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Thursday • October 2, 2014 • Issue #7

Do You Have An Idea For A Story That You Would Like To See In

The Nifty Pickle?

If So, Please Call256-673-8190

or send an email [email protected].

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( S t a t e P o i n t ) With the release of the iPhone 6, you may be thinking about how to protect your pricey new mobile device.

Over a quarter of American iPhone us-ers have cracked their

screens at some point, and a whopping fifteen percent are currently using a phone with a cracked screen, according to a new study from SquareTrade, a top-rated protection plan.

Cracked screens aren’t just an aesthet-ic problem; they can actually prevent you from being able to use certain apps and features. Fur-thermore, the stakes are higher than ever before.

New Phone? Don’t Forget to Protect It“When we see bigger screens combined with features like mobile payments with ApplePay, we see the potential for even more accidents: we won’t be surprised to see claims coming in that mention the drive-through window at Mc-Donald’s,” said Ty Shay, CMO at SquareTrade.

You can better protect your investment with a hard, fitted case as well as a protection plan that offers substantive coverage. For ex-ample, SquareTrade offers affordable protec-tion plans that cover drops, spills and malfunc-tions, as well as 24/7 customer service. More information can be found at www.SquareTrade.com.

Don’t be sorry, be smart. Protect your phone before it’s too late.

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. - Robin Williams

(BPT) - Most American’s aren’t consuming enough nutrients from their daily diet. Only 1 percent of the population meets minimum standards of a balanced diet, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A

The 5 Nutritional Supplements That Should Be On Everyone’s Shopping List

well-chosen supplement can benefit many people, especially those who are dieting, older than age 50, pregnant or following an exercise regimen. “Many Americans are marginally deficient in one or more vitamins,” says Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietitian and the author of “Eat Your Way to Happiness.” “That means they consume enough to pre-vent the classic deficiency, but not enough to be optimally nourished. Osteoporosis is a good example. Only getting marginal levels of vitamin D over time can lead to a loss of calcium in your bones until they no longer can support your weight. Yet there

Continued on Page 7

Please Support Your Local Merchants!2

Billboard For Rent in Boaz. AL Hwy 168 (Across from

Little Lots)The top and bot-tom of both sides

are available. $250 per Month for each space. No Contract

Required.

Call JW at256-673-8190 for

more information.

If you’re a veteran with PTSD that hasn’t been han-dled well thus far, or a veteran with a service-related disability, here’s a possible answer for you: dogs. Specially trained Guide and Service dogs are available for veterans who are blind or disabled by physical, traumatic brain injury or PTSD. •Patriot PAWS Service Dogs (patriotpaws.org) trains service dogs to perform services for disabled veterans with the goal of increasing the veteran’s self-sufficiency. Here’s a par-tial list of what the dogs are trained to do: get help in emergen-cies, recognize PTSD episodes, take off shoes and socks, help with laundry (who knew?). Contact Patriot PAWS at 972-772-3282 [email protected]. •America’s Vet Dogs (www.vetdogs.org) covers a wide range when it comes to matching dogs with veterans. Dogs are trained for vision and hearing assistance, climbing stairs and so much more for seriously injured veterans. It also provides dogs for physical and occupational therapy at Walter Reed. Contact 1-866-838-3647 or [email protected]. The Department of Veterans Affairs will take care of most of the costs of providing eligible veterans with Guide or Service dogs. See www.va.gov/health/serviceandguidedogs.asp for specifics. Approved veterans will be referred to Assis-tance Dogs International (www.assistancedogsinternational.org) for Service dogs and to National Association of Guide Dog Users (www.nagdu.org) for Guide dogs. The VA pay for the cost of a dog and its training, as well as veterinary care, but not for subsequent expenses like food. If you don’t need services but want to help veterans who do, go online to America’s Fund (americasfund.org), an arm of the Semper Fi organization. This non-profit charity steps in to help veterans with adaptive transportation, home modifica-tions and emergency funding. It consistently get A-plus and 4-star ratings from the big charity watchdogs. If you can, open your wallet and send them some money.

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally an-swer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his col-umn whenever possible. Send email to [email protected].

(c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dogs Ready to Aid Vets


The Rules Are Simple! This contest is for chil-dren 3 - 12 years of age. Please submit your entry no later than October 13, 2014. The winners (one boy and one girl) will be announced on our website, www.nif-typickle.com, and in the next issue of the Nifty Pickle. You can mail your entry to Nifty Pickle, 7032 US Hwy 431 • Albertville, Alabama 35950. Please in-clude your name, phone number or email address so we can contact you if you are the winner. Your phone number or email address will never be shared with anyone. If you are one of the lucky winners, we will let you know where to pick up your prize.

Nifty PicklePublished Weekly

by Nifty Pickle, Inc.7032 US Hwy 431

Albertville, Alabama 35950

256-673-8190The publisher, Nifty Pickle,

Inc., has no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. No part of this publication

may be reproduced in whole or in part without consent of the publisher. The Publisher

will not be liable for any error in display advertisement to a greater extent that the cost of the line space occupied in the advertisement. The adver-tiser and/or agency agree to protect, indemnify and hold

harmless this publication, and it’s publisher, Nifty Pickle, against any and all liability, loss and expense (including attorney fees) arising out of the publication of the adver-

tisers advertisement.Letter To The Editor:We encourage letters to the

editor but we ask that certain guidelines be followed: Letters may be typed or handwritten, and legible.

