Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

If you love the taste of unique and great wines, then High Country Cellars in Heflin is the right place to find them.

They are striving to become East Ala-bama’s premier wine manufacturer offer-ing a wide variety of on-site fermented, custom made wines.

Their diverse assortment of fruits comes from the regions finest vineyards and or-chards and is sure to please!

High Country Cellars wines are fer-mented, bottled, and sold in the shadow of Cheaha Mountain, the Gateway to the Southern Appalachian Mountain Range.

Their facilities and wine shop are lo-cated one mile north of I-20 Exit 199 on Highway 9 in Heflin. Just one hour from Birmingham or Atlanta. (Just 1 minute off I-20.)

A tasting room is open during normal winery business hours. Wednesday-Satur-day 10 am-6 pm.

Private tastings and tours are available by appointment.

They also carry wine making and beer brewing supplies for your home operation, along with instructional classes on sched-uled Saturdays at 1:00 pm Central Time.

Most of their wines, dry and sweet, are $12.50 per bottle with some offerings planned that will cost a bit more. There are discounted prices if you buy a case or more. You can also do mixed flavored cases.

High Country Cellars is your one-stop shop for quality wines in Heflin. With their assortment of fruits to make fine wines from around the region, there is sure to be something to suit every taste and prefer-ence.

High Country Cellars was founded in the belief that high quality wines should be ac-cessible to everyone. That’s why they take great care in selecting only the best fruits .

With great wines at affordable prices, High Country Cellars is striving to become Heflin’s premier wine manufacturer. They offer fine wines, great service and regular events. For more information go to: http://www.highcountrycellars.com

If you love the outdoors and you are seri-ous about quail hunting and sport shooting, Circle W Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays is the place to visit.

They are located at the foot of beauti-ful Ross Mountain, along the banks of the Tallapoosa River in Heflin in Northeastern Alabama.

At Circle W the visitor can experience the essence of quail hunting in the South;

Walk with or ride in field transportation behind fleet-footed pointers and graceful setters on game rich lands;

Heat up a shotgun and shoot four boxes of shells on a half day hunt;

Laugh and enjoy fellowship with friends, family, and business associates

Circle W, is the premier hunting and sporting clays destination of hunters and sportsmen in Northeast Alabama and West Georgia.

Enjoy sport shooting at Circle W. Their clays course features a scenic 100 shot course spread over fields, ponds, low brush, and woodlands

This allows them to offer all the speeds and angles of quail, dove, ducks, and rab-bits.

Keep your hunting skills sharp during the off season or participate in competitive sporting clays tournaments held at Circle W on a regular basis.

If your company needs an enjoyable ac-tivity to discuss business with prospective

clients or a group getaway for some low pressure fun, let Circle W customize an event to suit your needs.

The can be reached at 205-966-5665 or you can find them on the web at http://www.circlewhuntingpreserve.com

To reach Circle W:Directions:They are located one hour from Bir-

mingham or Atlanta off I-20 at exit 199 in Heflin, AL. Food and lodging is available approximately 3 miles from Circle W. Ad-ditional services are available in Anniston, which is a short 15 minute ride West on I-20.

From Birmingham:Take I-20 East towards Atlanta. Take

exit 199 and turn right. Take the first left onto New Harmony Church Rd. Follow until it dead ends and turn right. After the sweeping left curve in the road, Circle W will be about .2 miles on the left at the top of the hill.

From Atlanta:Take I-20 West towards Birmingham.

Take exit 199 and turn left. After cross-ing the bridge, yake the first left onto New Harmony Church Rd. Follow until it dead ends and turn right. After the sweeping left curve in the road, Circle W will be about .2 miles on the left at the top of the hill.

Look for their storage barn on the right, across from the clubhouse.

They are located one hour from Bir-mingham or Atlanta off I-20 at exit 199 in Heflin, AL. Food and lodging is available approximately 3 miles from Circle W. Ad-ditional services are available in Anniston, which is a short 15 minute ride West on I-20.

Pumpkin Patch is a Cleburne Tradition

Page 3

Highway 46 Yard Sale

Sept. 26-28FREE COPY

TAKE ONE

Volume 1/Edition 1Autumn 2014

Photo Courtesy High Country Cellars

Photo courtesy Circle W Hunting Preserve

Heflin Gets New Winery Vallarta serving authentic Mexican food

Circle W, Premier Hunting & Sporting Clays Destination

By Wayne Ruple

Oxfordfest Is Oct. 4

By Wayne Ruple

Located at 1921 Almon Street in Heflin just off Interstate 20 at the junction of Hwy. 9, Vallarta serves up authentic Mexican food.

Owned by Juan Acosta, the restaurant is open Thursday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m and Sunday - Wednesday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

You can start your meal with Vallarta Nachos appetizers.

Main meals include favorite quesadillas, taquitos on the grill and there is their Mexi-canisimo served with choice of two sides.

Mesicanisimo includes chimichangas, flautas, chalupas Vallarta, picadillo tacos, combination De Lujo, chicken burritos and beef burritos.

