Regional Telco Magazine Overview- May 2015

The Regional Telco Magazine

A Content Marketing Company

Participants

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative

Rainsville, AL

1

12

North Central TelephoneCooperative

Lafayette, TN

2

New Hope TelephoneCooperative

New Hope, AL

2

West Kentucky & TennesseeTelecommunications

Mayfield, KY

3

5

Palmetto RuralTelephone Cooperative

Walterboro, SC

7

Ardmore Telephone Company

Ardmore, AL

8

DTCCommunications

Alexandria, TN

10

MountainTelephone

West Liberty, KY

Regional Telco Magazine Particpants

13

Peoples Telephone Cooperative

Quitman, TX

4

Highland TelephoneCooperative

Sunbright, TN

6

Ben Lomand Connect

McMinnville, TN

9

Peoples Rural TelephoneCooperative

McKee, KY

11

West Carolina TelephoneAbbeville, SC

14

Foothills Telephone CooperativeStaffordsville, KY

1313

3333333399

0011101010

88866

441212

77222222 111

1111

55

414111441414

CombinedCirculation

as ofMay/June 2015

issue:

206,000

Configuration

Published forcustomers of

May/June 2013Connected

AlicecircleFun, artistic

and delicious

looking for Adventure Mentone camp teaches kids

life lessons in nature

it’s grillin’ timeStephenson shares BBQ recipes

Lights! Camera!

PLay BaLL!PRTC brings

technology to

new ball fields

the Latest BuzzLongtime barber

moves shop

WatCh it your WayVOD offers selection and convenience

CONNECTIONThe PRTC MAY/JUNE 2013

Local Pages

Local Pages

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 BloomfieldNTCA CEO

2 | May/June 2013

The truth behind what’s driving up TV subscription costs nationwide

Why 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. �

“

YourTelco

As a provider of TV service, we are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war. On one side,

content providers and networks are demanding more money every year from companies

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.

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 BloomfieldNTCA CEO

2 | May/June 2013

The truth behind what’s driving up TV subscription costs nationwide

Why 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. �

“

YourTelco

As a provider of TV service, we are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war. On one side,

content providers and networks are demanding more money every year from companies

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 SharedPages

fred johnsonExecutive 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 magazinepublished by Farmers

Telecommunications Cooperative, © 2013. It is distributed without charge

to all customers of FTC.

Farmers TelecommunicationsCooperative, Inc.

P.O. Box 217144 McCurdy Ave. N.

Rainsville, AL 35986Telephone: 256-638-2144

www.farmerstel.com

Produced for FTC by:www.WordSouth.com

BOARD OF TRUSTEESRandy Wright, President

Flat Rock Exchange

Gary Smith, Vice PresidentFyffe Exchange

Danny R. Richey, SecretaryGeraldine Exchange

Lynn Welden, TreasurerBryant Exchange

Kenneth GilbertPisgah Exchange

Gregg GriffithHenagar Exchange

Randy TumlinRainsville 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.

FARMERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC. FARMERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION FARMERS CELLULAR TELEPHONE, INC.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc., Farmers Telecommunication Corporation and Farmers Cellular Telephone, 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 informationto members prior to the annual meetingBYLAWS – 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 newsletterpublished by Palmetto Rural

Telephone Cooperative, © 2013. It is distributed without charge to all

member/owners of the cooperative.Send address corrections to:

Palmetto RuralTelephone Cooperative

P.O. Drawer 1577Walterboro, SC 29488

Telephone: 843-538-2020www.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

CONNECTIONThe 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 DanDriDgeis 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 2013VOL. 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 ScheduleFor 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 CitySilver Linings PlaybookThe Guilt Trip

May 7

Mama*Jack ReacherSafe 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 EarthWarm Bodies

June 11

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Snitch Quartet

Local Pages

Local Pages

Education Focus

Reading, 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

By Stephen V. Smith, Editor

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.

» Long distance or wireless callers tell 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).

» Long distance or wireless callers tell 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 » Long distance or wireless callers tell you they repeatedly hear nothing or

“dead air” for 10 seconds or more before hearing ringing and you answer your phone.

» Long distance or wireless callers tell you they repeatedly hear prolonged 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 providerNext, 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

Reading, 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

By Stephen V. Smith, Editor

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.

» Long distance or wireless callers tell 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).

» Long distance or wireless callers tell 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 » Long distance or wireless callers tell you they repeatedly hear nothing or

“dead air” for 10 seconds or more before hearing ringing and you answer your phone.

» Long distance or wireless callers tell you they repeatedly hear prolonged 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 providerNext, call your local phone company

and provide the same information so it may work with the caller’s provider to isolate the problem. �

“

“ “

SharedPages

one WorldAdventure company:

A natural approach to learning

When 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.

Phot

os c

ourte

sy o

f Ang

ie S

huga

rt.

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

➜Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2013 | 9

8 | May/June 2013

Jenkins is back

The 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).

Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative

What 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 CommanDThe 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 PARKLocated 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 gULfDotted 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 RiVERThe 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 TRACERunning 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 JERiCHOThe 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 Congaree National Park

Hiker at theWalls of Jericho

Upper Greeter Falls in Savage Gulf

Phot

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Nat

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Are

as

and

Cong

aree

Nat

iona

l Par

k.

May/June 2013 | 11

CONgAREE NATiONAL PARKLocated 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 gULfDotted 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 RiVERThe 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 TRACERunning 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 JERiCHOThe 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 Congaree National Park

Hiker at theWalls of Jericho

Upper Greeter Falls in Savage Gulf

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Nat

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May/June 2013 | 11

SharedPages

Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative

When 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.”

The crack of the bat! The roar of the crowd! The speed of the Wi-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 ComPetitionFor 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

For 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 FreedomFestSaturday, June 22Rainsville City Park

Entertainment throughout the dayPerformances by H.O.P.E. Puppet TeamConcessionsCar Show Fireworks at dark sponsored by City of Rainsville and FTC

All proceeds go to support mission programs at First Baptist Church RainsvilleFor more information call 256-638-8637

Register now forRainsville FreedomFest 10K & 5KVisit rainsvillefreedomfest.racesonline.com for complete details

H HPerformances by RFBC’sHH.O.P.E. Puppet Ministries (Helping Others Prepare for Eternity)

HEntertainment throughout the dayH

HFREEDOMFEST 10K & 5K RACEH Pre-register online at

www.rainsvillefreedomfest.racesonline.com

HCRUISE-IN CAR SHOWH

HCONCESSIONSH

HHUGE FIREWORKS SHOWHSponsored by FTC and the City of Rainsville

For more information call 256-638-8637

H

Rainsville City ParkSaturday, June 22

CRoSSRoadS

FReedomFeSt

with special guestmiChael engliSh

After a rewarding solo career in gospel music where he won several Dove awards, English joined the Gaither Vocal 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.”

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative May/June 2013 | 13

Local Pages

Local Pages

An art firedby passion

Southern Kitchens

Smoke runs in his blood

Anne P. BralyFood Editor

Eric 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 [email protected].

Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que H 832 Main St. East H Rainsville, Ala.Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. H Tuesday – Saturday

Phone: 256-717-4080House 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 RubThis 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 SmokedPork TenderloinMakes 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 SauceThe 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 cloves garlic, crushed 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 thatdistinct smoke flavor that barbecue lovers crave.

Stephenson's ribs with spicy barbecue sauce

May/June 2013 | 15

An art firedby passion

Southern Kitchens

Smoke runs in his blood

Anne P. BralyFood Editor

Eric 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 [email protected].

Stephenson’s Bar-B-Que H 832 Main St. East H Rainsville, Ala.Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. H Tuesday – Saturday

Phone: 256-717-4080House 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 RubThis 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 SmokedPork TenderloinMakes 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 SauceThe 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 cloves garlic, crushed 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 thatdistinct smoke flavor that barbecue lovers crave.

Stephenson's ribs with spicy barbecue sauce

May/June 2013 | 15

SharedPages

292 Robertson Blvd.Walterboro, SC 29488

|

Scan this QR code on yourmobile device to learn more!

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Local Pages

Local Pages

How Does The ProjectBenefit Participating Telcos?

Enables them to produce a high-quality communications piece

1

Expands the capacity of their staff at a nominal cost

2

Telco Marketer

Project Managers

Writers/ Photographers

Designers

CopyeditorsTelco Marketer

Allows them to share costs among several companies

3

Production Costs/

Total Press Run=

Cost Per Piece

5,800 pcs.

30,400 pcs.

= 25.9¢/pc

= 25.9¢/pc

smallest

largest

Educates their customers on industry and company issues

4

Meets requirements for customer notifications5

Testimonials

One of our chief concerns coming into the project was “will we have enough content to fill eight pages every other month?” After WordSouth’s extensive and thorough onboarding exercise (conducted via conference call), we had more content ideas than we could cover in our first year.

The magazine is well-written, beautifully designed and professionally printed, andthe collaborative effort among several telcos allows us send such a publication toour members at a cost well below what we could secure on our own.I must add that I am especially pleased with the content of the magazine’s sharedpages. WordSouth does a good job of featuring technology and industry news,including information from FRS and NTCA.

Joining the Regional Telco Magazine project has been a good decision for NorthCentral. I believe the project will continue to grow as more telcos discover the valueof this collaborative effort. I would be happy to answer any questions.

Nancy J. White, President/CEONorth Central Telephone Cooperative - Lafayette, Tenn.

The cost structure made possible by collaborating with other telcos made it more cost effective than anything we could do on our own. Further, WordSouth’s founder, Stephen Smith, seemed to not only have a great product idea, but he also had the system in place to execute it.

We have been more than pleased with the results. PRTC now has a high-quality magazine that not only looks good but also does a solid job of truly communicating with our members. The articles are written in a way that our members can understand them, and we consistently receive good feedback as a result.