Letters must be signed along with a telephone number and address. Phone numbers and addresses will only be used

for verification and will NOT be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. The

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Monday at Noon and should be sent to Nifty Pickle • 7032 US Hwy 431, Albertville AL

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ENJOY!


Coat Drive for Children and Adults in Need

Marshall County Craft Club and Boaz Chamber Of Commerce are joining efforts in a community project which will collect clean, reusable coats and jackets to be distributed free to children and adults in need in our community.

We are asking for your support of the First Annual Mar-shall County Craft Club Coat drive.When: September 30th – October 4th 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Where: Alabama Craft Show located in Piper Station, Boaz Al.

Call: 256-996-4945 for directions or information

Creamy “Cookie” Fruit DessertWhen you find a delicious dessert that also happens to be healthy -- well, what more could you ask for?

Ingredients1 cup nonfat dry milk powder

1 1/2 cups water2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar

1 (4-serving) package sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, packed in fruit juice,

undrained1 cup reduced-calorie whipped topping

1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, rinsed and drained1 cup diced banana

9 (2 1/2-inch) chocolate graham crackers

Directions1. In a large bowl, combine dry milk powder, water and vine-gar. Let set 5 minutes. 2. Add dry pudding mix and undrained pineapple. Mix well, using a wire whisk. Blend in whipped topping. Add mandarin oranges and banana. Mix gently to combine. Coarsely crush 6 graham crackers. Fold crushed graham crackers into pudding mixture.3. Evenly spoon mixture into 6 dessert dishes. Crush remain-ing 3 graham crackers into fine crumbs. Sprinkle about 1 tea-spoon crumbs over top of each. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

•Each serving equals: 168 calories, 0 g fat, 6 g protein, 36 g carb., 238 mg sodium, 1 g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Fruit, 1/2 Fat-Free Milk, 1/2 Starch.


1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven’t eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?Answers:1. The third. Lions that haven’t eaten in three years are dead.2. The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry.

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh

day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day,

and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11


ALBERTVILLEAlbertville Baptist Church

302 Buchanan RoadAlbertville, Alabama 35950

(256) 878-3933

Corinth Baptist Church4183 Rose Road

Albertville, Alabama 35951(256) 894-3400

Fairview UnitedMethodist Church

1750 Hustleville RoadAlbertville, Alabama 35950

(256) 891-1719

First Baptist Church Albertville309 East Main Street


Mt. Calvary Baptist Church201 Rose Road


Rose Road Church of God804 Rose Road

Albertville, Alabama 35950256-891-7723

ALBERTVILLESolid Rock Church

2073 Section Line RoadAlbertville, Alabama 35950

256-891-1818

The Potter’s House 210 Sand Mt Dr.

Albertville, AL 35950256-298-2378

BOAZAll Saints’ Anglican Church

706 North Main StreetBoaz, Alabama 35957

Belaire Baptist Church1505 Oak Drive

Boaz, Alabama 35957(256) 593-8773

Beulah Baptist Church1991 Beulah Road

Boaz, Alabama 35957256-878-1516

Boaz Church of God115 McGee Street

Boaz, Alabama 35957(256) 593-3689

Thanks For Reading The Nifty Pickle!

BOAZFirst Baptist Church

225 S. Main StreetBoaz, Alabama 35957

(256) 593-8580

Mt. Zion Baptist Church623 County Road 2

Boaz, Alabama 35957(256) 561-3682

Sardis Baptist Church1501 Church Street

Boaz, Alabama 35957(256) 593-7762

GUNTERSVILLEFirst Baptist Church

1000 Gunter AveGuntersville, Alabama 35976

(256) 582-5141

First United Methodist Church539 Gunter Avenue

Guntersville, Alabama 35976(256) 582-2001

GUNTERSVILLEGuntersville Church of Christ

800 Gunter AvenueGuntersville, Alabama 35976

(256) 582-2494

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist1444 Carlisle Ave


The Churchat Lake Guntersville

4525 Wyeth DriveGuntersville, Alabama 35976

(256) 582-5312

Victory Baptist Church1644 O’ Brig Avenue


I’M LEAVING! That was all Jesus’ disciples heard, after that He might has well been speaking Chinese. Throughout three chapters {14-16} of the Gospel of John we find Jesus encourag-ing and trying to strengthen His disciples after He told them He was about to depart for Heaven. One of my favorite lines is found in Chapter 16:5 when Jesus says to them, “I have told you I’m leaving and not one of you have asked where I am going, you only grew more and more upset and distressed.” {paraphrased}.

How many times in our lives do things not go the way we think they should? Or our best laid plans crash and burn? Count-less times, and just like the original disciples we go into panic mode without ever taking a moment to catch our breath and ask Him what is going on.

