The DTC SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 CONNECTION

SPECIAL DELIVERY Company brings truckloads of community spirit

BREATH OF LIFE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Health issues do not Are you ready for deter DTC employee some football? INDUSTRY NEWS

What is your broadband story? Rural Connections By Shirley Bloomfield, CEO The internet touches so many parts of our society, but how does it personally NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association impact you? We are looking for stories of people who use their broadband internet connection in ways that enhance or improve their lives. Do you: gg Subscribe to monthly box services such as Blue Apron (food), Stitch Fix Talk to candidates (clothing), BarkBox (dog goodies) or Made South (products made by Southern artisans)? gg Publish books online? about the impact gg Run a home-based business? gg Create or stream video through Facebook Live, Periscope, Blab or YouTube? of rural broadband gg Play online games such as Minecraft, Call of Duty or Destiny? ith just two months until gg Take online classes through a community college or university, or courses Election Day, you have the through Khan Academy, Lynda.com or Treehouse? attention of candidates for We want to hear from you! Visit www.howdoyoubroadband.com and W national office. Those running for U.S. share your broadband internet story with us. We may contact you to be Senate and U.S. House of Representatives featured in a story for this magazine. want you to know why they are best suited for the job, and chances are you will have an opportunity to attend a town hall meet- Broadband: It’s a matter of health ing or similar gathering soon where you can hear them speak and share with them Rural health care is among the many Indeed, Maggie Elehwany, vice presi- your concerns. important factors driving our com- dent of government affairs and policy for Earlier in the year, NTCA reminded mitment to build a robust broadband the National Rural Health Association, both parties leading up to their national network. agrees, saying, “Not only do you need the conventions that broadband is vital to Writing in The Huffington Post, health appropriate internet connection, you need enabling all Americans to participate in economist Jane Sarasohn-Kahn recently the appropriate bandwidth to do various a vibrant national economy — and that it stated that “broadband is now a social types of telehealth.” promotes civic engagement and critical determinant of health. Without connectiv- How much of an impact can broad- access to essential services. Investments in ity to internet clouds, data platforms and band internet service have on a person’s rural communications touch all segments telemedicine channels to specialists, rural health? Quite a bit, apparently. “Only a of the U.S. economy. In fact, the biggest health care providers and others in under- portion of the public’s health,” Sarasohn- benefit actually goes to urban America served communities will not be able to Kahn writes,” is attributable to genetics.” when a rural communications provider provide evidence-based care in ways A full 80 percent is attributable to access invests in their networks. that can scale in economically sustain- to care, environment and health behav- That message is even more powerful able ways using 21st-century digital and iors, all of which can be impacted by when it comes from you. It is so important telehealth technologies.” broadband. to your communities that our national government supports rural broadband. Factors that determine health NTCA has developed the fact sheet on Access to Care 10% the following page to help you share that Broadband connectivity Genetics 20% message. Please use this information when can impact communicating with candidates. Tell them Environment 20% your local telecommunications provider is 80% dedicated to building a strong connected of the factors that future, but they need their help to ensure Health Behaviors 50% determine a person’s health. continued success. See you at the polls! 

Source: IFTF; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 | September/October 2016 know your numbers! Fact sheet for discussing the impact of rural broadband with your elected officials

High-speed internet access improves lives and benefits of rural broadband access. has a positive impact on the economy, education With 20 percent of Americans living in rural and health care, according to recently released communities, it’s crucial to keep these areas up research. to speed. Luckily, advocates such as NTCA–The “The Economic Impact of Rural Broadband,” a Rural Broadband Association are boosting the recent report released by the Hudson Institute efforts of independent telecommunications and and commissioned by the Foundation for Rural broadband providers nationwide to deploy high- Service, reveals the many economic and social speed services to schools, libraries and more.

September/October 2016 | 3 FROM THE CEO The DTC CONNECTION SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 VOL. 4, NO. 5

The DTC Connection is published by DTC Communications, © 2016. It is distributed without charge to all members Customer service is always No. 1 of the cooperative.

