized by Alabama Power Company, Lake Wedowee Property Owners’ Association,

Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, Wedowee Marine, and Lake Wedowee Life Magazine.

Exhibitors at this event included local providers of services, local officials, civic groups, and businesses

that represent and provide products and services to Wedowee and the lake community. In addition,

many candidates for the June 5th Primary and the November General Election were on hand to meet

with and discuss issues with citizens.

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All exhibitors at “Summer on the Lake” were set up inside and outside the marina to speak with and

provide information to the many visitors in attendance. Both exhibitors and candidates for the June 5th

Primary contributed the door prizes for this event.

Wedowee Marine, with its new restaurant, provided the perfect indoor and outdoor exhibition space

for vendors, candidates, and visitors. Thanks again Wedowee Marine for hosting the second annual

“Summer on the Lake.”

Shelia Smith, Manager of Lakeshore Operations for Alabama Power Company, and Tom Garland,

Chairman of Lake Wedowee Property Owners’ Association thanked the exhibitors for their

participation and contributions.

KIDS FISHING DAY Kids Fishing Day is an annual event held by Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association and is 100% funded by donations from our major sponsors and other businesses in the area through monetary or door prizes. The event is open to Children ages 3-15 with adult supervision. Kids Fishing Day allows LWPOA to give back to the community in a way that benefits children with an experience they might not otherwise have.

The 2018 Kids Fishing Day was a huge success. Held at The Rice Family Pavilion on May 22, 2018, and though rain was in the forecast, fishing was great. The kids had a wonderful time catching catfish, playing yard games, getting faces painted, and spending time with family and friends. Tracy Rice was event coordinator this year and he wishes to thank all the volunteers and local officials who came out to help make the event memorable for the kids. Notably, Sheriff David Cofield and Judge George Diamond came out and cooked approximately 300 hot dogs for the event, Fish and Game Officers were on hand to talk to kids and parents and The Randolph County Rescue Squad was on hand to make sure the event went safely.

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Every child won at least one door prize and awards were given for first fish caught, biggest fish (a whopping 4.5 pound channel catfish), and most fish caught by an individual.

This year’s major sponsors included The Rice Family Pavilion, Tanner East Medical Center, Lake Wedowee Bait and Tackle, Wellborn Cabinets, First State Bank, Dr. Mark Parrish, Buster Miles Ford/Chevrolet, Eagle 102.3 FM, Lake Wedowee Docks, LLC, Ken Seiffert State Farm Insurance, Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, Rice Pest Control, and other local businesses.

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Lake Safety Tips

The weather has turned warm, the lakes are full, and the summer activity on Alabama lakes has greatly

increased. People are flocking to Lake Wedowee for swimming, fishing, boating, jet skiing, and other

water related activities. We want everyone to have a great time and be safe. We do not want you to

become an accident statistic. Listed below are some tips on being safe this summer.

BOATING

1. Do not operate a boat while impaired by drugs or alcohol. 2. Do not use excessive speed on the lakes. 3. Do have a lookout with you when towing someone. 4. Do have correct flotation devices for everyone on the boat. 5. Do follow all water navigational rules. 6. Do be aware of hazardous waters (currents, waves, floating debris, etc.). 7. Do have only experienced people operating the water craft. 8. Do stay focused on what you are doing if you are operating the water craft. 9. Do have your equipment in good operating condition.

10. Do be respectful of other people.

SWIMMING

1. Do learn how to swim. 2. Do have all non-swimmers wear a flotation device. 3. Do know the water around you. 4. Do be aware of underwater drop-offs, holes, and ditches. 5. Do have adult supervision with minors at all times. 6. Do not ever dive into unknown waters. 7. Do examine rope swings before using. 8. Do be careful on slippery rocks and bluffs. 9. Do be extremely careful in swift waters.

10. Do watch for things that can harm you (snakes, poison oak, poison ivy, wasp, hornets, etc.).

FISHING

1. DO NOT HARM JET SKIERS AND WAKE BOATERS. Just kidding!!! Enjoy your summer and be safe!! – Mike Tranum

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every Sunday 9 a.m.

Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend

at Lakeside Marina, Wedowee

“come by boat, come by car, come as you are!”

May 27 John Ed Mathison & OK2

June 3 10 Years of WOW Celebration:

Dan Waller & Community LIFE

June 10 Sallie Shaw & Jerry Rogers

June 17 Jamey Walls & Wedowee

First Baptist Church

June 24 Elvis North & Dan Smith

July 1 George Mathison & Homegrown

July 8 Janice Clark & Barry Waldrep and

Baylie Kizziah

July 15 Terry Norman & Alex Hardie and

Sam Hardie

July 22 Jimmy Yates & Gospel

Expressions

July 29 Josh Stitcher & Jerry Rogers

Aug. 5 Holly Woodall & Witness 4 Him

Aug. 12 Jon Tal Murphree & Stephanie

Kirby and Gary Hale

Aug. 19 Jacob Wilkerson & Bear Creek

United Methodist Church

Aug. 26 Josh Hickman & Joyful Sound

Sept. 2 Billy Coleman & Clearvision

www.sifat.org • 2944 County Road 113, Lineville, AL 36266 • 256.396.2015