When we are facing a situation like that, when jobs are lost and family members are gone, or nothing is going the way we thought or prayed, there are a few things that will help us get through it. First and foremost we have to know that God is GOOD, 100% all the time ~ good. Not some kind of religious twisted “God is going to hurt you to make you stronger” kind of good but I mean genuinely good. Without His Goodness as the foundation, your building will always be slightly crooked and your vision of God altered.

Once we come to grips with the fact that He is ALWAYS good, it becomes easier to walk in the second part ~ trust. Sin-cerely, wholeheartedly, TRUST. Which is easier said than done as we’ve all experienced at some time or another. But I can tell you it is a whole lot easier to trust someone who is always good to you. How can you trust someone who murders your family, crip-ples your friends and steals everything that is not nailed down? Even though Jesus said it was the thief that did all those things {Jn 10:10}, in some form or fashion, isn’t that what we accuse God of?

Know that God is always good, trust Him to work all things together for GOOD. {Rom 8:28} Even though at this mo-ment you are sitting in the “Pit of Despair,” God is still able to do above and beyond all that we can ask or think. {Eph 3:20}. Talk to the Father and listen to His Spirit. Jesus leaving His disciples was the best thing that ever happened to the human race. No lon-ger was it Emmanuel, God with us, now we can be born again and God IN us!

Trust Him, It’s gonna be good when He’s done.


by Elsa Rutherford

Three days ago, an ordinary Satur-day, I was resting on my screened porch, in my Albertville neighborhood, gazing toward the woods at the far edge of my backyard, looking up at the tall, leafy trees high above the small rippling creek that flows past and there it was: a face staring down at me. From up in the trees. A face shaped and delineated by leaves and the sunlight filtering through them. It was like seeing a face in the clouds. You know it can’t be real, just a trick of the eye and the imagination, an eerie fantasy, but you see it just the same. I had no doubt what I was seeing. I knew immediately it was the face of my Rogue Raccoon. And I knew why he was star-ing down at me. He was haunting me. It began a year ago, when I spied a lone raccoon scaling a tree in my back-yard and stealing seeds from my bird-feeder. I yelled at him to “Go away.” The little bandit- face turned toward me for a moment and then turned away, ig-noring me and carrying on with his theft as if he couldn’t care less about me. (I don’t know how I knew he was a he and not a she, but somehow I was sure of it.) Irritated, I rushed into the yard, coming as close to him as I dared, flapping my arms like wings and screeching at him, as if I were some weird large bird bent on frightening him away. He looked me straight in the eye, conveying a “you party pooper” message to me on that Zorro-like face. Slowly he descended the tree and, haltingly, walked away. It was then that I realized he might be crip-pled and, suddenly, I felt sorry for him. Poor little raccoon, all alone and with an infirmity that obviously made it difficult for him to fend for himself. I told my husband about him. I called him the “rogue raccoon.” “Rogue?” my husband asked. “Yep, just one. All alone,” I said. “Hmmm..Usually where there’s one raccoon, there’s more,” he said. “He’s not afraid of you, right?” I nod-

ded. “Walking funny, right?” I nodded again. “I think your rogue raccoon could be rabid. You stay away from him. He’s likely dangerous.” I saw the raccoon several times after that and he was always alone, as I was certain he would be. My “Little Rogue,” as I now thought of him. I no longer yelled at him to go away when he stole the birdseed. I’d decided he de-served it as much as the birds. He was simply hungry, not dangerous, I thought. So I began slicing apples and carrots onto a paper plate and placing it at the edge of the woods. I didn’t tell my hus-band. What could it hurt? Just one little raccoon, an orphan with no family, try-ing to make it on his own. Then I accidentally left one of our cats, “SweetiePye,” on the screened porch overnight. Both our cats love to spend time on the porch. But we always try to make sure they’re inside when the doors are locked at night. Somehow, though, we’d overlooked SweetiePye and she’d spent the night on the porch and, evidently, it had been a raucous, chaotic night. Small tables, lamps and flower pots were overturned, clumps of potting soil and flowers blotted the floor and furniture. Once we opened the door, SweetiePye hastily fled inside to the safety of the house. It was quickly ob-vious the porch’s screen had been ripped open, leaving a wide jagged hole. “Your rogue raccoon,” my husband declared, frowning. “It has to go.” I knew he was right. We couldn’t allow the raccoon to break into the porch again. On close examination, we were relieved to find that the cat had not been bitten or harmed, but we couldn’t take another chance. My brother-in-law of-fered to shoot the raccoon if I wanted. I didn’t want. I couldn’t bear to think of killing the little rogue. I went to the Yellow Pages instead, hoping I’d find a solution but not knowing what it might be. Sure enough, there was a service that harmlessly trapped and removed un-wanted wildlife. They’d bring out and leave two cages for four days. “It’ll cost only three hundred dollars.” Only! My husband would think I was crazy to pay that price, and, of course, he did think so. But he didn’t try to stop my plan. I watched as the trapper man placed two large cages at the edge of the woods and baited them with marshmal-lows. “Raccoons love marshmallows,” he told me.