They serve a variety of fiesta enchila-das including enchiladas rojas, enchiladas suizas, mole enchiladas, enchiladas tricolor , green enchiladas and vegetarian enchila-das.

Their Vallarta tower quesadillas are also popular.

You will find desserts including key lime pie, cinnamon flan, mango, fried ice cream and Genovesa of chocloate or strawberry.

For more information call them at 256-463-7868.

Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

This Alabama Welcome Center greets visitors on I-20 as they enter Alabama from Georgia. The facility offers cov-ered pavilions, picnic tables, plenty of walk-ing area for pets and those needing to stretch their legs, a big back porch with rockers and plenty of brochures and maps and friendly staff.

Oxfordfest is an annual arts and craft festival which takes place the first Saturday in October on Main Street in Oxford. The festival features arts and craft vendors from all over, food, live mu-

sic, fun for all ages, hourly prize drawings and a $1000.00 give away. The event has been going on for 27 years drawing visitors and locals to

the downtown area.For more information go to: www.oxfordfest.org/Or: 256-310-2532

I think that sometimes the res-idents of Cleburne County take for granted the beauty, history and tour-ism potential they have while poten-tial visitors to the area have no idea of the beauty and

history that make up the county.

From the northern end to the southern end, Cleburne has a lot to offer visitors, travelers and tourist.

In the historic areas of Fruithurst and northward along the Chief Ladiga Trail, visitors could imagine being in the Smokey Mountains, especially during the colorfull autumn with multi-colored leaves, the mountain, clear running waters and the cool temperatures.

The Talladega National Forest consumes almost all of the western half of the county and Mt. Cheaha, the highest point in Ala-bama, rears up offering fantastic panoramic views in the southwestern corner.

Heflin now offers a variety of activities and restaurants and much history can be found there as well as in the gold regions of Arabachoochee.

Take some time to enjoy what you have and we welcome visitors to come, sample the wines, enjoy the mountain air and relax and get back to nature in Cleburne County.

Fishing The Lakes Of The Talladega National ForestCleburne County has a lot to offer

Wayne Ruple

Page Number 2 Autumn 2014 Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

Photo: Mike Cline - Wiki MediaArticle: By Wayne Ruple

The Talladega National Forest located in Cleburne County, AL has a number of excellent “fishing holes” in which to drop a hook most any time of the year.

Among them are six comprising some 208 acres offering up a vari-ety of fish for anglers to try their abilities with.

Lake Chinnabee is about seven miles of Heflin off Alabama 21 and is on Forest Route 646. This lake has 17 acres of water.

Sweetwater Lake, with 58 acres, can be reached off US. 78 some 7.3 miles from Heflin by taking Cle-burne County 61 leftward 7.3 miles and onto Forest Route 500 to the Sweetwater Lake sign.

This lake is in a narrow valley at the end of the road and is another popular place for anglers.

Morgan Lake is another popular lake and covers 14 acres. This lake can be reached (from Cheaha State Park) by traveling the Talladega Scenic Drive (Alabama 281) north for seven miles and turning left onto County Route 24, and less than a mile to the lake.

Highrock Lake is small, eight acres, and has walk-in access about a mile north of the Pine Glen Recre-ation Area off Forest Route 531.

Two of the lakes, Lake Virginia with 89 acres, and Little Wills Lake with 22 acres, can be accessed from Sylacauga, AL. Lake Virginia is on Forest Route 601K which leads to the boat ramp and Little Wills Lake is on Forest Route 601D

For those needing detailed instructions for these fishing locations, they should call the Shoal Creek Ranger District at 256-463-2272 and/or the Talldega Ranger District at 256-362-2909.

Oct 2 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s MarketOct 2 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sOct 3 U.S.Canine BiathlonOct 3 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakOct 3 Model City Music FestivalOct 4 Oxford FestOct 4 Gadsden Rock-n-Run 15KOct 4 U.S. Canine BiathlonOct 4 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 4 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarOct 6 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 7 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicOct 7 Jazz Night at Java JoltOct 9 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s MarketOct 9 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sOct 10 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakOct 11 Miles for Midwives 5k and Kids 1 Mile @ McClellanOct 11 Little River Canyon Half MarathonOct 11 Renew Our Rivers - Oxford, ALOct 11 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 11 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarOct 13 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 14 Finding Comfort and Hope- The Empty CradleOct 14 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicOct 16 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s Market

Calhoun County Events - For more information contact the CC Chamber - [email protected] or (256) 237-3536Sep 23 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicSep 23 Jazz Night at Java JoltSep 25 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s MarketSep 25 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sSep 26 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakSep 26 Downtown Anniston 4th FridaySep 27 Autumn Suds-FestSep 27 Jacksonville Farmers MarketSep 27 3rd Annual Paddle Trip and Clean-up on Lower Choccolocco CreekSep 27 8th Annual Pet FestSep 27 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarSep 29 Jacksonville Farmers MarketSep 30 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to Public