dentify issues and find workable solutions. This is one of my favorite descriptions of good customer ser-

vice, and it is something we pride ourselves in at DTC DTC Communications is a member-owned I telephone cooperative established in 1951. Communications. The cooperative supplies communication, entertainment, and security products Customer service may be simple to describe, but it is rarely and services to residential and business easy to deliver. And I know that your experience with us hinges customers primarily throughout Middle on how you are treated when you need assistance. Despite Tennessee. the millions of dollars we’ve spent on network infrastructure and the years of planning that have gone into delivering our ser- Send address corrections to: vices to you, you need us to respond when you call. DeKalb Telephone Cooperative With this in mind, I’d like to recognize the smart, talented P.O. Box 247 • 111 High Street Alexandria, TN 37012-0247 and dedicated team of employees that believe in adding value Telephone: 615-529-2151 CHRIS TOWNSON to your family or business by meeting your needs and exceed- Chief Executive Officer ing your expectations. DTC Communications employees make BOARD OF DIRECTORS your needs their No. 1 priority, even though not all of their job Roy N. Pugh, Auburntown titles say “customer service.” Our employees, acting as a team, President Bennie Curtis, Alexandria work hard to provide service that is second to none. Vice President There’s a good reason we treat you differently. Locally based cooperatives like ours are Randy Campbell, Liberty owned by our members, which gives us extra incentive to make sure you’re pleased with Treasurer the service you receive. We have been a part of this community for decades, and many of Terry McPeak, Norene Secretary our employees regularly serve their family members and friends. James H. Dillard, Jr., Gordonsville From my experience, and from the stories I’ve heard, that’s not the case everywhere. On Director national customer service surveys and reports, the huge, profit-driven corporate telecom- Jim Vinson, Milton Director munications companies routinely show some of the lowest customer satisfaction numbers Ronald Garrison, Smithville of any company in any industry. Customers are made to wait for inferior service, are sold Director products that don’t meet their needs, and are led through a maze of 1-800 numbers, phone Jimmy Oakley, Temperance Hall menus and ineffective or unfriendly employees when they need assistance. Director Jean Chumbley Ferrell, Woodbury At DTC Communications, we have a staff that is committed to spending the time to Director learn about your needs and to offer services that match those needs. We have employees David L. Parker, Woodland who will answer the phone and help solve your problems. We have a team that stands Director behind its work and puts in the time to get the job done right. And we have an organiza- Chris Townson CEO tion, from top to bottom, that is committed to making sure you get the customer service you deserve.  Produced for DTC by:

On the Cover: Bruce and Melodie Daniel, owners of Huff and Puff Trucking, built a business dedicated to employees, community and sports. See story Page 8.

4 | September/October 2016 Jim Vinson named as new board member Jim Vinson was named as a board member for DeKalb Telephone Coopera- tive Inc., filling the unexpired term of his deceased father, Dwight Vinson. Vinson, 43, says he hopes to carry on the legacy of his father, who was elected to the board in September 1987 to rep- Directory resent the Milton exchange. “I want to fulfill my dad’s commitment Photo Contest to the people he served,” Vinson says. Vinson says his father was dedicated to the employees of DTC and the board, Your amazing photo could become and he plans to continue that commit- the front cover of the upcoming ment. 2017 DTC directory. The winning “I really appreciate the opportunity photographer will also receive $250 the DTC board has given me to com- in DTC products and services! plete my dad’s elected term. He loved representing the Milton community Please remember the rules: and serving all of the members of the »» Only DTC members may participate. cooperative. It’s important for me to try »» Please submit photos in JPEG to continue his legacy,” Vinson says. format. »» Please submit only photos you took. 615-765-3351 »» More megapixels are better. It takes a lot of pixels to print a photo on our cover, so the more pixels, the better the chance we can use your photo. Annual Meeting »» Files must be under 10 megabytes. »» Photos must be in electronic form. DTC’s annual meeting will be Sept. cast your ballot. Only DTC members »» Photos with added borders or text 17 at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds with proper photo ID may vote. For will not be accepted. in Alexandria. single memberships, only that individ- »» There is no limit on the number of The gates open at 11:45 a.m., and ual may vote. For joint memberships, photos you can submit, but please voting for board members is from either member may vote — but not submit only quality photos. noon until 3 p.m., when DTC’s busi- both. Business members must have a »» DTC employees and their immediate ness meeting begins. Sept. 8 is the business affidavit. For more informa- family members can participate, final day to make changes to your tion about membership and voting, but no cash prize will be awarded. membership and still be eligible to call DTC at 615-529-2955. »» Mailed entries must be postmarked by Nov. 1. Emailed photos must be sent by Nov. 1.

Find your number and win a prize! Entries may be submitted by A prize may be waiting for you in this issue! visiting DTC’s website at We have randomly selected the telephone www.DTCcom.net

numbers of 10 lucky DTC members and or by mailing photos on a CD to: 615-597-1724 hidden them throughout this publication. DTC, Attn: Photo Contest Find your number and call 615-683-1010 to P.O. Box 247, Alexandria, TN 37012 claim your prize!

