Published by Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 June 10, 2024 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read OVER 4 MILLION Readers Weekly Nationwide! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2007 FREE Vol. 1 Issue 2 Over 16,800 READERS WEEKLY! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2024 TIDBITS® MOURNS FOR PASSENGER PIGEONS by Janet Spencer The passenger pigeon’s name comes from the French “pigeon de passage” meaning “to pass by” referring to them “passing by” during migration. Once there were between 3 and 5 billion passenger pigeons in North America. Within 40 years, they were extinct. GREAT BEGINNINGS • Passenger pigeons gathered in large communal flocks to mate, raise their young, and feed. But when it was time to migrate, they came together in flocks that were astonishing in size. One flock seen over southern Ontario in 1866 was estimated to have been a mile wide and between 300 and 500 miles (480-800 km) long, taking 14 hours to pass overhead. It was commonly reported that the size of the flocks blotted out the sun and sounded like thunder. • One modern naturalist estimated that if the entire population of passenger pigeons flew single-file, the flock would stretch around the globe at the equator 22 times. Many researchers feel it was the most numerous bird on earth at the time. One ornithologist believed that the sheer volume of passenger pigeons accounted for between 25% and 40% of the total population of birds in the U.S. Conservationist Aldo Leopold described their passing as “a feathered tempest.” of Athens & Limestone Co. All Types - Foriegn & Domestic 256-230-0400 or 256-772-0442 1114 Old Railroad Bed Rd Next to the Capshaw Post Office in Madison “We’ll get you goin!” PREMIER OFFROAD CENTER FOR JEEPS, TRUCKS & SUV’S 26469 Nick Davis Rd, Athens, AL 35613 OutlawOffroadHuntsville.com 256-853-0998 OutlawOffroadHvl • 18 - Hole Championship Golf Course • Full service Pro Shop • Southern Gayles Grill • Golf Instruction • Memberships Available 22230 Mooresville Rd, Athens, AL 35613 (256) 232-9888 www.SouthernGayles.com We go ALL OUT for your plumbing needs! Jeremy Mosley Owner Athens H.S. ‘05 *Licensed & Insured *Members of the BBB 256-298-3708 Does Your Agent work for YOU or the INSURANCE COMPANY? We are Independent Agents. We work for you, NOT an Insurance Company. This means YOU get an Agent that Looks Out For You and Your Best Interests! Get the RIGHTInsurance Protection at the LOWESTCost... burkettinsurancegroup Call us for ALL of your Insurance. We want to WORK FOR YOU! 256-704-7400 BurkettInsurance.com Who are YOU Going to call? A Full-Service, Local Roofing Company Committed to Excellence. Call Today for a FREE Estimate 256-860-9741 Ask about our TidBits FREE GUTTER GUARD* special! We offer COMPLETE Residential & Commerical Roofing 256-860-9741 *Tidbits Gutter Guard Special may not be combined with other offers. Due to the significant savings of this offer, it is only available to home owners who mention it during our initial converastion. Naturally this is a limited time offer. • Gutter Replacement • Chimney Services MadisonALRoofRepair.com Modern Solutions & Treatments for all types of pests. www.RedhawkPestControl.com 256-975-8817 • Crawl Space • Pest Control • Mosquito Mngmt. • Pest Exclusion Svc. Call us today to get rid of those pests that plague your home & lifestyle. • ElectricalTrouble • LowVoltage • Remodel • NewConstruction Electrical Solutions 256-384-4511 Solar Specialists 47energy.com 256-677-9533 I buy houses in AS-IS condition. I can help Call for an appointment (256) 423-3952 30477 Ardmore Ave Ardmore, AL 35739 Hours: M, Tu & Th: 10a - 6p Friday: 12p - 10p Saturday: 12p - 5p Wed & Sun: Closed Lacey Clinard Owner & Artist
Page 2 Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 DEAR DR. ROACH: Why can’t people see an allergist and get desensitized to a peanut allergy? As a child, I was allergic to dust, pet hair, milk and other things, but I received treatments. I am not bothered by any of these now. It would seem prudent to desensitize people who have allergies that are life-threatening, like peanut allergies. -- S.S. ANSWER: Allergy immunotherapy continues to be a commonly used and valid treatment for many allergies, including environmental allergies, insect venom allergies and, more recently, food allergies. The treatment can be used for peanut allergies, but it is certainly not perfect. So, it isn’t used very often. The goal of immunotherapy is to get a person to tolerate the allergen that they have an allergic response to. This involves giving very tiny amounts of the allergen below the level that would trigger an allergic response. Over time and under extremely close observation, the amount of the allergen is increased. For allergens like pollen, they are typically given by injection under the skin (or by drops under the tongue), but for food allergens, they are given orally. For peanut allergies in particular, reactions are common during oral immunotherapy. For about 1 dose per 1,000 under supervision in an allergist’s office, emergency treatment