Oct 16 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sOct 16 - Oct 19JSU Drama Presents The Seagull by Anton ChekovOct 17 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakOct 18 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 18 Lobsterfest 2014Oct 18 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarOct 19 DUathlon and Cookout at Coldwater MountainOct 20 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 21 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicOct 21 Jazz Night at Java JoltOct 23 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s MarketOct 23 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sOct 24 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakOct 25 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 25 14th Annual Gamecock Gallop 5KOct 25 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarOct 27 Jacksonville Farmers MarketOct 27 Fall FestivalOct 28 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicOct 30 Oxford- “Downtown After Sundown” Farmer’s MarketOct 30 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sOct 31 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakNov 1 Jacksonville Farmers MarketNov 1 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarNov 4 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicNov 4 Jazz Night at Java JoltNov 6 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sNov 6 Knox Concert Series Presents Natalie ColeNov 7 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakNov 8 CPT Kyle Comfort Memorial 5K Walk & RunNov 8 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarNov 11 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicNov 13 Thursday Night Tastings at Tyson’sNov 13 - Nov 16 JSU Drama Presents The Mousetrap by Agatha ChristieNov 14 Friday Wine Tastings at White OakNov 15 Wine Tastings at the Wine CellarNov 18 Civilian Marksmanship Program Open to PublicNov 18 Jazz Night at Java Jolt

It seems that every year “The Pumpkin Patch” at Bennett Farms south of Heflin continues to grow and add to their wonder-ful outdoor tradition.

Their efforts pay off as the greatest re-wards are the smiling faces, the sweet laughter and visiting with new and old friends as they are passing through the area.

Bennett Farms is located in Heflin, Alabama just off I-20 on exit 199 directly between Birmingham and Atlanta. From the fresh off the vine pumpkins, corn crib, pipe slide and farm animals, all the

way to the working syrup mill and country cooking, they have something for every member of the family.

And if it’s pumpkins and gourds you want, then you will find a wide variety as well as unique items in the country store made by local vendors.

Bennett Farms is a fourth generation farm and they want to share the fun with you and your family! Enjoy a relaxing ride on their hayride as it takes you by a beautiful field planted with sunflowers, syrup cane, Indian corn and cotton, their very own Victory Garden cared for by Rudy Payne, and four large pumpkin patches.

They also have farm animals with a don-key, miniature horses, chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, and more. The children also have a big time at the hay bale maze made of round bales of hay and including a pipe swing!

A favorite is the corn crib full of dry

whole kernel corn. They also have a 36 inch pipe slide that is 20 foot long! And another addition is the tire crawl!

Bennett Farms has a working sorghum mill where they transform their farm grown cane into delicious syrup sold in the coun-try store.

Bennett Farms is only open the month of October!

They have live entertainment every Sat-urday around 11:00-1:00 PM!

A stop by the cook house is a must...where everything is prepared over an open fire in wash pots and a wood burning stove! Enjoy tea cakes, pork skins, and apple pies just to name a few.

They also have hotdogs, hamburgers, roasted and boiled peanuts, and more avail-able from their kitchen. So...grab a bite to eat, sit back and relax under the shade trees in their picnic table area!

In addition to pumpkins, Bennett Farms also have gourds, hay, corn stalks, mums, and lots more for your decorating needs.

They have arts and crafts through local vendors in their country store such as hand-made soaps, tasty treats, pottery, iron works and honey just to name a few.

Field trips are by appointment only. They are open during the week for school field trips Tuesday-Friday in October. School groups get the full farm experience as they

rotate to different stations with their class. They visit the petting farm, country

kitchen, sorghum mill, go on a hayride, visit the pumpkin patch, go down the pipe slide, play in the corn crib and hay maze, learn about sunflowers, decorate a scare-crow, and more!

Bennett Farms also welcomes birthday parties, church groups, corporate events, and any other groups during business hours.

For information on group and individ-ual rates call 256-302-1896, email [email protected], or check them out on Facebook!!

Photo courtesy The Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch is a Cleburne TraditionAutumn 2014 Page Number 3Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

By Wayne Ruple

“Gateway to the Southern Appalachian Mountains”Our wines are fermented and bottled in the shadows of Cheaha Mountain in the Southern Appalachian

849 Almon StreetHeflin, AL 36264(256) 463-3456

[email protected]

Wednesday - Saturday10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

**All wines are $12.50Chocolate wines are $22.00**

Member - Alabama Wine Trail & Southern Appalachian Historic Wine Trail

“Best Used Car Dealership” The Anniston Star Reader’s Choice Award 2014

SOUTHERN USED CARS Hwy. 78 W. (across from UPS) Oxford

Call Andrew Sewell or Juston Benefield

256-835-5818www.southernusedcarsal.com

Low Down

Payments !!!Warranty!!

256-463-7868

Thursday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.Sunday - Wednesday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Owner: Juan Acosta

1921 Almon Street * Heflin, AL

The Talladega National Forest is located on the western half of Cle-burne County, Alabama about half way between Birmingham , AL and Atlanta, GA and features an array of outdoor activities including hik-ing.

Among the seven top trails here are the: Chinnabee Silent Trail, Lake Shore Trail, Cave Creek Trail, Nubbin Creek Trail, Odum Trail, Skyway Loop Trail and the Coleman Lake Loop Trail.

