Driftwood is smoothed over time by the water which creates unique shapes and designs. Some of the designs range from mesmerizing swirls and whorls to smooth ripples, all created by water.  The best driftwood is found upriver in coves where the water eddies.  With the water at winter levels and the cold temperatures keeping critters away, it is a great time to get outdoors and collect some driftwood!

The uses are endless! You can use them inside as wall art, centerpiece for your table or in glass vase or jars. Create something unique for your lake home. You can also drill cavities into the driftwood to make holders for tea lights or votives. Make sure you use caution when using candles with driftwood - it can be a fire hazard!


Before you use your driftwood as inside decor..clean it properly!  You’ll need a few tools for cleaning and working with driftwood:

• Dust masks 
• Brushes of different sizes and textures, including a wire brush and a toothbrush
• Sandpapers of different grits
• Soft, lint free cloths
• Murphy’s Oil Soap mixture or your favorite environmentally safe cleaner
• Final finish (beeswax, tung oil, or saddle soap..endless options..)
• Bucket
• Household bleach
• Chemical safe gloves and safety glasses

If you have a Dremel, use it! They are wonderful!

Here are the steps to cleaning driftwood:

1. Remove loose dirt and debris using stiff brushes
2. Wash the driftwood in a solution of environmentally friendly cleaner, I use Murphy’s Oil Soap. Rinse well with water.
3. If you are going to use the driftwood inside, you will need to soak it in a solution of bleach to kill critters and such! Prepare a bucket or a container of bleach solution (~ 1 to 2 cups of bleach per gallon of water) - allow the wood to soak in the mixture for several days, changing the water about every day. If it floats to the top too much, you can hold it down with a large rock.  Make sure ​you wear gloves and safety glasses when working with chemicals.
4. After soaking in the bleach solution, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before working with the wood. It may take 1 - 2 weeks.  **Important note - do not use chemically cleaned wood in aquariums.​

You are now ready to create your work of art! The natural beauty of the wood is revealed when you remove the soft wood by scrapping it gently with a scrapper, sandpaper or Dremel tool. If you lightly spray the wood with water, it will  help remove the soft wood. You will know it’s removed when you see more of the grain and the wood gets hard…don’t scrap against the grain! 

You can preserve your artwork using any method that is commonly used for wood, from oiling to waxing. If you decide to use oil, it is best to apply multiple coats of wood oil, added over time. Use appropriate sized brushes to reach all those small nooks and crannies! Just remember that  the color of the oil make change the appearance of the wood. If you buff the wood between coats, you will achieve a beautiful finish! 

So, before the lake begins to fill for the summer, walk the shoreline for unique pieces of driftwood and create your work of art! 

Send us a photo of your favorite driftwood art/decor at FanMail@LakeWedoweeLife.com. We will select a few for our Home on the Lake issue of Lake Wedowee Life magazine. 
​

The pieces below are soaking in the bleach solution...check back later for the progress!

​ I finished this story the day before Byrd Stewart passed away.I’m leaving the story just as it was written. I am so honored to have had the privilege to do this and get to know Byrds wonderful daughters. My heart goes out to this great family.

              A Man of Character
       I wonder how many people can say that they were born in World War I, lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War 2 and can speak of it today? Not many, if any, I’d say but we have such a person right here in Randolph County. His name is Mr. Byrd Stewart. At 103, he still lives at home, enjoys a good book, conversation and watching the birds outside his picture window.

Byrd Stewart enlisted in the Army in June of 1941, at the age of 25. He went in as a mechanic and as soon as his training was complete, he was loaded on the Queen Elizabeth, seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, and shipped off to Scotland to eventually join the 6th Cavalry Mechanized Division.

In his service, he witnessed the tragedy of war. The effects of bombs, bullets, fire and inhumanity were obvious everywhere. As his exit paperwork shows, he was there in the Battle of the Bulge in Normandy, Central Europe and Ardennes Rhineland. In all, he was in three different campaigns that were called the Bronze Service Star Campaigns.

For his service, Sgt Stewart earned the Bronze Star as well as the European-African- Middle Eastern service medal with one silver star.