Haunted By A Rogue Raccoon

Continued on Page 10


are no telltale signs of a problem.” According to Somer, these five sup-plements should be on everyone’s shop-ping list: 1. Multiple vitamin. Nutrients are supplied as teams in food, so if your diet is low in one nutrient, it’s a sure bet it’s low in others, too. A multiple is a convenient, inexpensive way to supply a balance of nu-trients, while avoiding secondary deficien-cies that result when you take too much of one nutrient and crowd out another. For quality sake, stick with the major brands or with a product with the USP (U.S. Pharma-copeia) quality seal that guarantees high standards. 2. Calcium and magnesium. You need calcium to keep your bones, skin, nerves and muscles in shape, while mag-nesium is critical for coping with stress, maintaining a healthy heartbeat and blood pressure. Unless you include at least three servings daily of calcium-rich milk prod-ucts or fortified soymilk, and lots of mag-nesium-rich soybeans, nuts and wheat germ, you should supplement these two minerals. Calcium and magnesium are best

absorbed and used when supplied in a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. You get some of these minerals in your diet, so you only need to fill in the gaps by taking a supplement with 500 milligrams of calci-um and 250 milligrams of magnesium, if your multiple is low in these minerals. 3. DHA omega-3. If you don’t con-sume at least two servings a week of fatty fish (think salmon, mackerel or herring), then take an omega-3 supplement. You need at least 220 milligrams of the ome-ga-3 DHA, and possibly up to 900 milli-grams a day to help support brain health. A recent study from the University of Oxford found that supplementation of 600 milli-grams of omega-3s, and DHA (docosahex-aenoic acid) in particular, was associated with longer sleep duration - 58 minutes of more sleep per night - in a subset of chil-dren, compared to placebo. Omega-3s are important for wom-en who are pregnant or nursing. DHA is a building block of a baby’s brain. In fact, 97 percent of the omega-3s found in the brain is DHA. A vegetarian and sustainable source of DHA from algae can be found in supplement form. Look for the life’sDHA logo on the packaging to know you’re get-

ting a vegetarian source. 4. Vitamin D. If you are an adult and your multi-vitamin or calcium supplement does not have at least 1000 IU of vitamin D, then consider a separate supplement since you can’t get enough from food. Op-timal intake is associated with lowered risk for muscle weakness, gum disease, diabe-tes, insulin resistance, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and certain can-cers, including colon, breast, pancreas and prostate cancers. 5. Vitamin E. Vitamin E functions as the main fat-soluble antioxidant, protect-ing cells, tissues and organs from damage. It also contributes to healthy blood flow by regulating the opening of blood vessels and preventing cholesterol from building up on blood vessel walls. The research continues to show other roles for this essential nutri-ent, such as a recent study that showed vi-tamin E may positively impact functional performance among participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Before incorporating any supple-ment into your diet, check with your health care provider. For more information about vitamins and nutrients visit www.vitamin-sinmotion.com.

The 5 Nutritional Supplements ThatShould Be On Everyone’s Shopping List

Continued from Page 1


ARIES (March 21 to April 19) An upcoming trip could create some problems with your schedule unless you tie up as many loose ends as possible before you head out the door. Ask a friend or colleague to help you.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Being ea-ger to start a new project is fine. However, moving ahead without knowing what actu-ally will be expected of you could cause a problem down the line. Ask some questions.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Getting through some recent challenges in good shape might give you a false sense of secu-rity. Don’t relax your guard. You need to be prepared for what else could happen.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still advised, even though you think you’re as prepared as you need to be. Keep in mind that change is in your aspect, and you should expect the unexpected.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) The Lion’s gift of persuasion helps you get your points across, even to some of your most negative naysayers. An old friend might seek you out for some advice.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Being sure of your convictions is fine. But leave some room for dissenting opinions. You might learn something that could help you avoid a possible problem later on.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Get-ting good legal advice on what your rights actually are is the first step toward resolv-ing that pesky problem so that it doesn’t re-emerge at a later date. Good luck.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Longtime relationships work well this week, whether they’re personal or professional. It’s also a good time to invite new friends and colleagues into your life.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to Decem-ber 21) This is a good week to do the re-search that will help you uncover those ir-refutable facts that can back you up on your new venture when you most need it.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Change is an important factor in your aspect this week and could affect something you might have thought was immune to any sort of adjustment or “alteration.”

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Being asked to share someone’s deeply per-sonal confidence might be flattering, but ac-cepting could be unwise. Decline gracefully but firmly.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) As wise as you are, you could still be misled by someone who seems to be sincere but might not be. Take more time to assess the situa-tion before making any commitments.

Please Support Your Local Merchants!

BORN THIS WEEK:You like to face challenges that others might try to avoid,and by so doing, you set an example of courage for all.



Please Support Your Local Merchants!