The Chinnabee Silent Trail is six miles long and take the hiker past waterfalls near the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area.

The trailhead is located at Lake Chinnabee.

Lake Shore Trail is a two-mile na-ture trail that is also around Lake Chinnabee.

The trailhead location is also at

the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area.

Cave Creek Trail is a four-mile trail that is in the Cheaha Wil-dernexx Area and connected to the Pinhoti Trail with the trailhead lo-cation east of Cheaha State Park on Alabama 281.

Nubbin Creek Trail is also a four-mile trail that traverses the eastern sides of Talladega Mountain in the Cheaha Wilderness Area.

There is a trailhead parking lot near the Shoal Creek-Nubbin Creek junction.

Odum Trail is about 4.7 miles long within the Cheaha Wilderness and whose trailhead is located at the parking area for the Highfalls Trailhead serving the Odum Trail.

Skyway Loop Trail is a nice 6-mile trail into the upland forests of east-ern Alabama and has to access or trailhead points – one near the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area and the second at Adams Gap.

Coleman Lake Loop Trail is a two-mile easily accessible nature trail around Coleman Lake.

Here hikers and fishermen will find a fishing pier.

The trailhead is at the parking lot of the day-use area of the Coleman Lake Recreation Area.

For more details about these trails visitors should contact the Shoal Creek Ranger District at 256-463-2272 or the Talladega Ranger Dis-trict at 256-362-2909Photo courtesy (http://jahudson.wiki.hoover.k12.al.us/Cheaha+Trail+Maps)

Page Number 4 Autumn 2014Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

By Wayne Ruple

Seven Top Trails In The Talladega National Forest

Heflin, Alabama - Keep It In Cleburne

The Talladega National Forest stretches in a northeast - southwest direction in the western half of Cleburne County, Ala-bama about half-way between Birming-ham, AL and Atlanta, GA.

The forest offers a wide variety of scen-ery, wildlife, fishing, camping, hiking and more.

Campers will find two developed camp-grounds, a primitive horse/hunter camp, shelters for Pinhoti Trail hikers and a number of primitive hunter camps.

You can also camp throughout the for-est except during gun deer season and then you must use only the camping areas except by special permission.

Among one of the most popular recreation areas within the TNF is the Coleman Lake Recreation Area about 16 miles north of Heflin off U.S. 78.

This recreation area offers a 21-acre lake with a swimming/beach area, fish-ing, picnic area and access to the Pinhoti Trail.

You will also find electricity, water hookups, warm-water showers, two-mile nature trail and fishing pier.

Another nice spot is the Pine Glen Rec-reation Area located northwest of Heflin along scenic Shoal Creek. This area has primitive camping and access to the Pin-hoti Trail.

This site has become a favorite with hunters as it is centrally located within the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area.

Hunters and horse riders congregate at the Warden Station Hunter/Horse Camp on Forest Service Road 500 near the Coleman Lake Recreation Area.

It also is convenient for hunters and horse riders who find the camping spurs, water and toilets a nice addition.

Fishing is good throughout the forest at Sweetwater, Highrock, Coleman and Choccolocco Lakes. Fishermen catch largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcrackers and channel catfish here.

In addition there are red-eye bass and sunfish species in Shoal, Terrapin and Hillabee Creeks.

Running through the TNF is the nation-ally known Pinhoti National Recreation Trail which spans the top of the Talla-dega Mountains and runs near the highest points in Alabama.

Within the 90-mile corridor of the trail are two shelters, access points and the two developed recreation areas.

Of interest to travelers, tourists and outdoor lovers is the Blue Mountain Backcountry Area near Cheaha State Park, Shoal Creek and Dugger Mouon-tain; Shoal Creek Church which is listed on the National Historic Register and is sometimes the site of old-style shape-note singing.

Also included are Sweetwater and Highrock Lakes that a popular for anglers and the old Oxford/Cheaha Road that was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Con-servation Corps while they were building

Cheaha State Park atop Mt. Cheaha – the highest point in Alabama.

This old road is closed to vehicle traffic but offers a two-mile hike leading to an old stone bridge over Hillabee Creek.

Motorists will enjoy, particularly dur-ing the autumn when the leaves change colors, the Talladega Scenic Drive that stretches 29 miles southward from U.S. 78 near Heflin down and up atop the last extension of the Appalachian Moun-tains.

Many compare this drive to those in The Great Smokey Mountain National Park system. Motorists will go along the backbone of Horseback and Cheaha Mountains to a height of 2,407 feet.

Along the way are several scenic pull-offs to view the scenery stretching eastward and west-ward.

In the spring motorists will see blooms of fruit trees, dogwood, red-bud and flowering

shrubs that peak around late April.In the fall the forest are ablaze with the

colors of gums, oaks, maples, sycamore, dogwood, hickories and persimmon with peaks from mid-October to November.

Atop the highest peak is Cheaha State Park with a motel, restaurant, lake, camp-ground, cabins, group lodge and coun-try store. (Call 205-488-5111 for more info.)

Locals hunters as well as visitors will find this area one of the most popular for a variety of game including quail, squir-rels, turkey and white-tailed deer.