To read more about Mr. Stewart, pick up your copy of Southern Holiday Life.

​Tags: #Community   #Local Flavor  #CharleyNorton

While Boating Wedowee is known for its beautiful lakes and rivers and many people take advantage of enjoying the waterways each year. In the coming weeks more people will be pulling out their boats from winter storage in preparation for summer getaways on the water. We’ve reached out to Coty Brown of the Alabama State Troopers - boat patrol division for suggestions, preventative pointers, common issues on the water, which can contribute to your boating safety and add to your boating pleasure. “A lot of times I am asked does the law require you to have line tied to the throwable,” Brown said. “The answer is no. It’s a smart idea to add some on there just in case, but you will not be cited for not having it on there. “ I’m also always asked about a paddle. This is also not a requirement by law, but always remember the old saying. You definitely don’t want to be up the creek without one.”

Preventative Pointers and Tips:
The best way to avoid me is to obey all safety regulations and laws on the water way. Treat the water way as if it was a roadway and stay to the right of mid channel at all times. Always be aware of your surroundings and be courteous to other boaters.
​
Most Common Issue on the water:
There are several different issues that have come up in the past few years. It’s hard to say which one is the most common so I’ll just touch base on a few different subjects. People riding with their hips above the gunwales of the boat. I’m seeing a huge issue with people laying on the back cushions of ski boats. If something happens and these people fall off it can possibly be fatal for these people. Also on pontoon boats as well. You have to be seated down inside the boat when it’s in motion at all time. Also when in pontoon boats make sure that you’re inside the railing as the boat is in motion. Underage people operating vessels without a license:   Alabama requires that its residents possess a valid vessel license to operate on the waterways in Alabama. A person at the age of 12-13 may get a license but cannot operate unless they have someone at the age of 21 or above with a valid vessel licenses on board with them.

Fourteen and above can operate a vessel in Alabama by themselves with a valid vessel license. Out of state residents may operate on the water ways in Alabama for a total of 45 days with a VALID DRIVERS LICENSE without possessing a vessel license through Alabama. Learners permits are not considered a valid driver’s license. People under the age of 16 from Georgia must take the Georgia boating test before they can operate by themselves in Alabama. They will be issued a card after they complete the test successfully, and they have to have this card with them as they operate. This will be cracked down on more this year and if someone is caught operating a vessel without a license, the guardian will be cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vessel. Pay close attention to the buoys and markers they are placed in various areas for a reason. Idle speed zones are going to be enforced stricter than ever. If you are uncertain what idle speed is then put your boat in neutral and slowly place it in forward gear. When the boat starts to slowly glide through the water, this is considered IDLE SPEED.

Boaters in Need:
If you ever happen to find yourself in distress while out on the water here are a few tips to remember. Try and flag someone down by waving by arms up high. The boating community is usually very helpful to each other, and will usually help one another when in need. Check with the local marinas. A lot of times they will help you out and can make it to you quicker than I can. Especially if you’re already a customer with them. Don’t be afraid to dial 911. You can also dial *HP. Just make sure to be able to give a good location to where you’re at, and a brief description of what your emergency is (whether you ran out of gas or something else mechanical). We are fortunate enough to have mile markers on this lake, but if you don’t know which river (Tallapoosa or Little Tallapoosa) you’re on, it doesn’t help matters. A quicker response time relies on you being able to tell me a general area so I know where to begin my search. If anyone needs to speak with me directly you can give dispatch a call at 256-357-2309 and leave a message for me. I’ll return your call as soon as I can.

Have fun this year, be safe, and I'll see y'all on the water.



​

A practice that has been opened since 1979, Dr. Michael Edwards, D.M.D.. P.C. has provided excellent dental care and orthodontic work for residents of Randolph County, as well as East Alabama. His story, like so many that call Randolph County home, begins in another location. 

Once earning his degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Dr. Edwards found himself in a residency program that took him to a small town in Western Montana called St. Ignatius. Dr. Edwards fell in love with the reservation that served the Salish and Kootenai tribes, so much so, that he wanted to settle in a small town that reminded him of St. Ignatius, that was much closer to his hometown of Birmingham. 