DTC Communications September/October 2016 | 5 Fabulous farms Go straight to the source for some of your favorite foods

arm-to-table food is a trend GREER FARM in the restaurant business, but 1444 County Road 1125, Daingerfield, Texas Everything’s bigger in Texas, and at Greer Farm, things are no differ- now more than ever, farms ent. Stop by and you’ll find big eggs — the best in the state, some say; F packages of beef, pork, lamb and chicken; big jars of homemade jellies are opening their gates to all. Take a tour and let your children learn where and jam; and trees laden with fresh fruits. Just take a walking tour and see for yourself what makes this farm such a popular destination for those their food comes from, and then wanting to know where their foods originate. There are nearly 400 acres take it home and let the fresh flavors to roam. Want to stay a while? Rent one of the charming lakeside cabins. enliven your senses. Owners Sid and Eva Greer have been farming the land since 1999, but the restored farmhouse was built in the mid-1800s. “It’s a very real farm When you visit these farms, you get to experi- — it’s the way farms used to be,” Sid Greer says. ence that night’s dinner from start to finish: No bar gg Farm tours: Self-guided walking tours during berry season; collecting codes, no middle-man mark-ups and no tabloids in eggs and feeding animals for overnight guests the check-out lines. Here are some places around the gg Information: 903-645-3232, 903-452-9738 or www.greerfarm.com South that offer farm-to-table experiences that are deliciously fun.

Tech-Savvy Traveler: There are plenty of websites and apps to help you find recipes, but did you know these resources can also help you find fresh fruits and vegetables to make those dishes shine? For example, Farmstand (farmstandapp.com) points you toward nearby farmers markets and FarmStarLiving.com helps you find farms and farm-to-table restaurants.

6 | September/October 2016 It’s about free-range eggs, organic milk, beef, pork, lamb and chicken. And just last year, the farm received certification as Certified Naturally Grown for its produce. In the fall you’ll find broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, lettuce and tomatoes. Steve and Connie Carpenter went into Sweetwater Valley Cheese, Philadelphia, TN the farming business in 1996 with nothing Split Creek Farm, Anderson, SC more than pumpkins. Three years later, SWEETWATER VALLEY CHEESE they moved and expanded into what the there’s an “ambassador” goat out to greet 17988 West Lee Highway farm is today. you. The kids will love it. Philadelphia, Tennessee gg Tours: Self-guided walking tours only There are more than 400 goats on the Just a short drive off I-75 brings you to a gg Information: 256-712-2383 or jacko- farm at any given time. “You can never long driveway. Take a slight right at its end, lanternfarm.com have too many goats,” says owner Jessica and you’ll arrive at the Sweetwater Valley Bell. Cheese plant and store. Continue straight, GLENMARY GARDENS Bell and her husband, Pat, have won and pastures of dairy cows and milking 224 Old Abingdon Highway awards for their feta, chevre and fromage barns come into view. Bristol, Virginia goat cheeses. Visit the farm store and taste Sweetwater Valley produces 27 artisan Getting to know your farmer and seeing for yourself. The most popular cheeses cheeses and makes almost 300,000 pounds how your food is grown are the best things include marinated feta and jalapeno ched- of cheese every year. You can view the about buying local, says Michael Richard, dar. Also, the store carries Greek-style operation through windows in the retail owner of Glenmary Gardens. And it’s at yogurt, probiotic smoothies, dessert cheese area, watching employees separating curds his farm where you can come and pick balls and fudge. from whey as you shop for your favorite your own homegrown fruits and veggies, bbFarm tours: Offered throughout the variety. Don’t know which variety is best? or you can buy them pre-picked in the week; call ahead to schedule There are plenty of knowledgeable staff small shop located on the farm property. bbInformation: 864-287-3921 or on hand to help you through the “udderly” The fall crop includes rhubarb, apples, www.splitcreek.com delicious process. John Harrison started watermelons, cantaloupes, eggplants, making cheese in 1998, so with nearly 20 heirloom tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, GARDNER GIRL FARM years in business, he knows his cheese. squashes and an autumn crop of strawber- 1336 Highway 1275 N “We want people to understand how the ries. Or, for a taste of something sweet, Monticello, Kentucky dairy industry contributes to feeding the try the homemade jams, jellies, Italian The drive along Highway 92 is a scenic world and how our farm, our cows and our strawberry cheesecakes and fresh eggs by one that leads you to Monticello, bound cheese contribute to the local and world the dozen. by Cumberland Lake on one side and the economies,” Harrison says. It’s an afternoon of fun for people of all Daniel Boone Forest on the other. And gg Farm tours: Walking tours daily ages, with wagons available for hauling no time of year is better than fall when gg Information: 865-458-9192 or in your pick of pumpkins and a creekside the leaves are at their peak, making it a www.sweetwatervalley.com picnic area for anyone wanting to dine splendid time to visit Gardner Girl Farm. outdoors on a beautiful fall afternoon in Looking for that perfect pumpkin? Or what JACK O’LANTERN FARM the Blue Ridge Mountains. about squash to make an autumnal dinner? Garage Road bb Farm tours: For families (if time permits) They have plenty, ranging from acorn and Muscle Shoals, Alabama and school groups (at a nominal charge) butternut to Pennsylvania Dutch and plenty North Alabama has a variety of farms, bb Information: On Facebook (Glenmary of heirloom varieties, says Sherry DeBord, but none is more popular this time of year Gardens) and 276-644-4999 who, with her husband, Steve, has farmed than Jack O’Lantern Farm. Drive your the land for more than 40 years. “We also car down Garage Road and park it in the SPLIT CREEK FARM have Indian corn and hand-painted gourds lot. Outside the farm store, you’ll be sur- 3806 Centerville Road and will probably have tomatoes through rounded with orange orbs scattered around Anderson, South Carolina November,” she says. the parking lot and inside the farm store. Once you’re on the property of Split While shopping for your produce, don’t If you can find your way around all that Creek in the foothills of the Appalachians, forget to pick up a jar of homemade jam, orange, you’ll discover that Jack O’Lantern you can’t help but notice the warning sign: jelly or relish. Farm is about a lot more than pumpkins. Goat X-ing. And don’t be surprised if bbInformation: 606-307-0020 