The Choccolocco Wildlife Manage-ment Area, north of Heflin, is managed by the Alabama Game and Fish Division and is one of the most popular areas dur-ing hunting season.

Turnipseed Hunt Camp is specially de-signed for hunters and those wanting a primitive camping experience. This site has hand-pumped water and pit toilets.

Horse lovers will find some 30 miles of trails within the TNF focused on the Warden Station Hunter/Horse Camp. There are some special regulations so riders should check with the U.S. Forest Service office.

Also within the vast natural area is the 7,400 acre Cheaha Wilderness that is congressionally protected .

Plant lovers will enjoy a number of “sensitive plants” to be found within the TNF including Turkeybeard, Mohr’s Barbara’s Button, Appalachian Rose Gentian, Clammy Acacia, Cutleaf Mead-ow-Parsnip, Zigzag Spiderwort, Three-birds Orchid, Pink Lady’s Slipper, Kral’s Water Plantain, Carolina Spider Lily, Blue Ridge Bindweed, Granite Goose-berry, Alabama Leather Flower, Nevius Stonecrop, Alabama Warbonnet, White Fringeless Orchid, Showy Orchis, South-ern Nodding Trillium, Catesby’s Tril-lium, Buffalo Nut, Smooth Purple Aster, Harperella, Long-flowered Alumroot, Nestonia, Deep Woods Horsebalm and Yellowroot.

For additional information on the TNF call or visit the Shoal Creek Ranger Dis-trict, TNF at 256-463-2272 or www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/alabama.

Cleburne County is among five counties in northeast Alabama now having some 21 newbirding trails.

The counties include St. Clair, Talladega, Calhoun, Cleburne and Cherokee with Cleburne leading the list with seven trails, followed by St. Clair and Cherokee with four each and Tal-ladega and Calhoun having three trails each.

Two trail “gate-ways” are located in Cleburne County. The trails there are:

1. Talladega Moun-tain Natural Resource Center (Gateway)

2. Talladega National Forest - Shoal Creek

3. Borden Springs/Chief Ladiga Trail

4. Dugger Mt. Wilderness - Mary’s Creek.

5. Tallapoosa River Canoe Launch Site.

6. Cheaha State Park - Bald Rock Trail (Gateway)

7. Cheaha Wilderness Trail.And Calhoun County has three trails:1. Anniston Museum of Natural History

(Gateway)2. Frog Pond

Overlook3. Mountain Lon-

gleaf Pine National Wildlife Refuge.

The U.S. Depart-ment of Agrculture, U.S. Forest Ser-vice, Southern Di-vision, Shoal Creek Ranger District/Station in Heflin (Cleburne County) has a birding list for their district.It is a general

guide to the 150 birds found in the Shoal Creek Ranger

District and lists seasons for the birds and their relative abundance.Birdwatch-ers may also pick up a convenient birding check-list

Photo Credit by Wayne RupleWalkway to Bald Rock at Cheaha State Park is a “Gateway”

Local Trail Attracts Birders

Autumn 2014 Page Number 5Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

By Wayne RupleBy Wayne Ruple

With two wineries in the county, the idea of a wine trail is being promoted among Cleburne businesses.

The state of Alabama is already actively promoting a state-wide Alaama Wine Trail so locals are now pushing the idea of a Southern Applachian Historic Wine Trail for Cleburne County

High Country Cellars in Heflin is a member of both trail groups.

In addition to High Country Cellars, other members include Smith Farms, a retail establishment at the junction of Hwy. 46 and I-20, Fruithurst Winery off County Road 65 in north Cleburne County and White Oak Vineyards located off Dry Hollow Road hear Piedmont

White Oak Vineyards operated by Ran-dal Wilson and Dana Davis features a se-lection of artisan wines.

In addition to the vineyards, visitors will find flower gardens and a Koi pond and you are welcome to bring a picnic basket and spent a relaxing time. Their wines in-clude muscadine champagne, muscadine wines, along with peach and blueberry

and elegant dry wines including Cabernet, Norton, Chardonel and Blanc de Noir.

For more information: www.whiteoakal.com.

The Fruithurst Winery Co. in Fruithurst and following a long tradition of wine making in the area. Operated by Josh and Dylan Lami-nack, the winery produces red and white mus-cadine, strawberry, blueberry and peach wines in dry, sweet and semi-sweet varieties.

For more information: www.the-fruithurstwinery

Camp Sequoyah Boy Scout Camp near Delta will hold a Scout Strong 10k, 5k and one mile trail event on Feb. 7, 2015 begin-ing at 8 a.m.

Everyone is invited to come join the Scout Strong Running Trail event.

The 10k trail race is a true trail race that is challenging enough for those that are traill junkies but nothing taht will dis-suade the first timers.

Not up for a 10k? Then try the challeng-ing 5k.

Comprised of mostly jeep and camp roads, it is less technical than the 10k but jast as challenging for the distance.

For those that want a little extra after the 10k or 5k, they can come out and compete in an unusual race distance or for those that jsut wasnt to come out and run for

a great time, check out the one mile race that is also made up of jeep and camp roads, this is a great race to have fun on a Saturday morning or to come out and see what you are made of for a quick race.