"Being a native of Birmingham, (Dr. Edwards and his wife, Terri) were tired of the traffic and the city. We just decided to come (to Wedowee) and look around," says Dr. Edwards. 

Dr. Edwards, who claimed to have never been south of Mt. Cheaha upon arriving in Wedowee, says that there settlement took it's next step during a stop at a convenience store on Main Street. 

"A guy asked me what I did, and I told him. He said that “Hey, we need a dentist down here really bad!” We stayed around and a nice committee of citizens here cooked lunch and had us up to their house. The next thing that we knew, we had made a lot of friends. We decided to give it a try, and we fell in love with it." 

While the area has grown since 1979, and continues to grow, many residents still have to drive to cities such as Oxford, Carrollton, Auburn, or even Atlanta and Birmingham for doctors visits, shopping, dining, among a variety of other reasons. Dr. Edwards cuts down on travel time for dentist-related appointments, as many procedures can be handled here in Wedowee. 

In addition to standard cleaning, fillings, and implants, Dr. Edwards also offers orthodontic work. 

"I went back and trained in orthodontics, where I could do braces and have been doing braces for over 30 years for kids in the area. That was something that families had to drive long distances to get that service, so we felt that we would start to implement things and training that would allow us to give those services to our patients." 

New to the practice, is 3D digital imaging. With this new technology, Dr. Edwards can now create the "perfect smile" for patients and allow them to see the generation prior to the procedure. 

"Everything in dentistry is moving digitally in every aspect," says Dr. Edwards. Patients love it because they don’t have to have all the impressions stuff in their mouths, that’s all gone now. We just let the camera look at their bite, the way that their teeth fit and are arranged, and we can create any smile we want to from that, and they get to preview it ahead of time.”

It's easy to say providing the area with great dental care for nearly 40 years has been rewarding for Dr. Edwards.

#InTheSpotlight

​On a sunny, fall-like Wednesday afternoon in October, the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association and all of their volunteers stopped for a meal at Rice Pavilion at Lake Wedowee. The 37 volunteers had just wrapped up another solid day of cleaning trash and other debris around the lake, as part of the “Renew Our Rivers” campaign, that has just wrapped up their 27th year. 

Following the wonderful lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches, Brunswick stew, and cookies provided by WM Grocery; Sheila Smith, Bob May, as well as Marlon and Betty Glover,  sat down for a discussion on how far the campaign has come over the last two decades, and how much the local community has helped the cause. 

Today’s journey has improved since beginning in 1992, says Bob May, one of the organizers of “Renew our Rivers.” May says that the effort began with less than 10 people on one boat, and would last upwards of six days, from 8 AM to dark. 

“We would spend two days just on one cove, it was a lot of work,” says May of the first lake cleanup. “I’d lose ten pounds in the week that we were doing it.”

Not only has the number of volunteers increased, but the amount of trash collected has dropped since the project began. 

Marlon Glover told us that the number of refrigerators, washing machines, tires, and even stranger items such as bowling balls were alarming. 

More volunteers began to come out, and the event became more organized and was then given the title of “the Tallapoosa Trashout,” says Sheila Smith of the Alabama Power Shorelines, who has also been a part of the efforts since the inception. Alabama Power then began to consolidate all 37 cleanup efforts into one campaign and became what it is known today as “Renew our Rivers” 19 years ago. 

The Lake Wedowee version of “Renew our Rivers” has been called the most organized lake cleanup efforts in the state, and it all goes back to the volunteers. 

In 2018, “Renew our Rivers” on Lake Wedowee averaged 36 volunteers per day, ranging from members of the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association to community members who took a few vacation days to help out. Even the Randolph County High School fishing club sent members out to help with cleanup efforts. 

The volunteering does not stop at just cleanup. Local restaurants and grocery stores have donated food and water to volunteers, and others have donated boats to provide transportation around the lake. 

“This community is wonderful at donating,” says Betty Glover. Mrs. Glover took the time to thank Lakeside Marina, WM Grocery’s deli, and Crystal Barnes with Hunter Bend Realty for feeding the volunteers, in addition to Small Town Bank and Perryland Foods, who donated water and snacks respectively.  