(BPT) - Americans like to think of themselves as a pet-loving society; today, nearly 70 million dogs and 74 million cats live in U.S. households, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Yet as recently as 30 years ago, animal shelters across the country routinely killed an

estimated 17 million companion animals a year as a means of population control. Today, the no-kill movement - which advocates adoption and spaying/neutering, rather than euthanasia to control the companion ani-mal population - has helped reduce significantly the number of animals killed in shelters, saving about 13 million per year. The handful of pas-sionate activists who helped launch the movement three decades ago say there is still work to be done, and that everyday Americans, working together, can help end the killing of shelter animals altogether. “All life has intrinsic value,” says Francis Battista, a co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society, which has been at the forefront of the no-kill movement for three decades. “By relating with kindness and un-conditional love toward the most vulnerable members of our society, we are celebrating the intrinsic value of life, uplifting society as a whole, and moving us all toward the better, kinder and more loving community we all aspire to live in.” In 1984, when a group of 28 passionate activists founded the first Best Friends Animal Society no-kill sanctuary in Utah, American shel-ters practiced killing as the primary means of controlling the country’s population of unwanted companion pets. Five years later, no-kill advo-cate Ed Duvin wrote a revolutionary article, “In the Name of Mercy,” that challenged conventional wisdom about the “kindest” way to manage homeless animals, appealed for a new ethic in animal sheltering and set the philosophical stage for the no-kill movement. Just 10 years after the founding of Best Friends, the city of San Francisco became America’s first “no-kill city,” when the San Francisco SPCA and the city’s Department of Animal Care and Control established an adoption pact for homeless animals. Today, communities across the country have adopted the no-kill philosophy. OutTheFrontDoor.com, a website that tracks the progress of the no-kill movement, currently lists 264 communities that either credibly report they have a “live release rate” of 90 percent or more - meaning the majority of animals taken into their shelters are saved - or that approach that percentage. Since the inception of the no-kill movement, millions of home-less animals have been saved. Still, animal advocacy groups estimate that just 3 million to 4 million of the 6 million to 8 million animals that enter shelters each year are adopted. What’s more, Best Friends esti-mates that 90 percent of all the animals that enter shelters each year could be adoptable. Adoption and spay/neutering programs are key alternatives to killing homeless animals. In addition to adopting from animal shelters, you can support the no-kill movement by: •Volunteering or financially supporting your local no-kill shelter. •Donating supplies or your time. •Choosing not to do business with pet stores that get their ani-mals from puppy mills. •Having your pets spayed or neutered to help control the animal population. •Founding a capture, spay/neuter and release program if your community has a feral cat population. To learn more about the no-kill movement, visit www.best-friends.org. “It’s important for people to understand that the no-kill move-ment is deeply rooted in the basic principle of kindness,” says Gregory Castle, a Cambridge-educated philosophy major who built the roads and electrical systems for the original Best Friends sanctuary in 1984 and is now the organization’s CEO. “If we dismiss the importance of being kind to animals, we won’t be successful in our efforts to be kind to each other. By caring for animals, we’re learning how to better care for each other.”

Passion Pays Off: No-Kill Movement Saves Millions of Animals Per Year

Fred’s Gone A bill collector knocked on the door of a country debtor. “Is Fred home?” he asked the woman who an-swered the door. “Sorry,” the woman replied. “Fred’s gone for cotton.” The next day the collector tried again. “Is Fred here today?” “No, sir,” she said, “I’m afraid Fred has gone for cotton.” When he returned the third day he humphed, “I suppose Fred is gone for cotton again,?” “No,” the wom-an answered solemnly, “Fred died yesterday.” Suspicious that he was being avoided, the collector decided to wait a week and investigate the cemetery him-self. But sure enough, there was poor Fred’s tombstone, with this inscription: ... “Gone, But Not for Cotton.”

Juggling A Ticket An Alexander County Deputy pulled a car over on I-57 about 2 miles north of the Missouri state line. When the Depu-ty asked the driver why he was speeding, the driver answered that he was a magician and a juggler and he was on his way to Branson to do a show that night and didn’t want to be late. The deputy told the driver he was fascinated by jug-gling, and if the driver would do a little juggling for him that he wouldn’t give him a ticket. The driver told the deputy that he had sent all of his equipment on ahead and didn’t have anything to juggle. The deputy told him that he had some flares in the trunk of his squad car and asked if he could juggle them. The juggler stated that he could, so the deputy got three flares, lit them and hand-ed them to the juggler. While the man was doing his juggling act, a car pulled in behind the squad car, a drunk got out and watched the per-formance briefly, he then went over to the squad car, opened the rear door and got in. The deputy observed him doing this and went over to his squad car, opened the door and asked the drunk what he thought he was doing. The drunk replied, “Might as well take myself to jail, there’s no way I can pass that test.”


Haunted By A Rogue Raccoon “If you catch him, where will you take him?” I asked. “Out in the woods some-where, far away from any houses,” he replied. I hoped it would be a safe place with some food sources and another lit-tle creek to drink from. Maybe he’d even find some raccoons that would let him hang out with them so he wouldn’t be lonely anymore. The next day--- lo and behold! --- there was not just one raccoon in a cage but another in the second cage. I was astonished. My rogue wasn’t a rogue after all. He had a companion, or may-be a brother or sister. The trapper man came and, dutifully, took them away. But he left behind two more baited cag-es. “Why?” I asked. “Never can tell,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. A day later and, again, there were two more raccoons in the traps. “Just one? A rogue?” my husband said. I pretended I didn’t hear the snigger in his voice. Again, the raccoons were taken away and two more baited cages left behind. And, yes, the next day there were two more bandit faces looking out