September/October 2016 | 7 615-215-4500 Huff & Puff Trucking Employees dedicated to community

By Lisa Savage

eautiful red and They’re too busy because inside Huff STARTING SMALL and Puff Trucking, dispatchers bustle to Since their beginnings in the early white blooms fill coordinate pick-ups and deliveries and to 1980s, there have been lots of changes in keep a fleet of nearly 80 big rigs and more the little white building, which was once the hanging baskets than 100 employees on schedule. part of Bruce Daniel’s pepper farm in B The couple built the business from the Bradyville. “They called this the pepper and planters on the front of ground up, embracing a work ethic that station,” he says while sitting in a small the pristine white building. provided the company’s name. “Huff and conference room inside Huff and Puff And while two oversized puff … that’s what you do to make a liv- Trucking. The name “Huff” is stenciled on ing,” Bruce Daniel says. the back of his large wooden chair. rockers are inviting, don’t And it’s got a good ring to it. He said Daniel was in agriculture when he one customer couldn’t recall his name but hauled his first load of the bell pepper crop look for Bruce Daniel or his remembered the Huff and Puff logo. “They in 1983. A friend encouraged him to lease wife, Melodie, relaxing on might not call me Bruce, but they know his own truck, and it was quite an ordeal. Huff and Puff. We knew that we had the But Daniel did it, making payments every the porch. right jingle,” he says. week to those who leased him equipment.

A fleet of Huff and Puff trucks are lined up in the yard at the Huff and Puff offices at 750 Joe Daniel Road, Bradyville, Tennessee.

8 | September/October 2016 615-464-2729 DTC Communications Huff and Puff Trucking is a huge supporter of local schools.