All races are chip timed and have awards for overalls and age divisions.

Unique awards will be given for the overalls. Medals awarded for the age di-visions.

Chili and cornbread served at the finish line.

Dutch over fruit cobbler served as well.Shirts guaranteed for those that register

by December 31, 2014.

Find an on-line sign up for at: h t t p s : / / s e c u r e . j o f f o r m p r o . c o m /form/32047774440958.

Wine Promoted With TrailBy Wayne Ruple

Camp Plans Trail Event

Photo Credit Veronica-Flickr

Wine in seamless glass -Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia Com-mons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

Recreational Opportunities In The Talladega National Forest

Atop the highest peak is Cheaha State Park with a motel, restaurant, lake, campground, cabins, group lodge and country store.

With cooler autumn weather approach-ing, now is the time to get out and enjoy the 10 “official” walking trails/tracks to be found in Cleburne County.

The Nutrition and Health Council of Cleburne County has worked with local communities in developing a “Cleburne County Walks!” program.

The 10 tracks/trails include:

1. Crossroads Community Center, Rosewood, 5-7 laps = 1 mile. County Road 49 off of U.S. 78 east, just east of Fruithurst.

2. Heflin Recre-ation Center, 14 laps = 1 mile, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. M-Thurs and 8-12 noon on Saturdays, 1228 Coleman Street.

3. Bennett’s Lake/Lake Heflin, 1 lap = .8 mile, Lakeview Drive and Merrill Drive.

4. Cleburne County Elementary School, Heflin, daylight be3fore and after school hours and weekends, 1 lap = .8 mile, Duke Drive.

5. Hollis Crossroads, Pleasant Grove School, 1 lap = .25 mile, 4 X = 1 mile, daylight before and after school hours and weekends, Alabama Highway 9 and U.S. Hwy. 431.

6. Ranburne High School, 1 lap = .33 mile, daylight before and after school hours and weekends, Alabama High-way 46.

7. First Baptist Church Family Life Center (Gym) Ranburne, 17 laps = 1 mile, M, T, Thu, 5:30 p.m. until ?, Frank Ledbetter Memorial Drive.

8. Coleman Lake Loop USFS, 1 loop = 1.5 miles, Talladega National Forest North of U.S. 78

9. Bald Rock - Cheaha State Park, 1/4 mile handicapped accessible trail, Cheaha State Park, other trails available, connecting to the Pinhoti Trail.

10. Chief Ladiga Trail, paved, acces-sible from Piedmont via Alabama High-

way 9 or from U.S. 78 and County Road 49.

Walkers are advise to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise to avoid dehydration.

Remember - if you can’t talk and ex-ercise at the same time, you’re working too hard; if you can talk while you ex-ercise then you’re doing just fine; if you can sing whiile you exercise, it would be safe and more beneficial to exercise a little harder.

Move at a steady pace, breathing deeply, with head erect, back straight and abdomen flat.

Swing your arms freely at your sides.

In the begin-ning walk on level stretches of road and sidewalks, avoiding steep hills.

If you are walking either in the early

morning or at night, wear reflective clothing.

If the sun is shining, wear sunscreen, hat and protective clothing.

Walking Shoe Buying Tips

Support - The back of the shoe should be firm to help control heel motion.

Cushioning - Shoes should have plenty of cushioning, especially in the heel.

Performance - Shoes should be lightweight and durable and made of material like nylon mesh that will allow sweat to evaporate.

Fit - Shop late in the day when your feet are biggest; wear the same type of socks you will weaer when exercising; feel inside shoes for seams or ridges; check shoes to see if they bend easily at the widest part; make sure the shoes feel good on your feet and walk briskly around the store to check for comfort.

The Forest Service is encouraging mo-torists to “Know Before You Drive” in order to sustain the health of Alabama’s national forests.

Motorists interested in driving through the Talladega National Forest can obtain a free motor vehicle use map (MVUM) that identifies which Forest Service roads and trails are designated for motor vehicle use.

The motor vehicle use map was cre-ated to comply with the 2005 national Travel Management Rule requiring each national forest to evaluate road systems to limit environmental impacts on public lands.

MVUMs are updated annually and posted directly on the National Forests in Alabama website at http://fs.usda.gov/goto/alabama/kbyd or available at For-est Service district offices throughout the state.

MVUM only displays roads and trails that are open to motorized vehicles

When a Forest Service road is open, the public will see a numbered sign and the road will be identified on the MVUM.

Open Forest Service roads that ac-cess wildlife management areas are also shown on the MVUM and the Alabama Department of Conservation’s wildlife management area maps and hunting per-mits.

On Alabama’s national forests, 1,177 miles of road system are open annually or seasonally to state-licensed, street-

legal vehicles.The Bankhead District and Talladega

National Forest-Talladega District are the only two districts that have 42 miles of trails specifically designated for all-terrain vehicles.

Federal and state land managers are provided limited administrative access to some areas of closed forest for official management purposes.

MVUM will display roads that access Wildlife Management Areas if the For-est Service has jurisdiction and primary maintenance responsibility for the access road.

