​Last issue we published the stance of the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association concerning the Federal Relicensing proposal submitted by Alabama Power Company.

If you are interested in having your voice heard concerning the relicensing of RL Harris Dam by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, you have until late September to do so.

If you own property on Lake Wedowee or use it for recreation, you are considered a stakeholder and if you want to see changes, now is the time to act.

Education is key and the relicensing process is not simple. There is a website available www. harrisrelicensing.com that explains it. Trust us when we say it’s a lot of information and can be confusing.

One request we have heard through the years is raising the winter level from 785. That alternative was considered but eliminated from the proposal due to the increase in downstream flooding.

Another request has been more public use access for recreation specifically swimming. Currently we have Flat Rock Park that is open to the public for swimming and then we have a nature trail at the Preserve at Fox Creek that is public use as well (not open for swimming).

In the proposal, Alabama Power proposes to develop a recreation plan that would include the installation and maintenance of recreation access for canoe/kayak below the dam. The recreation plan would also include an additional recreation site on Lake Wedowee that would be a day use park (swimming, picnicking and boat ramp).

There are currently 11 existing recreation sites on Lake Wedowee which includes Flat Rock Park and all existing public boat ramps.

To be included in the public comment portion of this project, it is as simple as going online to ferconline.ferc. gov registering with an email and your address and phone number. Once your email address is approved, you can go to eComment the hydro project docket number is P-2628-065.

Be concise, you have 6,000 characters to offer your opinion. Some have been recorded asking for things like more recreation spots, an extended summer lake level, more public access.

​We did a little research on when Lake Martin went through the relicensing process and your voice really does matter. 
​

​Have you tried the cheesecake at WM yet? Oh you should. The brand is Cotton Blues out of Hattiesburg, Miss. The tagline is Mississippi Made, New York Approved and we couldn’t agree more! Flavor choices include classic, strawberry, blueberry and salted caramel. WM sells the yumminess by the slice and you will not be disappointed!!

#wedoweeinsider #lakewedoweelife #july2021

​​Traveling to Clay County from Wedowee got a major upgrade recently with the completion of the new bridge over Fox Creek. The work began two years ago and finished in June. The original bridge was built in the 1920s and has been removed.

​#wedoweeinsider #lakewedoweelife #july2021 #randolphcountyprogress

​As a way to honor the memory of Woodland native Vern Gosdin, the Woodland Area Civic Club created the annual Vern Gosdin Memorial Concert in 2017. Past acts have included Lorrie Morgan, John Berry and Mark Chestnut along with local performers Kevin Moon and Barry Waldrep. The 2021 edition of the Memorial Concert welcomes Shenandoah featuring Marty Rabun as the headliner and Kevin Moon along with Ken Mellons “The Jukebox Junkie” as opening acts. The concert will be at Warren Sewell Field (home of the Woodland Bobcats Football team) on July 31. Tickets may be purchased at Woodland Town Hall via phone (256.449.2222) or in person. Credit and Debit cards are accepted. General Admission tickets are $25 and reserved seating is $40. You also can purchase online through eventbrite.com (just search Vern Gosdin)

​Dates in May include the 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th at French Park and the Woodland Senior Center

#farmerstofamilies #RandolphCounty #LakeWedoweeLife #RCEDA

In late 2020, the Randolph County Historical Museum installed a new board and got its status of a 501c3 non profit re-instated. The group with support from all four mayors is tasked with renovating the Randolph County Historical Museum and preserving the artifacts of our county. Formerly the Roanoke Post Office, the building is in desperate need of repair. There have been grants awarded and significant donations made by municipalities, civic groups and private citizens, but now the organization is actively soliciting donations to save and restore the building. All the artifacts have been removed and are being housed off site while repairs are being made to the structure. Once complete, the Museum will be a fantastic meeting place, as well as, provide a home to our rich history.

If you are interested in making a donation, it may be mailed to The Randolph County Historical Museum, PO BOX 430 Roanoke, AL 36274.

#saveourhistory  #historicalmuseum  #RCEDA  #LakeWedoweeLife

​It’s that time again the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association has contracted with Lake Wedowee Life to produce its bi-annual membership directory. It is always filled with useful information about the organization and what they do for our lake community. It is also a helpful phone book for its members that many keep as a reference guide for the area. If you are interested in advertising your business in the directory please contact Lake Wedowee Life at (256) 403-7528 or email us at ads@lakewedoweelife. com If you are interested in joining the LWPOA visit the website at www.lakewedoweepoa.com for an application. It is only $35 a year to be a member. The directory will be available in early June at the LWPOA Summer Picnic. Be sure to check the May Wedowee insider for more details

#LWPOA #lakewedoweepropertyowners #LakeWedoweeLife #wedoweeinsider

​Jodi Yates and Michele Ford enjoyed a late afternoon boat ride that resulted in a bonfire at a sand bar on Lake Wedowee this Spring. There is fun to be found on Lake Wedowee year round and we LOVED the picture they captured!