Bruce and Melodie Daniel have built a business with handicapped,” Daniel says. “That’s how great employees and a we keep up with our loads of freight in the commitment to give back to the community. system.” 615-529-2485 A GROWING BUSINESS Little by little, he ventured out and The company has grown because of the started hauling for the local nurseries. unwavering commitment and strong work When the pepper business started to wane, ethic of the entire team. “We hire good he had to look for another crop and started Bruce Daniel congratulates Dalton people. We’re in the people business,” he growing tobacco. His crop started at 2 Ryan after a football game. says. And Huff and Puff Trucking does acres and grew to 150. He then worked have great people, including 30-year vet- out a contract to haul for the tobacco eran Kendell Williams. “When you go to companies. HARD WORK PAYS OFF work and you don’t feel like you’re going He continued to increase the number Now there are 79 trucks and about 110 to work, then you’ve been very fortunate,” of trucks, but he says the business would employees, including dispatchers, local Williams says. have failed because of a declining econ- drivers, over-the-road drivers, office staff Similarly, Operations Manager Keith omy if not for the Summer Olympics in and maintenance workers. Melodie Daniel Colter has been with the company for 11 1996. Also, he had help from Joe Smith works in the family business, too, having years. “This is a very close-knit group,” Industries in the Atlanta area. He started left her teaching career after 17 years. Colter says. “Working for Bruce and hauling mulch for Smith between the “Although we started small, we now Melodie is like working for family.” Atlanta and Nashville markets. “That gave deliver in 49 states and Canada,” he says. us the cash flow to make it,” he says. Now the company hauls just about any- LOOKING AT THE FUTURE All the while, freight was harder and thing imaginable on a flatbed. “If it’s hard For the future, Daniel knows the next harder to find, and he knew he had to and dirty, we’ll do it,” he says. “Once we generation is key to continuing the suc- develop another niche for growth to crossed the Mississippi River, we never cess. That’s one of the reasons the com- continue. It took a lot of hard work and looked back.” pany is so supportive of the local schools. negotiation, but he finally started hauling Daniel says Huff and Puff still believes They know the importance of a solid edu- for Carrier, a manufacturer of heating and in doing business the old-fashioned way: cation and understand the need to help out cooling systems that had a plant nearby. one customer, one driver and one load the community. They provide scholarships The Carrier contract opened up many at a time. But that doesn’t mean they are and attend job fairs to introduce students doors as it was Huff and Puff’s first expe- behind the times. They have up-to-date to the importance of the trucking industry. rience with a nationally based company, equipment and rely heavily on technology Huff and Puff supports the schools in which meant hauling nationwide. “When and internet services. their immediate area because their three we got that contract, it scared us to death,” The company uses all of DTC’s ser- children — A.J., B.J. and T.J. — all he says. Eventually the Carrier plant vices, and Daniel says he doesn’t know attended school there. The Daniels also closed, but other contracts continued to how they could operate without them. “If support the schools that their employees’ appear. the computers go down, we’re extremely children attend.  615-273-4410 DTC Communications September/October 2016 | 9 FEATURED BLOGGER

Jessica Bray is Music her life A Q&A with Jessica Bray, a blogger from Kentucky who writes about her love of country music.

Check out her blog at kentuckycountrymusic.com

Q: What will readers find at your blog? Q: Do you play an instrument? JB: Kentucky Country Music is a personal JB: I broke my wrist when I was 10, so it journey of stories, interviews, road trip makes it hard to play anything. I do have a Other music blogs adventures, music history, reviews and more mandolin, but I ended up collecting auto- of interest: from my perspective. graphs on it instead of playing. nnTWANGNATion.com Q: When did you begin blogging and how Q: Do you think it’s important to raise Praised by music veterans has it changed your life? children with an appreciation for all Roseanne Cash and Shooter Jennings, blogger Baron Lane JB: I started writing in high school and kinds of music? looks to his Texas roots for then at Berea College for its newspaper JB: It’s important for children to be inspiration when writing his and national publication, “Appalachian exposed to the different styles of music. blog. Heritage.” The blog started in 2009 as Whether it’s country, pop, rap or even a way to share my travel and concert polka, each style reflects a different culture nnbeat-surrender.com experiences. I wanted to be able to show or religion in our country. You also learn Mix a little country with a positive image of Kentucky and the that the roots of country music come from some folk, Americana, rock Appalachian region. Because of the blog, bluegrass, Appalachian folk and even rock and indie and you’ll have www.beat-surrender.com, I have been fortunate to have met and ’n’ roll. a masterful combination of interviewed legendary artists like the Oak musical genres found in one Ridge Boys and have been given opportu- Q: What’s your favorite kind of music? single blog. nities to attend red carpet events for Derby JB: Country music with the deep influ- Eve and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame ence of Appalachia. I grew up on a farm Induction Ceremony. WFKY also allows listening to Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, me to do a country music news segment Conway Twitty, George Jones and Waylon A lot of country music singers played there, each week. Jennings. During my college years, and including Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. even now, I loved researching the roots Q: What does music bring to your life? of country music, as well as the craft of a Q: What would be your dream concert JB: I have gained a lot of close friendships good song. if you could get a group of musicians through music. One of those friendships together? has been with Sunny Sweeney. Because of Q: What was the first concert you JB: I have always said it would be neat to her, I was able to go backstage at the Grand attended and where? have Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and Ole Opry and meet Little Jimmy Dickens. JB: My parents took me to see Conway Angaleena Presley in concert. All three Music brings back memories to different Twitty at Tombstone Junction, an old-time Kentuckians have made their mark recently points in my life. amusement park that unfortunately closed. in music. 