A wheelchair or mobility device is not considered to be a motor vehicle.

This includes devices that are battery powered, suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area and are designed exclu-sively to give a mobility-impaired per-son locomotion.

People traveling on a forest road or trail not identified on the MVUM can be cited.

Violations of 36 CFR 261.13 are subject of a fine up to $5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment.

For information regarding the MVUM, please contact the following Forest Ser-vice district offices: Shoal Creek District (256) 463-2272; Talladega District (256) 362-2909;

Photo Credit Wayne Ruple

Mimosas line a portion of the walk around Bennett’s Lake/Lake Heflin, 1 lap = .8 mile, Lakeview Drive and Merrill Drive in Heflin.

Know Before You Drive in Alabama’s National Forests

Walking Around CleburneFor Fun and Health

“If you can’t talk and exercise at the same time, you’re working

too hard”

Ranburne Supermarket & Hardware

21434 Main St. Ranburne

Mon - Fri. 7:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.MSat 7:00 A.M. - 4 P.M.

Well pumps, plumbing & electrical

256-568-3376

Page Number 6 Autumn 2014

Heflin Texaco Service CenterFood Mart, Wrecker Service, Tire Service, Auto Service

24 Hour Towing

1476 Ross StreetHeflin, AL 36264

Day: 256-463-7968Night: 256-463-5485 256-463-4276Cell: 256-310-0366

Fred Cheatwood Gary Cheatwood Owner Owner

Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

The Eubanks Welcome Center located in Piedmont, Alabama offers a nice rest spot for cyclists riding the Chief Ladiga Trail between Jacksonville and over the Alabama-Georgia state line into Geor-gia.

The Chief Ladiga Trail began in 1990 when the Calhoun County Commission and the City of Piedmont received and Intermodal Surface Transportation Effi-ciency Act enhancement grant, through the Alabama Department of Transporta-tion, to fund construction of the first 8.9 mile section of the trail.

The project continued to develop when in 1994, the cities of Piedmont and Jack-sonville and the Cleburne County Com-mission were awarded ISTEA grants.

In Calhoun County, the trail is de-signed to accommodate pedestrians, bi-cycles, strollers, inline skates, and wheel chairs.

In Cleburne County, the trail is de-signed to accommodate equestrians, mountain bikes and hikers.

For more details go to the Piedmont website at: http://www.piedmontcity.org/ladigatrail.htm

Antique lovers will find plenty of shops to go through downtown at “The Antique Corner” located on Center Ave-nue and including 35 different vendors.

This assortment of shops and vendors is attracting and will continue to attract visitors to Piedmont’s downtown area.

If it’s antiques you are looking for, then put “The Antique Corner” and Piedmont on your “to do” list.

Nearby nature lovers and hikers will

enjoy the Dugger Mountain Wilderness -Alabama’s third and newest wilderness area. Dedicated April 2000, Dugger Mountain Wilderness covers 9,200 acres of Talladega National Forest in Calhoun County and Cleburne County.

Dugger Mountain, the second highest peak in Alabama with an elevation of 2,140 feet is located between Anniston and Piedmont.

The wilderness encompasses some of the most rugged and mountainous ter-rain in Alabama, as well as numerous endangered and threatened plant com-munities.

It is one of the last intact roadless areas in Alabama’s National Forests.

Anniston’s own Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum of World History offer a tour of faraway lands and a look at the exoctic Far East for those unable to take the long trip themselves.

You can explore the wilds of Africa, the wilderness wonders of North Amer-ica and the mysteries of 2000 year old mummies in the seven exhibit halls that make up the Museum of Natural His-tory.

There are open-air exhibits and you will see one fo the oldest exhibits of birds.

A children’s discovery room gives youngesters a chance to experinece hands-on adventures.

The museum also has outdoor trails and gardens and a Museum Store.

Contact them at 256-237-6766 or visit www.annistonmuseum.org

Hours are Tues - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Sundays from 1-5 p.m.

The Berman Museum of World His-tory features more than 8,000 artifacts and offers locals a unique opportunity to view ancient treasures and objects from around the world.

You can contact them at 256-237-6261 or www.bermanmuseum.org

Their hours are Tues - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m.

You’ll see oil paintings, jade sculp-tures, Remington bronzes, ancient and modern weapons, photos, clothing and hands-on displays.

Photo by Wayne Ruple

The Eubanks Welcome Center located in Piedmont, Alabama offers a nice rest spot for cyclists riding the Chief Ladiga Trail between Jacksonville and over the Alabama-Georgia state line into Georgia

Tour the world in Calhoun

Autumn 2014 Page Number 7Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

By Wayne Ruple

By Wayne Ruple

Piedmont Offers Cycling, Antique Shopping

101 North Center Ave.108, 110 & 112 S. Center Ave.

Piedmont, AlabamaOpen Tues. - Sat. 10:00 till 5:00

AntiquesCollectablesIndian ArtifactsGlasswareArts and CraftsFurnitureJewelry (Real and Custom)Die Cast Models

We currently have three storesOpen with 35 different vendors.