with epinephrine was required. Even during maintenance therapy at home, a reaction occurred 3.5% of the time, requiring treatment with 0.7% of all doses. Although oral immunotherapy is effective at getting people to tolerate peanuts, the effectiveness is not long-lived, with only 13% of people still being able to tolerate a peanut challenge three years after discontinuing maintenance therapy. (Thirty-seven percent of people who continued maintenance therapy were able to tolerate the peanut challenge.) Until there are significant improvements in outcomes, I am unlikely to recommend oral immunotherapy for people with peanut allergies, unless they are unable to effectively avoid exposure to peanuts and they continue to have repeated reactions. Whether they’re on immunotherapy or not, patients are still advised to continue careful avoidance and have emergency treatment immediately available. A new treatment for food allergies was just approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration. Omalizumab works by blocking the immunoglobulin IgE, which is critically important in allergic diseases. The study showed that 47% to 80% of subjects who were treated with omalizumab for four months (given by injection every two to four weeks) were able to tolerate a standard dose of the foods that they were allergic to (peanuts, plus at least two other foods). However, it appears that the benefit of the treatment does not persist after the treatment is discontinued, and it is intended for use in conjunction with food allergen avoidance to protect against accidental exposures. In the future, combining this new medication with oral immunotherapy could be superior to using either alone, and it can help prevent serious or fatal allergic reactions from inadvertently being exposed to peanuts. Further studies are addressing this issue. Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergies Still a Work in Progress [email protected] Randy Lee Owner/Publisher PASSENGER PIGEON • Their range covered most of North America, from the Rockies to the Atlantic, and central Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. They depended on vast expanses of hardwood forests of beech, oak, and chestnut for sustenance, and added berries and bugs in the summer. • The birds could fly at sustained speeds of 60 mph (96 km/h). While roosting, they could fly far afield in search of new food sources, covering up to 100 miles (160 km) every morning and evening. This also made it easy for them to migrate long distances. In 1813, after witnessing the passing of a flock that took three days to fly overhead, ornithologist John James Audubon estimated that they could likely cross the Atlantic in three days. • The birds had incredible maneuverability and could easily fly through dense forests where predatory birds could not navigate. • They laid a single egg per nest. Chicks hatched after two weeks and fledged two weeks later, much faster than most other birds. This gave the passenger pigeon a head start over other birds regarding food sources and allowed them to fly to new areas to forage. • The passenger pigeon had hyper-social tendencies. Whereas most pigeon species have one or two nests per tree, passenger pigeons had hundreds. They roosted so close together that branches broke under their weight. • The safety-in-numbers habit of the passenger pigeon meant that normal predators like foxes and hawks could pick away at their numbers while leaving the vast majority unharmed. But it led to their demise when humans entered the mix. When massed together, they became easy prey for men who slaughtered them in atrocious numbers, especially during nesting season. And there was plenty of incentive to do so, along with increasingly easy means of getting it done. (cont) (256) 797-7930 © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc. PEARSON Auto Sales Good Credit? Bad Credit?We work with ALL Credit - Apply Today! Good Credit? Bad Credit?We work with ALL Credit - Apply Today! 26653 Main Street, Ardmore, TN (931) 427-3606 www.PearsonAutoSale.com 256-777-3384 or 256-783-7118 www.NALCFM.com Tyler & Tammy Rains PLEASE LIKE & FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME 931-427-1124 DINE IN or CARRY OUT 26671 Main St. Ardmore, TN Paul Stafford Owner/Operator 931-478-6528 Paul’s City Barber Shop 30492 Ardmore Ave Ardmore, AL Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat: 7 am - 11 am Wed & Sun: closed Renae’s All About Beauty SalonLLC Specializing in HairCare & All DeZigns E.Renae Anderson E.Renae Anderson Owner & Master Cosmetologist 20+ years of experience Cell: 256-316-1449 Salon: 256-232-6600 27453 Capshaw Rd, Suite C, Athens schedule appointments at: schedulicity.com/scheduling/Raan64
Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 Page 3 * On June 3, 1943, a group of U.S. sailors marched through downtown Los Angeles with clubs and other weapons, attacking anyone wearing the “zoot suit” favored by many young men of color at that time. The Zoot Suit Riots spread throughout the city over the next week, marking the culmination of racial tensions against the backdrop of World War II. * On June 4, 1876, an astonishing 83 hours after it left New York City, the Transcontinental Express train arrived in San Francisco. Many Americans could hardly imagine that a journey previously requiring months using horses could now be accomplished in under a week. * On June 5, 1956, a young Elvis Presley performed “Hound Dog” on “The Milton Berle Show” with a gyrating enthusiasm that set off a scandal. Critical reaction was almost universally negative. In fact, one writer described Presley’s hip-swinging as “tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos.” * On June 6, 2013, Edward Snowden, a National Security Agency contractor, leaked documents to the press exposing a government-run surveillance program that monitored not just the communications records of criminals and potential terrorists, but lawabiding citizens as well. Facing multiple charges and prison time, Snowden fled to Hong Kong and later Russia to avoid extradition. * On June 7, 1976, New York magazine published journalist Nik Cohn’s article “The Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night,” which would inspire the John Travolta cinema smash “Saturday Night Fever.” Nearly 20 years later, however, Cohn confessed that the allegedly real-life characters peopling the story were actually fictional. * On June 8, 632, the prophet Muhammad died, as a result of being poisoned, in the arms of Aisha, his third and favorite wife, in Medina, located in presentday Saudi Arabia. * On June 9, 1945, while hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher struck mocking Phillies fan John Christian in the dugout with the help of a stadium security guard. The incident led to Durocher’s arrest on assault charges the following day, but he was released on bail, and actor Danny Kaye, a friend of his and acquaintance of Christian, brokered a $7,000 settlement that closed Christian’s civil suit. PASSENGER PIGEON (cont) • Passenger pigeons were not only easy to kill but also tasted good. The Civil War meant that soldiers and slaves needed food in times of scarcity. Pioneers and homesteaders, after barely surviving a winter, enjoyed a windfall of free pigeon pie. The telegraph was invented about the same time that the railroads were expanding, which made it easy for professional pigeon hunters to find out where the flocks were and travel there to kill them. The invention of the refrigerated boxcar in 1878 accelerated the slaughter. Birds were packed in barrels and shipped back to the cities by the boxcar load to be sold for fifty cents a dozen. A financial crisis in 1873 resulted in a depression, leaving more people than ever desperate for cheap food. The commercial pigeon industry flourished. • Hunters found it easy to kill the greatest number of pigeons in the shortest period of time while they were nesting densely in trees. This killed the adults during the critical period of reproduction, meaning few chicks survived. • At the same time, the birds’ habitat was being systematically destroyed, as forests were cut down by timber companies cutting lumber and farmers clearing land for agriculture. With less food available, the pigeons invaded the farmers’ fields. Farmers killed as many pigeons as possible to protect their crops, and used them as fertilizer. Hunters fed them alcohol-spiked grain to make them easier to capture. Fires set at the base of nesting trees drove them into nets. Pots of burning sulfur caused dazed birds to fall to the ground. • One of the very last large nestings of passenger pigeons happened near Petoskey, Michigan, in 1878. Here, hunters killed an estimated 50,000 birds a day, which continued daily for almost five months. Over a million birds were exterminated from that flock. Yet people believed that the pigeons were inexhaustible. Metal Fabrication, Decorative Fencing & Handrails, Mailboxes, Sand Blasting, Powder Coating, CNC Plasma Cutting & Welding E. L. Ironworks 19227 East Limestone Rd, Toney, AL 35773 256-261-8400 www.ELironworks.com One of Limestone County’s 10 Best Thrift Stores You’ll be delighted by what you find! CJ’s Thrift Store 256-213-6709 Hours: M-F 8am-4pm Sat: 8am-5pm Closed Sundays 17031 East Limestone Rd, Athens @ the corner of Nick Davis & E Limestone Does Your Agent work for YOU or the INSURANCE COMPANY? We are Independent Agents. We work for you, NOT an Insurance Company. This means YOU get an Agent that Looks Out For You and Your Best Interests! Get the RIGHTInsurance Protection at the LOWESTCost... burkettinsurancegroup Call us for ALL of your Insurance. We want to WORK FOR YOU! 256-704-7400 BurkettInsurance.com Who are YOU Going to call? All Types - Foriegn & Domestic 256-230-0400 or 256-772-0442 1114 Old Railroad Bed Rd “We’ll get you goin!” Jeff’s Motorcycle Shop www.JeffsMotoShop.com Motorcycle, ATV & UTV Repair 256-998-6487 PREMIER OFFROAD CENTER FOR JEEPS, TRUCKS & SUV’S 26469 Nick Davis Rd, Athens, AL 35613 OutlawOffroadHuntsville.com 256-853-0998 OutlawOffroadHvl ALLEN Lawn Maintenance & Landscaping Call for a free quote today: 256-529-1989 DAVID ALLEN, Owner