10 | September/October 2016 Secure your online world Simple, smart strategies for password security

emembering passwords for websites or online firewall in the world; bad passwords can still make services can certainly be confusing — but not you vulnerable,” says Michael Ramage, director of the R nearly as confusing as sorting out your life Center for Telecommunications Systems Management after identity theft. at Murray State University. In fact, bad passwords are one of the top ways that With that in mind, here are some ways to be sure hackers and identity thieves gain access to private your passwords aren’t leaving you open for a cyber information. “It doesn’t matter if you have the best attack.

b DON’T USE A b USE STRONG PASSWORDS COMMON PASSWORD The best passwords are chains of letters, numbers and symbols, rather than words that People want a password can be found in the dictionary. Using a known word and replacing “o” with “0” or “E” with “3” they can remember, but isn’t hard for hackers to figure out. “Hackers know that people do that,” Ramage says. “Any many people keep it too word that’s in the dictionary will be broken in a matter of seconds.” simple. Hackers know com- Ramage suggests making a string of letters than mean something to you, such as the mon passwords, and those first letters of words in your favorite quote, song or Scripture verse. For example, instead of are some of the first ones “baseball,” try Tmottbtmottc9, which is the first letter from each word in the first two lines of they try if they are cracking “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and 9 for the number of players on the field. “It doesn’t have your accounts. “Most people to be random letters; it just has to look random to the bad guys,” Ramage says. want the convenience over the security because they don’t think it’s going to hap- b USE DIFFERENT b BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT pen to them,” Ramage says. PASSWORDS YOUR PASSWORDS Avoid these simple, com- Once you have a strong password, With the need for multiple strong pass- monly used passwords: it can be tempting to use it over and words, it can be tough to remember them over online. But that’s a mistake. Ram- all. Ramage has seen plenty of password lists • 123456 • 1234567 age says there are many cases where taped to monitors or keyboards. Such lists, • password • monkey a person’s social media account especially in places where plenty of people • 12345 • letmein has been hacked, which leads to come and go, pose a significant risk. • 12345678 • abc123 other accounts being compromised “It has to be private, and it has to be • qwerty • 111111 because the same password was secret,” says Ramage. He suggests using used. If hackers steal a password and an encrypted password database program • 123456789 • mustang user ID, they know to go and try that such as 1Password, Last Pass, Password • 1234 • access same combination at other sites. “A Vault or Key Pass. The programs keep all of • baseball • shadow lot of times people think, ‘I have a your passwords for you, and with a browser • dragon • master strong password, and I’m going to use plug-in, they can even automatically fill out it everywhere,’” Ramage says. “How your login information when you pull up a • football • michael many other things that matter share page.  Top 20 Most Common Passwords in 2014 that same password?” Source: SplashData Inc.

September/October 2016 | 11 Kick it off with

BINGO

615-548-4276 Enter for free! Just in time for football season, DTC TV kicks off Blackout Bingo, starting Sept. 5 — and you can play without leaving home! atch the 2016 high school football GORDONSVILLE TIGERS – Last season on DTC Sports! You can Season: 3-7, Playoffs: None. Overview: Blackout Bingo on DTC3 begins Cwatch 11 televised regular season The Tigers lost only seven seniors from a Monday, Sept. 5, and airs each Mon- games showcasing five local teams, as very young team in 2015. The team looks day and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and well as coverage of the regions in which to bounce back after missing the playoffs 10:30 p.m. through November. Each they play. for the first time in seven seasons. Games week, 60 numbers will be called, And watch for details about playoff on DTC3: vs. Watertown (Aug. 19), at and if you “black out” your card, you coverage later in the season. Here’s what to Smith Co. (Aug. 26), at Monterey (Oct. 7). win! It’s that easy! expect in 2016: CANNON CO. LIONS – Last Season: SMITH CO. OWLS – Last Season: 6-5, How can you play? Stop by your 0-10, Playoffs: None. Overview: Coach Playoffs: Lost to East Ridge, 35-28 (OT), local DTC business office each T.J. Daniel must replace 10 seniors as he in first round of Class 3A State Playoffs. month and pick up a color-coded opens his fourth season at the helm of Overview: The Owls lost 13 seniors from Blackout Bingo card. Then, tune in to the Lions. Cannon County hopes to make last year’s playoff team. Experience at play! Cards will change monthly, so the playoffs for the first time since 2009. QB with junior Carson Hackett will help, don’t forget to pick up a new one. Games on DTC3: vs. Grundy Co. (Sept. along with the athleticism of Shermar 2), vs. Red Boiling Springs (Sept. 9), vs. King. Games on DTC3: vs. Gordonsville Each week, there’s a $50 restaurant DeKalb Co. (Oct. 28). (Aug. 26), vs. DeKalb Co. (Sept. 16), vs. gift card grand prize, but everyone Upperman (Oct. 14). who has a Blackout Bingo receives DEKALB CO. TIGERS – Last Season: a prize. At the end of the Blackout 7-4, Playoffs: Lost to Chattanooga WATERTOWN PURPLE TIGERS Bingo season, all weekly winners Christian, 23-22, in first round of Class – Last Season: 8-3, Playoffs: Lost to will be entered into a drawing for a 3A State Playoffs. Overview: Senior QB Tyner, 34-7, in first round of Class 2A $250 Visa gift card. Steven Jennings is one of the best players State Playoffs. Overview: Last season, at his position in the state and will look the Purple Tigers made the playoffs for So, stop by a DTC retail location to lead the Tigers to their first-ever region the first time since 2012 and will look to today and pick up your free Black- championship. Games on DTC3: at Smith return behind senior QB Seth Price and out Bingo card. Complete rules can Co. (Sept. 16), vs. Sequatchie Co. (Sept. a strong, veteran core. Games on DTC3: be found at www.dtc3.tv or at your 30), vs. Upperman (Oct. 21), at Cannon at Gordonsville (Aug. 19), vs. Eagleville nearest DTC location. Co. (Oct. 28). (Sept. 23).  615-408-5032