“Renew our Rivers” has also seen an abundance of boats donated to aid in cleanup efforts. Randy Morris at Wedowee Marine donated three boats, as well as gas; Alabama Power and other local donations had the number up to nine donated boats. 

From humble beginnings filled with bologna sandwiches and six-day efforts to a growth in community involvement, “Renew our Rivers” is stronger than ever. Marlon, Betty, Bill, and Sheila all say that the event is more than just collecting trash and providing a better lake for residents and wildlife, it has become a fun experience full of memories and meeting others who share a love for our lake. 

For more information on “Renew Our Rivers”, as well as everything going on with the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association, visit www.lakewedoweepoa.com

BY Jeremy Wortham

First off, this is not something to panic about, but something to be aware and cautious of.
You’re probably thinking, “here we go again. It’s another one of those gator stories”.

We’ve all heard the stories about alligators on Lake Wedowee, but whether you believe those stories or not is a discussion to be had for another day. But let me tell you about the crocodiles.
Yes, you read right… crocodiles!

Lake Wedowee is full of them. They cover miles of the lake, from the shorelines to the depths. At some point you may have spotted one or even several on the lake but may have never gave it much thought or attention. You may have spotted one floating down the river. You also probably crossed one or drove over one in the bends. And every once in a while you may see a good Samaritan wrestling to rope one so that it could be towed and tied off at the waters
edge.

While you’re enjoying your time at the lake, you need to be looking for these crocodiles ( or hazards ) that may exist. They come in all shapes and sizes and will show no mercy. Crocodiles are any potential water hazard. Some of the more common hazards are:

FLOATING DEBRIS; It’s common to see trees that may have blown over get washed down stream with other debris. Sometimes these bigger objects lurk just below the surface making them appear to be smaller than they are. So always scan the water ahead to ensure you don’t drive over a log or Crocodiles. Always be on the look out for Floating debris can be a hazard for boat motors and towables. Parts of Lake Wedowee have tree tops also known as stickups. Many are below the waters surface when the water is at full pool.

As the water level drops this fall, pay particular attention for stickups…pull a towable over something that could puncture your tube or even rider.

SHALLOW POINTS; there’s shallow points on the lake with some being marked by hazard buoys. You can find these shallow points in the bends of the lake but fair warning they can make their presence known in a split second on the depth finder.

OTHER BOATERS; Alabama requires state residents to take and pass a boating test prior to being able to operate a vessel or watercraft but doesn’t require out of state residents to have a boaters license to navigate a vessel on the water. I’m not saying that non licensed drivers are unsafer but it could raise the question on boating knowledge. Boats not using navigation lights while driving or anchored, boats using docking lights for running lights, boats crossing the wrong direction when meeting head on, among other things. Over the last year and a half there’s been 3 boating accidents on Lake Wedowee with 1 being alcohol related. That’s 3 boating accidents that were reported.

NO PFD’s; I was swimming at the lake one day this summer and I was swimming no more than 20 feet away from the boat when I had found myself exhausted in that short distance. This was unusual because I’ve been swimming regularly for the last 21 years and never had this problem. We tend to forget that at any given moment we can exceed our physical abilities such as how far we can swim or tread water, the possibilities of our bodies becoming fatigued and shutting down from exhaustion, cramping, black outs, heart attacks, and any other medical condition or natural event that could leave us vulnerable to a potential drowning. Over the last year and a half there’s been 7 drownings on Lake Wedowee. I encourage everyone to consider wearing a floatation device when entering the water. It’s better to have it on and not need it than need it and not have it on.

Remember, crocodiles are out there, some easily noticeable while others are lurking in disguise. Think safety! Look for what’s out of place or has changed since you have last been on the lake because things are always constantly changing. Currents may flow faster at certain times of the day, water levels may be higher or lower, holiday traffic brings more boat traffic which results in over populated areas and increased size in waves, a child may not be properly wearing their life jacket, an oncoming boater may be driving carelessly or not paying attention, or maybe there’s an issue with your boat or equipment that’s not working properly that could have been brought to your attention if you did a walk through.

Hopefully you’ve had a wonderful year thus far and thanks for being apart of our home that we call Lake Wedowee.