of the cages. That little rogue was actu-ally part of a whole tribe! “Why didn’t I see the others?” I questioned the trapper. “You did,” he said, “they just came out one at a time.” I felt dumber than dumb. I’d been conned by a bunch of raccoons. As it turned out, these were the last of the hoodwinkers. Six in all. I was not unhappy to see them go. Now both I and my birdfeeders would be left in peace. Or so I thought. For a long time everything did seem peaceful. Not a single raccoon in sight. But last Saturday, I realized the “rogue” was back and had transformed himself into an image composed of leaves and sunlight. Too fanciful, you think? Maybe so, but I know what I saw. I’m convinced he’s angry with me for relocating him and his family from their chosen home and he’s letting me know it. He thinks I duped him more than he duped me. I’ve decided I ought not to go out on the porch for a long while. Be-cause I know he’s still up there, waiting for me, haunting me.

Continued from Page 6

The following is a sampling of sup-posed real answers on exams given by the California Department of Transpor-tation’s driving school (AKA Saturday Traffic School for moving violation of-fenders).

Q: Who has the right of way when four cars approach a four-way stop at the same time?A: The pick up truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker saying, “Guns don’t kill people. I do.”

Q: When driving through fog, what should you use?A: Your car.

Q: How can you reduce the possibil-ity of having an accident?A: Be too drunk to find your keys.

Q: What changes would occur in your lifestyle if you could no longer drive lawfully?A: I would be forced to drive unlaw-fully.

Driving Test

You Know You’re Drinking Too Much Coffee When...1. Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.

2. You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.3. The only time you’re standing still is during an earthquake.

4. You can take a picture of yourself from ten feetaway without using the timer.

5. You lick your coffeepot clean.

About the Author:Elsa Rutherford is a native Alabamian and lives in Al-bertville with her attorney husband, Nick Kirst, and they have two very spoiled cats. She attended Snead College and the University of North Alabama. Rutherford is a seasoned writer, beginning her award-winning career almost forty years ago as a newspaper columnist and features writer. She has written for numerous magazines and newspapers and sold her first book in the 1980’s. Her short stories have been published in anthologies in the U.S. and many other countries.


Fishing is fun but it requires some skill and timing. Regardless of the type of fish or water, there are some fishing tips that everyone should follow. •Casting styles are important. It may take a bit of research, but find out which casting styles will work best for your partic-ular fishing area. For example, fan casting works well for large ponds or lakes where there is not much interference, but this method may not work well in other situa-tions. •Bait is very important. Plastic worms tend to do well, and most bass enjoy worms. Decide whether live bait or plastic works best, depending on your own person-al preferences. •Learn about different species of bass. By learning about what kinds of bass live in the areas you fish in, as well as what they like and where they tend to hang out, you can get an insider’s view of how to catch them. Stay tuned next week for more Fishing Tips & Techniques!

Fishing Tips & Techniques

I Caught TheBig One!

Stacey Padgett caught this 7 lb bass in her front yard pond with a top water lure at sunset! “This is the Biggest Bass I’ve ever caught, thought I would share!”

IngredientsOriginal recipe makes 12 servings

1 pound mild pork sausage (such as Jimmy Dean®)1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped1 (2 pound) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes

12 eggs, beaten1 (16 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast

Directions •Build a campfire and allow the fire to burn until it has accu-mulated a bed of coals. •Cook and stir the sausage, onion, and garlic in a 12-inch cast iron Dutch oven with lid, raised over the coals to medium-high heat until the sausage is no longer pink and the onion is tender. Stir in the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and hash brown pota-toes until evenly mixed. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the hash browns are hot and the peppers are tender, about 15 minutes. •Pour the beaten eggs evenly over the top of the potatoes, allowing them to sink into the potatoes. Cover the Dutch oven, and place 6 to 9 coals underneath, and 12 to 18 on top. Allow to bake until the eggs are firm, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese, cover, and continue cooking until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.


It’s not only here in the U.S. -- se-niors around the globe are being studied by researchers. We must be fascinating! Amsterdam: Researchers studied whether interventions after discharge from the hospital could keep chronical-ly ill patients from being readmitted in the short, intermediate and long term. They looked at studies from 1980 to 2013, so they had plenty of informa-tion. Results: Intermediate- and long-term readmissions saw a reduction with general transitional care, but short-term readmissions were reduced only with high-intensity interventions. Those in-clude a home visit within three days af-ter discharge, plus care coordination by a nurse. Europe: Researchers discovered that those over age 70 who assessed themselves as having ill health did so more in countries that assigned a lower “value” to seniors. Across various Eu-ropean cultures, the higher the status of the elderly, the better the seniors claimed they felt. United Kingdom: It used to be that vitamin D was thought to help pre-vent cardiovascular disease. Now, after five years of study, researchers say that it won’t prevent heart attack or stroke. They suspect that low vitamin D levels are due to a sedentary lifestyle. More re-search is needed, they say. Canada: There is no benefit to arthroscopic knee surgery for age-relat-ed tears. In mild osteoarthritis, doctors need to weigh the costs versus benefits of surgery, and opt for non-operative in-terventions first. Taiwan: In a long study of mar-ried couples, it was learned that a hus-band’s health impacts the health of the wife. When a husband’s health declined, the wife’s glucose levels increase. But when a wife’s health declined, the hus-band’s glucose levels remained the same. Possible reasons: A wife may feel isolated and depressed, and an in-adequate diet (from being so busy) can raise the glucose levels -- and the risk of diabetes. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader ques-tions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to [email protected].