12 | September/October 2016 DTC Communications 615-286-2502

Take a deep breath of life Meet DTC employee Cindy Twilla

By Lisa Savage orn and raised in Smithville, Cindy Twilla’s first job was in a fast-food Brestaurant when she was 13 — before there were age restrictions. “I’ve Cindy Twilla successfully worked all my life,” says the DeKalb County copes with illness while managing her job in High School graduate. “I could never see DTC’s Technical Control myself sitting at home.” Center.

She joined the staff of She called her family doc- LEARNING TO COPE feel sorry for me,” says Twilla, DTC’s Technical Control tor, who ordered multiple After being diagnosed at who describes the treatment as Center a decade ago, but tests. She was diagnosed Vanderbilt Medical Center a miracle from God. She says, recent years have brought with rheumatoid arthri- in Nashville, she wanted a “It opens up that pulmonary challenges. In 2010, Twilla tis, Raynaud’s disease and second opinion, and she made artery so I can breathe.” was diagnosed with secondary Sjogren’s disease, but physi- an appointment at the Mayo Now, she is glad to let others pulmonary arterial hyperten- cians still couldn’t find the Clinic in Florida. The team know about how well she is sion – high pressure in the cause of her shortness of of physicians there confirmed doing in hopes she can be an important vessel that carries breath. the diagnosis. Although she inspiration. blood to the lungs. It is a A cardiologist believed he learned there is no cure, Every six months, Twilla potentially life-threatening found the answer. “He thought she found out the disease is has lab work and a stress test, condition, which gets worse it was a congenital heart treatable. and she always gives extra without proper medical defect — a hole in the heart,” Despite the usual prognosis blood for research. She has attention. she says. for most patients, Twilla’s been doing better than she And for Twilla, who had When she was 47, after pulmonologist told her that ever thought possible, but she always been healthy, who about three months of she was an enigma — she knows her limits. exercised regularly and who repeated tests, she was diag- was doing amazingly well for She still works and enjoys kept her weight in check, nosed with secondary pul- someone with the disease. seeing her grandchildren, who signs of trouble came at monary arterial hypertension. Three years ago, she started live nearby. “I am able to hold an unexpected time. While After researching the condi- breathing treatments, in which them, which was something I exercising, she noticed her tion, the causes, treatments, she inhales medication through didn’t think I was going to be breathing would grow more cures and life expectancy, she a machine every four hours. able to do,” she says. “I feel difficult, her fingers and lips was terrified. Once the treatments started, truly blessed. By the grace of would turn blue, and she “All I saw was the life she knew she would have to God, family and friends, I am wasn’t able to make it through expectancy of five to seven explain the disease to her co- able to get through this.”  a warmup. years,” she says. workers. “I didn’t want them to

DTC Communications 615-563-5600 September/October 2016 | 13 SOUTHERN KITCHENS

LaBron “Chubby” Smith operates Wooden’s Apple Orchard — which An apple includes The Pie Shop, The Apple House and Oren’s Orchard Cafe — with his family in a day Pikeville, Tennessee.