Page 4 Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 * Want to pump up a dying fire? Never use lighter fluid. Even if the coals look really gray, they could be hot on the inside. The stream of fluid CAN catch fire. It’s too dangerous. Put new briquettes in with the old, and light those up using a long-stick match. * “Keep flareups from unintentional blackening: Keep a clean spray bottle filled with plain water next to the grill. Long after you’re done cooking and you’re ready to clean up those ashes from briquettes, mist the ashes first, and it will keep them from making a dust cloud.” -- U.L. in Georgia * From charcoal grilling expert Kingsford, here’s a great tip to use when grilling chicken: “When applying a dry rub to chicken pieces, it’s often hard to keep the rub affixed and it’s even more difficult to keep the chicken’s original, golden color. Try painting chicken pieces with yellow mustard prior to applying the rub. Not only will the rub stay in place, your final product will be visually appealing -- without any trace of mustard flavor.” * When wrapping vegetables in foil packets to grill, make the seams on the sides. This way, the veggie packets can be turned over for even cooking and to avoid burning on one side. You can even label the outside of the foil in permanent marker. It won’t affect the taste of the food. * To cover a picnic table in windy conditions, choose a fitted bed sheet. An alternative that is kid-friendly is to cover a table entirely with white butcher paper, taped at the seams and secured underneath with strong tape such as duct tape. The kids can busy themselves drawing placemats and decorations for everyone in crayon while the adults do the grilling. PASSENGER PIGEON (cont) • By the 1890s, the flocks had become noticeably depleted. Now, serious conservation legislation was passed in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. But it was far too little and much too late. Passenger pigeon numbers were in freefall. There was a steady decline in their numbers between about 1800 and 1870, and a catastrophic decline between 1870 and 1900. • By the mid-1890s, flock sizes numbered in the dozens rather than billions. The pigeons required large flocks in order to reproduce, but their numbers had fallen below that minimum threshold. Once the population reached a critical low point, the species was doomed, even though thousands of them remained. The birds were unable to adapt to living in small flocks. • The last bird ever killed in the wild was shot by a boy with a BB gun in March of 1900 in Ohio. The last verified siting of one in the wild was in Indiana in 1902. • In 1900, the Cincinnati Zoo owned one of the last flocks of a few dozen passenger pigeons. They failed to produce any fertilized eggs, and died off one by one. By 1906, there were only five left. The last remaining pigeons were a mated pair named George and Martha Washington. When George died, a reward of $1,000 was offered to anyone who could bring in another live male passenger pigeon, but none was ever found. The American Ornithologists’ Union offered $1,500 to anyone finding a nest or nesting colony of passenger pigeons. It was futile. • The end finally came on September 1, 1914, when Martha died in her cage at the Cincinnati Zoo. The passenger pigeon was no more. A memorial statue of Martha stands on the grounds of the Cincinnati Zoo. The Smithsonian Museum owns her preserved body. 1. What caused the quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, to be delayed for almost two hours? 2. What member of the Boston Bruins was found guilty of assault with a weapon for attacking the Vancouver Canucks’ Donald Brashear with his hockey stick during a 2001 NHL game? 3. Tyler Gilbert was pitching for what team in August 2021 when he threw a no-hitter in his first MLB start? 4. Lusail International Circuit, which first hosted a FIA Formula 1 World Championship race in 2021, is located in which Middle Eastern country? 5. Name the golf legend who said, “If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.” 6. Jay Riemersma, who had a nine-season NFL career with the Buffalo Bills (1996-2002) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2003-04), played what position? 7. What open-road auto race was held in Italy from 1927-57 and claimed the lives of 56 people during its 30-year history? Place your order @ www.sweetwjb.com 256-874-0051 INTERNET ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS MADE SIMPLE! Big3MarketingLLC.com We’ve Helped 1,000’s of Clients Like You! Affordable & Beautiful Websites, Google Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Marketing on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) & LinkedIn 256-212-6100 Call or Scan for a FREE Consultation No Obligation We go ALL OUT for your plumbing needs! Jeremy Mosley Owner Athens H.S. ‘05 *Licensed & Insured *Members of the BBB 256-298-3708 Modern Solutions & Treatments for all types of pests. www.RedhawkPestControl.com 256-975-8817 • Crawl Space • Pest Control • Mosquito Mngmt. • Pest Exclusion Svc. Call us today to get rid of those pests that plague your home & lifestyle.
Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 Page 5 1. Is the book of Deuteronomy (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. From John 20, by what other name was the apostle Thomas known? Caleb, Naaman, Omri, Didymus 3. Which book begins, “And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness”? Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Joel 4. For what did Jesus and Peter pay for with a coin found in a fish’s mouth? Tax, Bread, Lodging, Sandals 5. From Proverbs 11, what word did Solomon use to describe soul winners? Warm, Wise, Wealthy, Wonderful 6. Which prophet was saved from death by a talking donkey? Balaam, Ezekiel, Joel, Samuel Beautiful Body RANDOM BODY FACTS • Humans are the only species that cry tears. • Human thigh bones are four times stronger than concrete. • If all the wrinkles in the brain were smoothed out, the brain would be the size of a pillowcase. • You think about 20,000 thoughts per day. • The fastest-growing fingernail is the middle finger. • The average hair on the head lives 3 to 7 years. • Lips look red because of the capillaries close to the skin’s surface. • The coordination of 200 muscles is required to take a single step forward. • Teeth are the only part of the body that cannot repair itself when damaged. • The aorta in a fully grown human is about the same width as a garden hose. • There’s enough blood in your body to feed 1,200,000 mosquitoes – once. • If all DNA in a human body was uncoiled and laid end to end, it would stretch 10 billion miles. • The skin is completely replaced about once a month. • Humans are the only animals that customarily sleep on their backs. • The skull is composed of 20 different bones. • The folds in your brain are as unique as fingerprints; no two brains are alike. • There are an estimated 30 trillion cells in the average adult human body. • There are over 600 muscles in the body. • If all the tissue in the lungs were stretched out and laid flat, it would be the size of a tennis court. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc. We BUY Vehicles We want to buy UNWANTED VEHICLES to recondition for resale Call 256-797-7930 www.UGLYisOK.com Automotive Repair Lift Kits, Tires, Wheels & Service 28046 Main Street, Ardmore, AL 35739 256-423-4959 256-777-3744 Please Tell Us you saw our ad in TidBits Ethan Mullins Manager We’re here for all of your Powerstroke, Cummins and Duramax needs. TruTorqueDiesel 256-529-0635 21030 Clement Gin Rd, Athens Hours: Monday-Friday 6 AM - 3 PM Saturday & Sunday: Closed 30010 Ardmore Ave Ardmore, AL 35739 www.NorthAlabamaBank.com (256) 423-9100 BankingWithNAB Roof Cleaning Can Save Home Owners Thousands of Dollars Roof cleaning can increase a roof’s lifespan. It prevents the growth of moss and lichen, which can dig roots into shingles and cause them to leak prematurely. The black streaks on roofs are a form of algae known as gloeocapsa magma. The algae creates a fertile area for moss to grow. 256 Prowash’s roof cleaning process uses a safe, low pressure cleaning solution that removes black streaks, algae, moss and lichen. Call us today! 256-361-3955 Get a FREE QUOTE www.256prowash.com
Page 6 Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 THE BEST SMOKED MEATS & HOMEMADE SIDES IN ALABAMA! 4RDsBBQ.com 1811 Nick Davis Rd, Harvest, Alabama 256-683-9990 THE BEST SMOKED MEATS & HOMEMADE SIDES IN ALABAMA! THE BEST SMOKED MEATS & HOMEMADE SIDES IN ALABAMA! THE BEST SMOKED MEATS & HOMEMADE SIDES IN ALABAMA! • Catfish! • Smoked Burgers! • Sausage! • Ribs! • Wings! Our Hours: Mon & Tue: 10:30 - 7 Wednesday: 10:30 - 2 Thursday: 10:30 - 7 Fri & Sat: 10:30 - 7 Sunday: Closed 1. ANATOMY: What does the human vestibular sense do? 2. MOVIES: The phrase “As you wish” is key to which 1987 movie? 3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the largest island in the Caribbean? 4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What are Chinese astronauts called sometimes in the West? 5. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a character named Phoebe Buffay? 6. MEASUREMENTS: What is the square footage of an acre? 7. SCIENCE: What are the four states of matter? 8. HISTORY: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote? 9. LITERATURE: Which 19th-century novel contains the line, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship”? 