For more information call:Carolyn @ 256-283-4943

The Antique Corner

Page Number 8 Autumn 2014Cleburne/Calhoun Outdoors

TRADE DAY

Tires, Dolls, Glassware, Tarps, Toys, Household Items, Clothes, Old & New, Collectables

Space available inside for a feeSetups outside are FREE

Off Hwy. 78114 Riddle Farm Rd. (Between Heflin & Oxford)

“In The Barn”Friday, Saturday and Sunday

under $2,995 Call Now!

256-591-5849

40 30 Cars and 4 -WD Trucks

256-403-5103

New Customers Only

Loans Under $3,500Loans Must Be Paid Within 30 Days For Interest Free

For more regional, state, national and internationl travel information go to: http://worldwidetraveler.weebly.com

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5708 Weaver Rd. Anniston, AL

Changes implemented for the 2014-15 hunting season are a continuation of those from last year. The 2014-15 hunting season will bring changes for Alabama’s deer hunters. These include changes to address concerns about declining deer numbers in many areas of the state and the timing of the hunting season in a portion of the state as well. These changes should improve deer hunter satisfaction and the deer management efforts of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF).Antlerless Deer HuntingThe daily bag limit for antlerless deer during the gun season was reduced to one antlerless deer per day for a portion of north Alabama prior to the 2013-14 hunting season. Much of the justification for reducing the bag limit was based on declining deer harvests and observations by both hunters and WFF staff in the region. WFF staff believed reducing the daily antlerless deer bag limit would be beneficial to the region’s deer population, but would still provide ample deer hunting and harvest opportunities for the overwhelming majority of hunters, landowners, and deer managers in the region.Following the 2013-14 bag limit reduction in northern Alabama, similar concerns over declining deer harvests and sightings were expressed by hunters and WFF staff in other areas of Alabama. These concerns prompted discussions for an expansion of the reduced daily antlerless deer bag limit to the remainder of the state. For the 2014-15 season, the daily bag limit during the unantlered deer gun, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, spear, and special youth (under 16) seasons will be one unantlered deer per day in addition to one antlered buck per day. It is anticipated the reduced daily antlerless deer limit will improve hunter satisfaction in areas where deer observations have declined due to the increased hunting pressure and harvest rates the two antlerless deer per day bag limit provided.Enrolling in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) will allow hunting clubs to address situations where additional antlerless harvest opportunities are needed. DMAP cooperators can acquire a permit to harvest antlerless deer throughout the deer season with an increased daily bag limit if the WFF Wildlife Biologist working with the Cooperator determines this is needed based on deer harvest data collected by the cooperator. DMAP is a free program with minimal requirements for participation.Game CheckThe voluntary use of the Game Check program will continue during the 2014-15 deer and turkey seasons. Game Check allows all deer and turkey hunters, both licensed and ex-empt, to report all deer (i.e., bucks and does) and turkeys harvested in Alabama. All deer and turkey hunters are still required to have an Antlered Deer and Turkey Harvest Record in their possession while hunting and will still be required to fill out the harvest record prior to moving antlered deer and turkeys. Following completion of the harvest record, hunters are asked to report all deer harvests through Game Check using the Outdoor Alabama app for iPhone and Droid smartphones, ADCNR’s website (www.outdooralabama.com), or telephone (1-800-888-7690).Over 19,500 deer were reported through Game Check during the 2013-14 season. 10,585 bucks and 8,919 does were reported, with all 67 counties represented. Anyone can view a complete listing of county by county harvest reports. Game Check can be viewed at www.outdooralabama.com.Data collection is an extremely important part of any deer management program and should be the primary item affecting deer management decisions. Data collection allows managers to monitor trends in the deer population’s physical condition, deer population numbers, deer harvest numbers, hunter success rates, and many other measures of a deer management program and effectiveness. Not collecting the right types or amounts of deer-related data often adds many unnecessary challenges to an already difficult task. This is true for deer on a small private property or across an entire state.WFF biologists and administrators examine the agency’s data collection efforts each and every year to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of the deer management program. One area where data collection efforts have been lacking is an understanding of how the state’s deer harvest is distributed across the state and throughout the season. While the number of deer currently reported through Game Check is only a small percentage of the total statewide harvest (<10%), these data will provide valuable trend data in years to come. In the future, a larger percentage of the annual harvest will be captured through Game Check as more people become comfortable with the new system and see the value of the data gathered through the system. Knowing when and where people are killing deer, as well as when and where people are not killing deer, will be indispensable when evaluating the effects of the timing and length of the various types of deer seasons (e.g., archery, muzzleloader, either-sex, etc.) on the deer harvest on a county and regional basis, rather than a statewide basis only.Managing Alabama’s deer population and its deer hunters is a unique and challenging process. WFF strives to be proactive in its management strategies and to keep the best interests of the deer populations and deer hunters at the forefront of the decision making process. As data collection efforts improve and WFF gain a clearer understanding of the desires of the state’s deer hunters and the status of its deer herd, changes to the length and timing of Alabama’s deer season, bag limits, and other aspects of deer hunting in Alabama are likely in upcoming years.