The FascinatingWorld of Seniors

(BPT) - Difficulty hearing may be more than just a quality-of-life issue. Growing evidence indicates that untreated hearing loss in older adults can lead to oth-er health conditions, and one of the most concerning is cognitive decline. In fact, a Johns Hopkins Study found that cognitive diminishment was 41 percent more likely in seniors with hearing loss. Because maintaining the health of the brain is such a priority for older people, hearing difficulties should not be ignored. Hearing and the brain To hear well, the brain and ears work together. Sound is heard through the ears and then the brain translates the noise so you can understand what it is. This means you not only hear language, music and traf-fic, but you comprehend these are all dif-ferent sounds with different meanings. With untreated hearing loss, the sig-nals to your brain are weaker, and there-fore you have to think much harder to un-derstand the noises around you. When the brain is using more cognitive resources to understand sounds, other brain activities like memory and comprehension can suf-fer, often causing cognitive decline. Effects of untreated hearing loss In addition to diminished mental health, untreated hearing loss can lead to numerous health conditions: * Mental fatigue and stress * Poor memory * Concentration difficulty * Social withdrawal * Depression Just like maintaining muscle mass or speaking a foreign language, hearing health should be approached with a “use it or lose it” mentality. Audiologists agree

that early intervention is key because when the brain doesn’t hear certain noises for a long time, it can actually lose the ability to comprehend those sounds. For example, the longer the brain is deprived of hearing high-frequency sounds, the more difficult it will be to process those sounds, even if corrective measures are taken. Taking action If you or a loved one may be expe-riencing hearing loss, visit www.Starkey.com for a free and simple online hearing test. For a complete evaluation of your hearing, visit a licensed hearing care pro-fessional in your area. An estimated 26.7 million Ameri-cans ages 50 and older suffer from hearing loss, yet only one in seven uses a hearing aid, according to a Johns Hopkins study published in “The Hearing Review.” After a professional diagnosis, your audiologist can help you learn your options for hearing better, including modern, discreet hearing aids. Invisible hearing aids Many of today’s hearing aids cannot be seen, meaning no one but you will know you’re wearing one. For example, invisi-ble-in-the-canal (IIC) are about the size of a jelly bean and are custom fit to your ear canal. Another option is the mini receiv-er-in-canal (RIC) device, which resembles the shape of a traditional hearing aid but is half the size. The mini RIC hides behind a person’s ear, making it nearly invisible. Even though the size of today’s hearing aids has dramatically decreased, wearers enjoy high performance and pow-er, including many smart features. For ex-ample, the Starkey Halo hearing aids are engineered to work with your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, so video chat, phone calls, music and more stream direct-ly into your hearing aids without creating any background buzzing or whistling. From quality of life to cognitive health, the benefits of hearing well go be-yond sound. To learn more about hearing loss and different hearing aid options, visit www.InvisibleHearingAid.com.

Beyond Sound: The Link Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Health


I am Alpha and Omega, the be-ginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 117:2

Four PeopleThis is a story about four people: Every-body, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody real-ized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.


Wordsearch ContestWin a $50 Gift Card... Find the Advertisers listed below and tell us which page that their ad was found. Mail this entire page to us at 7032 US Hwy 431 • Albert-ville, AL 35950. Deadline is October 13, 2014. (Date of Puzzle: October 2, 2014)

Find these names:alabamacraftshowboazharvestfestivalbottomlinewebdesignbrigittesclothingconstantvaultcustompestcontrolfullcolorprintingincarerxjoespawnshopmcclendonauctionhousemcclendonwholesaleniftypicklevarietyoutoftheboxpigglywigglypinkpanthersalonqslowsmokedsandmountainpesttradebankwlcaccounting

HOW TO PLAY: On this entry form you will find some of the businesses ad-vertised in this issue. Simply browse the Nifty Pickle, look-ing for these advertisements. When you find them, record the page number on which you found their advertisement in the space provided on this en-try form. Then, find and circle that business name in the word search puzzle. Once you have located all of the advertisers listed, complete the entry form and mail this entire page to the address shown above. Your entry must be re-ceived by October 13, 2014. We will then draw one entry from the group of correct entry forms and announce that win-ner in the October 16th issue. Incorrect or incomplete entry forms will be disqualified. All decisions by Nifty Pickle, Inc. are final. There will be only one winner for this contest each week. GOOD LUCK!

Name:________________________Address:________________________City, State, Zip________________________Telephone:________________________Email Address:________________________

Page Numbers:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Winner of the September 18th

Wordsearch Puzzle Contest isA. Thomas

of Albertville.Congratulations!


Would you like to seeyour pet featured in the Nifty Pickle?

