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On Saturday, Jan. 12, BoyScout Troop 50 bestowed BoyScouts of America’s highestrank during a ceremony honor-ing new Eagle Scout Jacob VanHorn. He is the son of Eric andRebecca Van Horn, residentsof Opelika. Van Horn is thetroop’s 19th Eagle Scout sinceits founding in 2012.

Originally a member of Troop158 in Tulahoma, Tenn. VanHorn joined Troop 50 in Sep-tember 2016 after his family re-located to the Lee County area.During his tenure in Troop 50,he served as patrol leader, leadtroop guide, senior patrol lead-er, junior assistant scoutmasterand currently serves as an assis-

tant scoutmaster.Through his Scouting par-

ticipation, he earned 22 meritbadges. He was also elected formembership in the Order ofthe Arrow, Scouting’s nationalhonor society, and now servesas the Chattahoochee Lodge’scamping promotions chair-man.

For his Eagle Scout leader-ship service project, Van Hornplanned and led volunteers toreconstruct two new arbors inthe garden area of Loachapoka’sPioneer Park. Family, friendsand fellow Scouts and leaderslogged more than 259 servicehours planning and construct-ing the project.

The new arbors, as well asnew curb Van Horn and volun-

teers replaced adjacent to thearbors, enhance the experienceand safety for visitors to thepark’s garden.

After completing the EagleScout rank requirements,which included planning andexecuting his service project,Van Horn appeared before theSaugahatchee District’s EagleScout Board on Oct. 16, 2018.He is among the three Troop 50Scouts to earn the Eagle Scoutrank during 2018.

Outside Scouting, Van Hornvolunteers by building setsand costumes for Auburn AreaCommunity Theatre produc-tions. He plans to attend Au-burn University this fall, where

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019 OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS ! www.oanow.com

Your LifeC

Few things genuinelymesmerize the nationas a guy or gal who can

drive along country roadsand not spill a drop of coffeefrom a full mug.

Pawpaw Jim mastered it, hisglass cup always parked bythe stick shift of his pickup.The dark liquid swayed andswirled with every bump andcurve, sometimes comingreal close to splashing overthe brim.

But it never did, almost as ifit knew better.

Occasionally, I build upthe courage to put my owncup-and-driving combo tothe test. But these short tripsalways end with stains on myseats, dash and pride.

I am not ready.Of course, it’s not only the

mess that’s disheartening.There’s also the fact that aperfectly good cup of coffeewon’t be enjoyed.

That’s a devastating realiza-tion to the devoted drinkersI know, all of whom blissfullyembrace their caffeine ad-dictions. And the foundationof their bliss is based on ahallowed belief that nurturesthe soul and brings balanceto the multi-complexities oflife itself:

Fresh coffee is sacred.A wealth of wisdom is in-

herent in this proverbial out-look, which is why its sanctitymust be reinforced. My re-tired buddy, Duke Maas, wasa True Believer, and he strivedto ensure that all coffee madein the breakroom was top-notch, at least from an officebrew standpoint.

Anything less than stellarwas presumably deemedblasphemous against thesanctity of the Sacred CoffeeCreed.

Fresh coffee is sacred. Andthose who honor and defendits sanctity will continueto bring righteousness andblessings of robust satis-faction to the mugs of alldevoted followers.

My late great-grandfather,Henry Sanders, would haveagreed. In fact, during his

SacredCoffee Creed

Some cold weatherpet safety tipsA

s you’ve all noticed,winter has finallydescended upon us

in East Alabama, with avengeance.

Living in the South, weshould all already aware ofthe risks posed by warmweather and leaving petsin hot cars, but did youknow that cold weather also poses seri-ous threats to your pets’ health?

As the temperature has dipped, andI’ve had to make sure all of my ownfurry friends are being kept warm, Ithought we all could use a few friendlyreminders on what we can do to keepour pets comfortable, healthy and safein the frigid temps.