Stephen and his staff have been great to work with. They take so much of the hassle out of the publishing process. From the planning to the content collection to the proofing, their system seems designed to make it as easy as possible for us to participate. Once we approve an issue, they manage the printing and mailing as well, freeing our staff to concentrate on their many other duties.

Keith Gabbard, CEOPeoples Rural Telephone Cooperative - McKee, Ky.

As you know, FTC’s relationship with WordSouth — A Content Marketing Company, datesback to the mid 1990s at which time you helped us inaugurate our first serious customer focusedperiodical, what would eventually become the current version of Connected Magazine. It wouldbe literally impossible to quantify the benefit that this communication has wrought over theyears. The feedback we get from our members and the tangible results we see from thispublication are still extremely rewarding to view.

You know quality has always been an absolute requirement of ours in any extended businessrelationship. It is remarkable that after almost 20 years of working together, not a singledisagreement regarding the editorial integrity of our magazine has ever presented itself.

The extension of Connected into a more diverse regional publication only improved its viability.In short, we retained both the uniqueness of a locally focused periodical and added the regionalcontent and cost savings as true bonuses. This was most definitely a win-win improvement. Icongratulate you on the success of that project.

I can wholeheartedly recommend that any of our rural Telco colleagues consider joining thisproject and will gladly offer any insights that may be of benefit. You may share this letter and/orits contents at will, knowing that my recommendation and insights will be forthcoming for anyrequests.

Fred Johnson, Executive Vice President & General ManagerFarmers Telecommunications Cooperative - Rainsville, Ala.

This publication has given us the ability to communicate at a higher level than we ever could by ourselves. There is no way we could employ the professional journalists, photographers and designers needed to create a publication of this quality. And the participants are doing more than communicating our individual stories at the local level. This collaboration allows us to share engaging content with our members from a broader industry perspective, as WordSouth has developed a solid working relationship with NTCA and FRS to create and share content.

Beyond the communications value of the project, the regional effort allows participants to enjoy the cost savings made possible only by working together as a group. For WK&T, there was little increase in our budget to go from our individual eight-page publication to the 16-page Regional Telco Magazine concept.

This magazine project is good for telcos at the local level — to educate our members, to engage our prospects and to build and strengthen relationships with community leaders and elected officials. This magazine project is also good for our industry. Beyond the chance to leverage our buying power as a group, it is an opportunity for us to collectively tell the rural telephony story across the country. Already, our message is going to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in five states. It is exciting to think about the impact we can by extending this reach into more regions.

Trevor Bonnstetter, CEOWK&T Telecommunications - Mayfield, Ky.Ardmore Telephone Company - Ardmore Ala. & Tenn.

I was excited to discover that the publication was of high quality, and that the shared pages featured strong content about our industry, technology and related consumer interests.

Equally as impressive were the cost-savings made possible by the collaboration. West Carolina Tel became part of the program with the November/December 2013 issue. The price we pay for producing a quality, full-color, 16-page magazine is very close to what our cooperative had been paying to publish a small newsletter that was folded and stuffed into our bill.

Our community has responded enthusiastically to the magazine. The board loves it. The employees love it. It provides us with a means of engaging our members — and prospects — that exceeds anything we have done, in both quality and overall value.

WordSouth has been a pleasure to work with. They are professional, friendly and attentive, and have worked with us at length to help us determine the best approach to distributing our magazine across the service area.

Jeff Wilson, CEOWest Carolina Tel - Abbeville, S.C.

How Are Telcos Using It?

Communicate changes in the industry1

Fiber/Broadband education2

Construction updates3

Product positioning4

Sales tool5

Direct message from CEO/GM6

Company image/information7

What Questions & Concerns Have Telcos Had?

Do we have the MONEY

???

Economies of scale through partnership

Move existing budget items to cover same goals

Develop content you can use elsewhere

Do we have the TIME

???

The SystemA Content Marketing CompanyA Content Marketing Company

You Identify a Local Editor1

WordSouth Develops the Editorial Calendar2

You Approve the Editorial Calendar3

WordSouth Conducts the On-Site Visit / Collects Information for the Magazine

4

WordSouth Writes and Designs Pages5

You Proof/Approve the Magazine6

You Distribute a PDF to Employees7

WordSouth Manages the Printing Process8

WordSouth Manages the Distribution Process9

You Prepare for the Arrival of Your Magazine10

What Types Of ContentAre Included In The Magazine?

Community Focus1

Employee Focus2

Company Focus3

Sales Focus4

Important Notes:

This is not a new concept.1The electric utility industry has successfully published collaborative magazines for decades.

This is not a completely new expenditure.2Many participants reallocate existing budget for items such as direct mail and annual reports that can now be wrapped into the magazine.

This is not a new burden on the staff.3WordSouth manages the content collection, printing and distribution processes.

WordSouth brings professional, experienced writers and editors to the project…4…but the telco maintains complete editorial control.

THANK YOU!

For more information, contactStephen V. Smith: [email protected]

A Content Marketing Company