10. MONEY: In the old British monetary system, how many pennies were equal to a pound? RANDOM BODY FACTS (cont) • Neural impulses travel along the nerves at about 250 mph (402 km/h). • The brain cannot feel pain. • The brain is 60% fat and runs at a power level of 25 watts. • Your sense of smell tends to deactivate at night. • Only humans consistently walk on two legs after learning to walk. • The smallest bone in the body is located in the ear and is smaller than a grain of rice. The smallest muscle in the body is attached to that bone. • The fastest muscles in the body control the eyelids. • The left lung is smaller than the right lung to make room for the heart. • 96.2% of the body is made up of four elements: Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. • The lungs are the only body part that will float in water. • There are 206 bones in the adult body; 25% of them are located in the feet, and another 25% are in the hands. • The largest joint in the body is the knee. • All humans share 99.9 percent of their DNA. • The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen and calories. • The eyes are the same size from birth till death. • A wink requires the coordination of 200 muscles. • The fluid surrounding the eyeball is flushed and replaced 15 times a day. • The average person farts 13 times a day. • The heart rate tends to sync with the beat of music being listened to. * Australian bushranger Joseph Johns escaped from prison so many times that the government finally had to build a special cell to hold him, after which an overly (if understandably) confident governor said to him, “If you get out again, I’ll forgive you.” You guessed it: Johns escaped that as well. * There’s a “Heaven Scent Pizza” for dogs, made of flour, carrots, celery and Parmesan cheese. * A high school basketball coach was fired after his team won 100-0 because the Catholic school he worked for thought that such a widemargin victory failed to display a “Christ-like and honorable approach to competition.” * Two Chinese bank employees stole over $6.6 million and spent it all on lottery tickets. Unfortunately, crime didn’t pay when they only recovered about $13,000. * Don Rickles died before he could record dialogue for “Toy Story 4.” Rather than replacing him, Disney reviewed 25 years of material from the first three films, video games and other media, and assembled enough to cover the entire film. * A study has found that second-born children are more likely to be troublemakers. * In Japan, male students can confess their love to another person by giving them the second button -- the one closest to the heart -- from the top of their school uniform. * Laser removal doesn’t actually remove a tattoo. It just helps break it down so the body’s white blood cells can carry it away. Eventually, you poop out your tattoo. * A bloodhound in Alabama went outside to relieve itself and accidentally joined a half marathon, then ended up in seventh place. The race was redubbed the “Hound Dog Half,” and those who end up in seventh place earn a special award. Complete Auto Detail & Hand Wash For All Your Auto Cleaning Needs Give Me A Call No job too big or too small for me to handle. Cars, Trucks, RVs, Boats & Motorcycles 30050 Ardmore Ave. Ardmore, AL 35739 256-970-8423 Joshua Smith, Owner • Paint Corrections • Clay Bar Treatment • Full Detailing Authentic Louisiana Cuisine Cooked with LOVE Good Times Good People Good Food LJBackyardBayou www.LJbackyardBayou.com RESTAURANT HOURS: Friday & Saturday: 11 AM - 7 PM Sunday: 11 AM - 5 PM We Cater Too! 256-489-0759 3155 Old Railroad Bed Rd Harvest, AL A Full-Service, Local Roofing Company Committed to Excellence. Call Today for a FREE Estimate 256-860-9741 Ask about our TidBits FREE GUTTER GUARD* special! We offer COMPLETE Residential & Commerical Roofing 256-860-9741 *Tidbits Gutter Guard Special may not be combined with other offers. Due to the significant savings of this offer, it is only available to home owners who mention it during our initial converastion. Naturally this is a limited time offer. • Gutter Replacement • Chimney Services MadisonALRoofRepair.com
Middle Man Enterprises, LLC • [email protected] • For Advertising Call (256) 797-7930 Page 7 DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My 1-year-old puppy, “Shellie,” gets very excited when she sees another dog approaching. Because she’s already 26 pounds, I’m worried that she’ll soon break away from me while on walks. What can I do? -- Glen H., Plattsburgh, New York DEAR GLEN: Keeping control of your dog on the leash is such an important skill -- and there is a way to achieve that with Shellie. First, work on curbing overall reactivity. Does Shellie get really excited when the leash appears? Does she practically drag you out the door for walks? Get control of that first: -- Bring out the leash, but don’t put it on Shellie right away. Wait until she’s calm, then attach the leash. -- Next, walk away from the door. Lead Shellie around the house. She’ll be pretty confused, and that’s fine. -- Stand at the door