Here are some tips to keep your petssafe during cold weather:

Winter wellness: Has your pet had

MaryWynneKling

See LCHS, Page 2C

Lee County Humane Society

Pet of the Week— Fidget hasbeen with the LeeCounty HumaneSociety sinceSeptember. He’sabout 8 monthsold. If you’reinterested inmeeting Fidget,stop by LCHSTuesday throughSunday fromnoon to 5 p.m.

See HUFFMAN, Page 2C

JAZMINE HADAWAY| SUBMITTED PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 50

Pictured is Eagle Scout Jacob Van Horn.

Van Horn honored asTroop 50’s 19th Eagle Scout

Peter Cartwright’s nameis not well knownamong today’s Method-

ists. He was a pioneer Meth-odist preacher in America.

Born in Virginia in 1785 topoor parents, Cartwright hadlittle education, but becamethe best camp-meetingpreacher of his day. Histori-ans describe Cartwright asone of the principal agentsGod used in the great revivalnear the beginning of the 19thcentury.

Cartwright’s parents movedto the backwoods of Kentuckywhen he was a child. There hegrew up “a wild, wicked boywho delighted in horse-rac-ing, card-playing and danc-ing.” When he was 16, a greatcamp-meeting revival brokeout at Cane Ridge where“scores of sinners fell underthe mighty power of God, likemen slain in a mighty battle.”

After attending some of theservices, the young man felthe was “a lost, undone sinner”and soon, he said, fell on hisknees and asked God “to havemercy on me.” His struggleended at the altar where“earnestly praying for mercy,”he felt his sins forgiven as“unspeakable joy sprung upin my soul.”

Two years later, Cartwrightpreached his first sermonand became a circuit-ridingpreacher. Though he had notraining, he was immediatelyeffective in winning people toChrist.

Riding his horse from onecamp meeting to another,he saw scores of people turnto God in response to hispreaching. He described hismeetings with commentslike this: “Suddenly an awfulpower fell on the congrega-tion and many instantly fellright and left, and cried aloudfor mercy.”

My favorite story aboutCartwright is his tale aboutwhat happened one timewhen he was passing over theCumberland Mountains.

He stopped over night at a

He stoppedthe dancingand prayedall night

WalterAlbrittonKeithHuffman

Editor’s Note: Columnist JodyFuller will return next week.

See ALBRITTON, Page 3CSee SCOUT, Page 2C

he will major in electricalengineering.

Since the first Eagle Scoutwas awarded in 1912, near-ly 2.5 million Boy Scoutshave completed the EagleScout’s performance-basedrank requirements, whichcurrently include servingin progressive leadershippositions, demonstratingoutdoor and Scouting skillcompetencies, earning atleast 21 merit badges andplanning and executing aseminal Eagle Scout lead-ership service project. Dur-ing 2017 alone, 55,494 BoyScouts earned Scouting’shighest rank.

Troop 50 is chartered bythe Auburn Rotary Cluband meets Monday eve-nings at First PresbyterianChurch in Auburn. Formore information aboutthe troop, visit boyscout50.org.

their wellness exam fromyour vet yet?

Cold weather may wors-en some medical condi-tions such as arthritis. Yourpet should be examined bya veterinarian at least oncea year, and it’s as good atime as any to get him/her checked out to makesure they are ready andas healthy as possible forcold weather.

Know the limits: Just likepeople, pets’ cold toler-ance can vary from pet topet based on their coat,body fat stores, activitylevel and health. Be awareof your pet’s tolerance forcold weather and adjustaccordingly.

Animals acclimated toweather in the South are,of course. more accli-mated to warmer weather,and should be closelymonitored anytime thetemperature drops below45°F.

You will probably needto shorten your dog’swalks in very cold weatherto protect you both fromweather-associated healthrisks.

Long-haired or thick-coated dogs tend to bemore cold-tolerant, butare still at risk in coldweather. Short-haired petsfeel the cold faster becausethey have less protection,and short-legged petsmay become cold fasterbecause their bellies andbodies are more likely tocome into contact with thecold ground.