n the fall, the Cumberland Plateau blossoms into a distinct shade of red as Iapple groves lined with trees — their limbs burgeoning with heavy fruit — are ready for harvest. More than 100 years ago, Henry Wooden planted the first trees that would become the family’s livelihood for decades. The family is now into the fourth generation of Woodens caretaking his leg- acy, providing the people of the Tennessee Valley and beyond with the quality apples If Wooden Apple Orchard is out they’ve come to expect. of reach, you can find the apples at Following the death of Henry’s son, Food City. Smith says the apples are Oren, the apple business was passed on to also shipped to Atlanta, Knoxville, his two daughters, Carole and Sandy, and Chattanooga, Nashville and some as far their husbands, Chubby Smith and Mark away as Florida. Burnett, respectively. Nonivee Wooden, So how ’bout them apples? Here are who married Oren Wooden 51 years ago, some of the Wooden clan’s favorite ways continues to be involved in many aspects to employ — and enjoy — them.  of the business. The Pie Shop and The Apple House, which sell apples as well as other tasty IF YOU GO items — turnovers, fritters, dumplings, Where: Wooden’s Apple Orchard, 6351 cakes, jams and jellies — has been a part New Harmony Road, Pikeville, Tennessee of the orchard for 21 years. The adjacent making all the sweet delights that apples Hours: The cafe is open daily until Oren’s Orchard Cafe opened in the fall of can provide. Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 2014 and serves a bevy of country staples, And for those of you who, like the The Pie Shop and neighboring Apple as well as what you might expect: apple- Wooden family, have apple trees in your House, which sell apples, craft items, inspired dishes, such as apple-stuffed pork yard or nearby, it’s a gift. “It’s something jams and jellies, are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. chops, apple cider glazed ham and pork we sometimes take for granted,” Smith daily until Thanksgiving. If there are any barbecue with apple cider barbecue sauce. says. “But it really is a blessing to be able remaining apples, both will remain open There’s something about the plateau’s to pick our apples anytime we want.” until Christmas or until sold out. climate that makes it ideal for growing Located near Pikeville, Tennessee, Phone: 423-447-6376 apples. Wooden’s Apple Orchard is a large, Online: woodensapplehouse.com “The cooler nights help color the fruit, 120-acre spread filled with 20 varieties and the cooler daytime temps help out in of apples, among them red and golden the hot summer months,” Chubby Smith delicious, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Food Editor Anne P. Braly says. Braeburn, Fuji, Ambrosia and Arkansas is a native of Chattanooga, And this year, Mother Nature has done Black. But the most popular by far are the Tennessee. Prior to a fine job. The apples are big, juicy and Honeycrisp and Mutsu, Smith says. pursuing a freelance so tempting that you might want to bite “We like Golden Delicious best for our career, she spent 21 into them before getting them home. But pies, but lots of varieties are excellent for years as food editor and feature writer at a regional there’s nothing better than saving a few for cooking,” Smith says. newspaper.

14 | September/October 2016 APPLE BREAD Seasoned salt APPLE ALMOND SALAD 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 bag of spring mix or baby spinach 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 apples, thinly sliced 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup slivered almonds 3 eggs Place pork loin in slow cooker. Fill with 2 apples, chopped (Spray with 3 cups self-rising flour apple cider until about 2/3 of loin is lemon juice to prevent browning.) 2 teaspoons cinnamon covered. Brush the top of pork loin Handful dried cranberries 2 cups apples, peeled and chopped with honey. Cook on low 8-10 hours 1 cup pecans, chopped or until done. Cool in refrigerator, then Toss all ingredients together and serve slice into 1-inch thick pieces. In a large immediately. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 mixing bowl, crumble bread crumbs or (8- by 4-inch) bread pans. In a large cornbread into fine pieces. Pour 1 stick APPLE CIDER VINAIGRETTE mixing bowl, combine oil, vanilla, sugar of melted butter onto crumbled bread. 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and eggs. Mix until well-blended. Add Add 1 tablespoon of sage, a pinch of 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder flour and cinnamon and mix until well- seasoned salt and 1 teaspoon of onion 1/3 cup apple cider blended. Add apples and pecans. Pour powder. Mix until well-blended. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice mixture into pans. Bake 40-45 minutes thinly sliced apples to the mixture. Lay 1/3 cup olive oil or until bread tests done. Let cool 10 slices of pork loin onto a large glass or 1/3 cup honey minutes before removing from pans. metal baking dish, along with 1 cup Salt and pepper, to taste apple cider. Put a spoonful of stuffing PORK LOIN WITH APPLE STUFFING mixture in the center of each slice of pork Combine all ingredients, mixing Pork loin (see note) loin and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 until well-blended. Serve over salad Apple cider degrees or until stuffing starts to brown. greens.  Honey Stale bread crumbs or cornbread Note: Buy a pork loin that fits in your slow 1 stick butter, melted cooker, or you can cut to fit and freeze the 1 tablespoon ground sage remainder.

y ; ; The Flavor of Fall

September/October 2016 | 15 Presort STD US Postage PAID Permit #21 Freeport OH P.O. Box 247 • 111 High Street Alexandria, TN 37012-0247

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