#cozybythefire #lakelife #lakewedoweelife #wedoweeinsider #lakewedowee #wedoweelocal  #lwl2021

Wine is COMING TO WEDOWEE!!!
Scott and Brooke Bayliss are the first tenants in the newly renovated building in downtown Wedowee owned by Barnes-Key. They plan to open the very first winery in Randolph County.  Lake Wedowee Winery will be open early summer and as we have more details, we will definitely share!

Lonnie White Bridge Boat Ramp Repair Update!
If you don’t know it by its official name this is the boat ramp at the end of County Road 129. Lonnie White Bridge has been closed for repair for some time and Lake Wedowee Life reached out for answers.

Renovation began in 2020 and was to be completed prior to the lake reaching full pool in the spring (typically around May 1). Well, on March 13, the country shut down due to the pandemic and before repairs could be completed the water rose and it wasn’t an issue for the summer. Well when the water started dropping in September, it became an issue again. It has been closed, but according to a source with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the renovation should be complete prior to the lake reaching full pool for 2021.

“We are planning to have the ramp completed by the end of the drawdown period on Harris Reservoir (LAKE WEDOWEE!!!),” Keith Henderson said. “We are currently trying to complete a launching slab repair on Wheeler Reservoir and are planning to move straight into White’s Bridge after completion of launching slab at Triana public boat ramp.”

A Family Affair
We Love a Good Family Business in Wedowee. There are a lot and Charlie Daniels (not that one) is keeping it in the family too. He purchased the old Bill’s Dollar Store and completely renovated it. Numerous people have been speculating what is happening there so we thought it best to go to someone in the know. Crystal Barnes Key is handling leasing the spaces that are available but three have been claimed. Charlie Daniels has C&S Glass Company which will be there and his wife will be opening a bakery and sweet shop at the location named Sweet and Chic (which is why you may notice the picnic tables) and then his daughter is opening a hair salon, Love and Layers. So three new businesses for the Lake Wedowee area! That sounds like a big win to us! Eight more spaces are available for lease and stay tuned for opening dates of the businesses.

Life just got easier: Grocery Pickup Now Available Locally
Did you know that you can order groceries for pickup at WM Grocery now? You sure can! First download the app on your phone or go to the website wmgrocery.com. Add all your must haves to your cart and then you can drive up for pick up. Now, not everything is available for online shopping but it makes shopping when you are ill so much easier. There is a $25 minimum for online shopping but y’all this is a major convenience that will be used a lot!!!

Community Group Forms
In the Fall, Wedowee Together formed as a community group with the mission of working to enhance the quality of life for citizens in Wedowee and surrounding communities in Randolph County. They are working on becoming a 501c3 nonprofit this winter and more details about this new Lake Wedowee organization will be provided in the coming weeks.

We All Scream for Ice Cream
Boondocks BBQ and Creamery is super close to opening in Wedowee. They are a few weeks away from providing home made ice cream to the Lake Wedowee area. Located North of Wedowee on US Highway 431. They are looking to start hiring next month with plans to open this Spring. 

​If you know of something that Wedowee Insiders should know, drop us a line at [email protected]. 

#WedoweeInsider  #WedoweeLocal  #LWL2021

There is a lot going on in the Town of Wedowee. We have a new bank building under construction. First State Bank will relocate to the intersection of HWY 48 and US HWY 431 within the next year. The land was cleared in the fall and construction began earlier this winter.

You also may have noticed work being done on the building between Hunter Bend Realty and A Brand New Look. Crystal Barnes-Key has dreamed of owning this building, that has been everything from a variety store to a bait shop to a service station, for a very long time. It became a reality in the fall and she has had crews working ever since. The renovation is expected to be complete this month when her first tenants take over the first floor. The second floor will be completed at a later date and will feature two bedroom, one bath apartment that will be available for nightly and weekend rental. There is actually a third floor that will be renovated for meeting area and events.

Cleburne Pharmacy is in the process of relocating down the road on HWY 431 next door to Tanner East Alabama. The full service pharmacy is expected to open in the coming weeks at its new location. 

Pick up your copy of the February 2021 Issue of Lake Wedowee Life for more "Wedowee Insider" Information. 

#WedoweeInsider #WedoweeLocal #February2021