I wonder if there’s a boat behind him. Use common sense when operating in unexpected weather conditions, such as using your navigation lights and slower speeds when its foggy.
Life Jackets must be zipped and buckled to be worn.

​

​For many, many years and trips back and forth from the North Pole visiting places where I could have stayed I kept coming back to Lake Wedowee. I always have the best time here with my crew from the far north region and decided to make this our annual stay over, during our off season. Fishing, sunshine, friendly people, hospitality on & on I could go but Lake Wedowee is the place to be.

A typical day for Santa K at Lake Wedowee...First I am awakened by my Elf Alarm. I jump up with glee for a new day on the lake. I normally will have my hot cocoa, (not too hot, shaken not stirred and strong with chocolate.) Today I have some of my elves helping me at the secret reindeer barn. We must replace some of the oatmeal and carrot feeders, which I need wood and nails for. I always stop at Wedowee Building Supply for everything to build with. Of course, I know everyone there from delivering toys when they were children. Most of them were on the nice list but, of course not all of them. HO HO HO Joe and all the boys are so helpful with advise and great prices. They even have a special parking place for my sleigh.

We are so anxious to get to work but, I haven’t had my special coffee and morning delights yet so, we are off to Miss Amber’s Main Street Coffee Shop for that. They are always open early and I know we can have goodies and lots of coffee and be on our way. I always love smiling faces and I know Miss Amber will give me that. Since this is a work day, we are packing our lunches so, we won’t have to stop. I’ve been there many times in the past and I love WM grocery. Santa’s favorite is always the homemade chicken pot pies...mmmm good! We load up with all we need, most importantly the cookies, (of course) and they have plenty to choose from!

When I was out on my boat the last time I almost ran out of gas so, I stopped at Wedowee Marina at 48 bridge to gas up. It was so easy to to get in and out. They have so many beautiful new boats to look at, I almost didn’t leave. Randy and his staff at all locations are easy to work with, they remain on my nice list, (at least for now.) HO HO HO

I want to especially thank Wedowee Life Magazine for all their help in telling me about this wonderful community and all the great people. They have been family for Santa K and the elves since all of them were kids and I delivered toys to them. I am so excited about living and playing at Lake Wedowee during my off season. Remember, if you see me on  the water I will always have my Santa K hat on. Wave to me and if i can, I will stop and give you a special card, (just for you!) Well, it’s work time and it’s hot so, let us get hammering.

​See you soon Santa K

​

#TinyHomeMakeover #MaryLeeCaldwell #ilovemytinyhome #SunsetPoint

​Lake homes come in all sizes and price ranges, large custom-built homes, cabins, tiny homes, park model homes, RVs and campers.  Our lake home is a park model home, we have owned for 13 years. We fell in love with our tiny home before tiny homes were cool! It has 1 bedroom, 1 bath, full kitchen, small living area and a large screened in porch.

After 13 years it was time for a tiny home makeover. The plan was to create a tranquil space, and multi-functional areas for entertaining and sleeping. This was a DIY project with my husband taking on the first step of converting the porch to a sunroom. The work included new windows being installed as well as beadboard and sheetrock walls, wood ceiling, and adding a heating and air unit. It was my turn next in picking out colors and painting.  I picked out a neutral color pallet of burlap, tan and off whites and used painting techniques to create a unique look.

​The focus then changed to furniture, space planning and sleeping areas. We needed to be frugal and use much of what ​we  already owned. In our stash was an old futon frame and mattress. 

The finishing touches to this part of our makeover are the art pieces for our newly renovated space. Jessica Bailey of Reclaimed Grace Art is a local artist with a lot of talent. She has a great flair for farmhouse chic, which is the look I was after for our tiny lake home. I called Jessica and ask her to look at our space.  After our meeting, I commissioned her to do 4 pieces. She had them ready in approximately 4 weeks. Let me just say, she hit it out of the park matching my color pallet of drop cloth, burlap, brown and the beautiful blues. I could not be more pleased.

​We have a way to go before we are finished with our tiny lake home makeover; the kitchen, the bathroom and bedroom.  Stay tuned, same place, same magazine but not sure what issue!