and have her sit. Open the door slightly, then close it. Repeat. Repeat again until Shellie is staring at you like, “are you nuts?” -- Now, exit the house, but only if Shellie stays by your side or slightly behind you. If she tries to rush out, repeat the door exercise. Now, let’s address that reactivity on walks. Here are a few tips that can help: -- A sturdy, short leash is essential to maintaining control. -- Train Shellie to walk at your side with a little slack in the leash. -- Work on core commands when no other dogs are around: Come, Sit, Stay, Heel. -- Place yourself between Shellie and an approaching dog. Move her to your other side and keep her slightly behind you. You’re her protector right now. -- Avoid practicing “meet and greets” with other dogs until Shellie is no longer reactive on sight. These training methods are just a start, but they’ll put you both on the right track. Most importantly, be consistent with training and daily walks. By Samantha Mazzotta How to train an excited, reactive dog BIDDY MASON • Bridget was born into slavery in Georgia probably around 1815. She was called Biddy for short. Like most slaves, she had no official last name. As she grew, she was tutored in gardening, herbal medicines, livestock care, child care, and midwifery. • As a young adult, she was presented to a Mormon couple in Mississippi as a wedding gift. Her new owners, Robert and Rebecca Smith, decided to join the Mormon exodus destined for Utah. In 1847, at the age of 32, Biddy was forced to join the 300-wagon caravan. She tended livestock, helped the pregnant ladies, prepared meals, watched the children, and aided the sick. • In 1851, Robert Smith joined a contingent of Mormons destined for the gold fields of California. The group, including Smith’s family and his slaves, settled in San Bernardino. In 1850, California was admitted to the Union as a free state, which meant that Robert Smith’s slaves were being held illegally. Robert Smith subsequently announced he was moving the entire clan to Texas, a slave state, to avoid having to set them all free. He knew he could sell them for a high price in Texas. Biddy wanted to remain in California to claim her freedom, fearing that a move to Texas would result in being separated from her children. • She fled with her children and other slaves, hoping to reach Los Angeles. Smith intercepted them and reclaimed them. But when he attempted to leave California to go to Texas, an anti-slavery posse stopped them. • The case went to court. Biddy, her three daughters (who may have been Smith’s children), and ten other slaves were held in the local jail for their own safety until the case could be heard. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc. Make Every DayPawesome Paws Awhile 256-423-3039 Grooming & Boarding 26944 Main Street Ardmore, AL 35739 NOSTALGIC AUTOMOTIVE SALES 28115 AL 251, Ardmore, AL Phillip: 256-371-0006 Sebastian: 256-970-8879 $20 OFF AN OIL CHANGE* *Please present ad at time of ordering service. May not be combined with other discounts. Other restrictions may apply. Please use before 8.1.24. Protech Auto Service AC Repair, Brakes, Tires & Full Auto Repair “Good service, good price and locally owned.” 30050 Ardmore Ave Ardmore, AL 35739 (256) 423-4515 Bethel Grocery Bethel Grocery Corner of Hwy 251 & Bethel Rd • Broaster Chicken • Little Italy Pizza • Fresh Deli & Sides • So Much More! 25981 Old US Highway 31, Toney, AL Hours: Mon-Sat: 4am-8pm Sunday: 7am-8pm 256-423-3670 www.BethelGro.com VibrantVinesCollective.com Quality House Plants at Reasonable Prices Vibrant Vines Collective 127 N Marion St Athens, AL (256) 795-0864 256-677-9533 We Buy Houses We want to help One of Limestone County’s 10 Best Thrift Stores You’ll be delighted by what you find! CJ’s Thrift Store 256-213-6709 Hours: M-F 8am-4pm Sat: 8am-5pm Closed Sundays 17031 East Limestone Rd, Athens @ the corner of Nick Davis & E Limestone
1. A swarm of bees. 2. Marty McSorley. 3. The Arizona Diamondbacks. 4. Qatar. 5. Lee Trevino. 6. Tight end. 7. The Mille Miglia (Italian for “Thousand Miles”). 1. It is the sense that deals with movement, gravity and balance. 2. “The Princess Bride.” 3. Cuba. 4. Taikonauts. 5. “Friends.” 6. 43,560 square feet. 7. Solid, liquid, gas and plasma 8. 19th. 9. “Little Women.” 10. 240. 