Jot down some information about your pet (name, personality, some-thing funny, tricks it can do, etc.) and send it along with a photo to Nif-ty Pickle Pet Pix, PO Box 1161 Guntersville, Alabama 35976, email to [email protected] or bring it by the office at 7032 US Hwy 431 in Albertville (next to Merle Norman).

Hi, my name is Nakoma, which means Great Warrior in American Indian. I am a Search & Rescue dog, I go out and find people. When I’m not working I love to play. I love to hide my ten-nis ball under the ledge at the creek....and then dig it out. Mom and Dad take me and my sisters for a long walk every day. I have to exercise every day to have strength and endurance to work.

My Name Is Nakoma


ACCOUNTING, PAYROLL, CONSULTING, BOOKKEEP-ING and Much More. Call James at WLC ACCOUNTING 256-673-8190. 7032 US Hwy 431 in Albert-ville... 3 Doors Down from The Nifty Pickle Variety Store.

ALABAMA CRAFT SHOW Selling Year Around Crafts hand-made by local artists. Custom or-ders welcome. Piper Station, Boaz. 256-996-4945.

BOTTOMLINE WEB DESIGN Web Sites starting at ONLY $29.95 per month. Call 256-673-8190.

BRIGITTE’S CHILDREN’S CLOTHING 403 Martling Road, Albertville. 256-744-8404 or 256-506-5853. Family owned business Specializing in Boys and Girls Clothing Sizes Newborn to 14.

CUSTOM PEST CONTROL Termite and Pest Services. We Guarantee Our Service! No Con-tract, No Commitment... Just Dead Bugs! 256-593-6613

JOE’S PAWN SHOP 11411 US Hwy 431 in Albertville. Buy, Sell, Trade, Pawn. Open 8am - 6pm, 7 days a week. 256-894-9994. See Our Ad In This Issue of the Nifty Pickle.

McCLENDON AUCTION HOUSE Returns and Shelf Pulls from ALL Major Box Stores. Open Monday - Saturday 9am until 5pm. Sale on Saturday and Thursday at 6:30pm. 702 Chastain Blvd West, Glencoe. 256-492-5333.

McCLENDON WHOLESALE Buy It By The Pallet. Returns and Shelf Pulls from All Major Stores. Great for Auctions, Trade Day, Yard Sales, etc. Open Tuesday - Friday 9am until 4pm. Claybrook Road in Albertville. Call Charlie at 256-477-3914 for more informa-tion.

NIFTY PICKLE VARIETY STORE 7020 US Hwy 431 in Al-bertville, 2 doors down from Ace Hardware. Merchandise Added Daily. 256-673-8190

PIGGLY WIGGLY of ALBERT-VILLE, BOAZ & GUNTERS-VILLE Shop Piggy Wiggly for Great Specials, Everyday Low Prices, Fresh Meats and Produce and Delicious Deli Bakery Items! Save Even More with the Coupons found in The Nifty Pickle!

Q SLOW SMOKED BBQ 106 South Main Street in Old Down-town Boaz. If you love BBQ, then you will love REAL Q-slow-smoked with natural hardwoods. 256-281-9699. See our ad and cou-pon in this issue.

SAND MOUNTAIN PEST MANAGEMENT Got Bugs? Call Sand Mountain Pest Management at 256-891-7400 and start protect-ing your house from unwanted pests. Be sure to see our coupons in this issue of The Nifty Pickle.

TRADEBANK The Smarter Way To Barter®.Save Cash on Business and Personal Expenses. See our Ad in this issue or call JW at 256-673-8190.

HEADBOARDS and FOOT-BOARDS. ALL Sizes and Styles. Prices range from $18 to $40 for a set. These can be seen at the ware-house in Albertville. Call JW at 256-673-8190.

BED FRAMES/RAILS. ALL siz-es. Prices start at $10. These can be seen at the warehouse in Albert-ville. Call JW at 256-673-8190.

DUNE BUGGY. Needs to be completed. Big Boy Frame, Brand New Tires, New Seats, New Gas Tank and much more. $3000 obo. Call James at 256-673-8190.

OUTSIDE SALES Representa-tive, Mail Your Resume and Sal-ary Requirements to Nifty Pickle, 7032 US Hwy 431, Albertville, AL 35950.

Dune Buggy For Sale!

$3,000 obo256-673-8190

New Seats, New Gas Tank, New Tires and

Chrome Wheels and much more.

2 FREE MIXED PIT BULL-DOGS. 3 months old. Need good home. If you get both dogs, I will throw in a bag of dog food. Call Clint at 256-571-6123.

HOUSE FOR RENT 3 BR / 2 Bath Brick Home with carport and large yard outside Boaz in Mt. Hebron area. $500/month. Refer-ences and Deposit Required. Call 256-558-4499 after 5pm please.

CLASSIFIEDS:$5 each week for 30 words or less. 10¢ each additional word. Mail your ad and payment to Nifty Pickle, 7032 US Hwy 431, Albertville, AL 35950 or you can come by the office located at that address. The deadline is every Monday at Noon.

Very Old Safe

For Sale!

$1,000 obo

256-673-8190

50% OFF SALE at The Nifty Pickle Variety Store In Albertville.

See Our Ad In This Issue!

nifty pickle 10 02 14

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