1) Old, 2) Didymus, 3) Numbers, 4) Tax, 5) Wise, 6) Balaam At this writing we’re being told on the news that the bird flu that’s popping up across the country is being found in milk we buy. Then days later, no, it’s not. It’s only in raw milk, not the pasteurized we buy at the store. Except yes, there are “viral fragments” in pasteurized milk. With conflicting information, what can we do to stay safe? Various agencies in the government release alerts and recalls about our food safety. Sometimes they find an undeclared allergen in a food product or an item has not been inspected. Then there are the adulterants such as tiny pieces of plastic found in food. Sometimes, however, what’s found is quite serious, such as listeria, E. coli or salmonella, which can make people (especially seniors) extremely ill. Receiving alerts and warnings about these can help us avoid foods that can make us sick. There are several alert/recall sources, but the one with the best information is at www.foodsafety.gov. You can either check the site on your computer or phone, or have the alerts sent to you. The website also has information on safe food storage and food poisoning. The CDC has information on alerts as well at www. cdc.gov/foodsafety/outbreaks/index.html. One recent recall warned of metal fragments in ice cream. The FDA has a wider selection of alerts, covering shellfish, baby food products, beverages and dietary supplements. See www.fda.gov/food/recallsoutbreaks-emergencies/alerts-advisories-safetyinformation. One recent alert concerned elevated levels of lead in several cinnamon products. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (www.fsis. usda.gov/recalls) recently recalled ham products that made it into the country without being inspected and ground beef with E. coli. Sign up for as many (or as few) alerts as you need to feel safe about your food. If you sign up for more than one, you may get duplicate information, as they often share between agencies. Information sources for food safety • In 1856, the judge granted all of them their freedom. (cont) BIDDY MASON (cont) • Finally free, Biddy took on the last name of Mason, which was likely the name of the family she had been born into in Georgia. • She and her daughters moved to Los Angeles. Biddy worked as a nurse and midwife. In 1860, she bought a house at 331 Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles, becoming the first black woman to own property in the city. She also purchased a vacant lot nearby and rented it out as a place where horses and carriages could rest. This was likely the first official “parking lot” in L.A. • Biddy continued to expand her holdings. Through judicious investments, she built the first elementary school for black children as well as a hospital. Her money financed the founding of the first black church in California, which is now the oldest church in Los Angeles. She used it as a food pantry, a daycare, and a shelter for homeless travelers. She provided meals for prisoners in the local jail. Biddy Mason was relentlessly philanthropic. • When she died in 1891, she had a fortune worth an estimated $6 million in today’s dollars. In her will, she donated much of her wealth to area charities. • Today, the location that was once her homestead at 333 South Spring Street in Los Angeles is now a memorial park to honor the life of an indomitable woman. • This mini-park, called Biddy Mason Time and Place, was designed by landscape architects Katherine Spitz and Pamela Burton. Highlights of her life are displayed on an 80-foot poured concrete wall. The display includes artifacts, papers, maps, and photographs that represent her life, from being born into slavery, to being mourned by a community that loved her. • Surrounded by green trees, deep shade, and quiet places to sit, the park is a fitting tribute. See our vehicles atwww.RandJautos.com or in person at 30075 Ardmore Ave, Ardmore Hours: M,Tu,Th & F: 9-5 Sat: 9-2 W & Su: closed 256-423-2288 Tell Mike “I saw your ad in TidBits & I’m ready to ride.” Financing & Payment Plans Available G&S Tire & Service Center 26649 Elk Street, Ardmore, TN 38449 • Oil Changes • New & Used Tires • Tire Rotation & Balancing • 4 Wheel Alignments • Brake Jobs • Basic Auto Repair 35+ YEARS - TRUST IN OUR EXPERIENCE When your vehicle needs repairs and maintenance, it’s important to choose a Certified Auto Repair Center that has lots of experience. That’s why G&S Tire & Service Center is the best auto center around. Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (931) 427-8473 or (931) 427-TIRE www.gstirecentertn.com Providing Loans When You Need Them in Ardmore, AL 256-423-5510 QualityFirstFinancial.com 30105 Ardmore Ave Ardmore, AL 35739 256-339-9961 www.HootenannnyBBQ.com Maylon Jones Our Services: • Catering • Food Deliverey • Buffet Set-up and Serving • Event Menu Planning Rab’s Furniture & Appliance 27032 Main St. Ardmore, AL 256-423-6800 www.RabsFurniture.com Hours: Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri & Sat: 8 AM - 5 PM Closed on Sundays & Wednesdays • Living Room • Bedroom • Dining Room • Appliances