Pets with diabetes, heartdisease, kidney diseaseor hormonal imbalances(such as Cushing’s disease)may have a harder timeregulating their bodytemperature and maybe more susceptible toproblems from tempera-

ture extremes. The samegoes for very young andvery old pets. If you needhelp determining yourpet’s temperature limits,consult your veterinarian.

Provide choices: Just likeyou, pets prefer comfort-able sleeping places andmay change their locationbased on their need formore or less warmth.

Give them some safeoptions to allow them tovary their sleeping place toadjust to their needs.

Stay inside: Cats anddogs should be kept insideduring cold weather.

Like people, cats anddogs are susceptible tofrostbite and hypothermiaand should be kept inside.

Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, suchas huskies and other dogsbred for colder climates,are more tolerant of coldweather; but no pet shouldbe left outside for longperiods of time in below-freezing weather, espe-cially at night.

Make some noise: Awarm vehicle engine canbe an appealing heatsource for outdoor andferal cats, but it’s deadly.Check underneath yourcar, bang on the hoodand honk the horn beforestarting the engine.

Check the paws: Checkyour dog’s paws frequentlyfor signs of cold-weatherinjury or damage, suchas cracked paw pads orbleeding

Play dress-up: If yourdog has a short coat orseems bothered by thecold weather, consider asweater or dog coat. Haveseveral on hand, so youcan use a dry sweater orcoat each time your doggoes outside.

Wet sweaters or coatscan actually make yourdog colder.

Some pet owners alsouse booties to protect theirdog’s feet; if you choose to

use them, make sure theyfit properly.

Collar and chip: Manypets become lost in winterbecause snow and ice canhide recognizable scentsthat might normally helpyour pet find his/her wayback home. Make sureyour pet has a well-fittingcollar with up-to-dateidentification and contactinformation.

A microchip is a morepermanent means of iden-tification, but it’s criticalthat you keep the registra-tion up to date.

Stay home: Hot cars area known threat to pets,but cold cars also posesignificant risk to yourpet’s health.

You’re already familiarwith how a car can rapidlycool down in cold weather;it becomes like a refrigera-tor, and can rapidly chillyour pet.

Pets that are young,old, ill or thin are particu-larly susceptible to coldenvironments and shouldnever be left in cold cars.

Limit car travel to onlythat which is necessary,and never leave your petunattended in a vehicle.

Protect family: Odds areyour pet will be spendingmore time inside duringthe winter, so it’s a goodtime to make sure yourhouse is properly pet-proofed.

Use space heaters withcaution around petsbecause they can burnor can be knocked over,potentially starting a fire.Check your furnace beforethe cold weather sets into make sure it’s workingefficiently, and install car-bon monoxide detectorsto keep your entire familysafe.

If you have a pet bird,make sure its cage is awayfrom drafts.

Provide shelter: We don’trecommend keepingany pet outside for long

periods of time, but if youare unable to keep yourdog inside during coldweather, provide him/herwith a warm, solid shelteragainst wind.

Make sure that theyhave unlimited access tofresh, non-frozen water(by changing the waterfrequently or using apet-safe, heated waterbowl). The floor of theshelter should be off of theground and the beddingshould be thick, dry andchanged regularly to pro-vide a warm, dry environ-ment.

The door to the sheltershould be positioned awayfrom winds.

Space heaters and heatlamps should be avoided,or used only with ex-treme caution, becauseof the risk of burns or fire.Heated pet mats shouldalso be used with cautionbecause they are capableof causing burns.

Recognize problems:If your pet is whining,shivering, seems anxious,slows down or stops mov-ing, seems weak, or startslooking for warm placesto burrow, get them backinside quickly becausethey are showing signs ofhypothermia.

If you suspect your pethas hypothermia, consultyour veterinarian imme-diately.

Feed well: Keep yourpet at a healthy weightthroughout the winter.

Some pet owners feelthat a little extra weightgives their pet some extraprotection from cold, butthe health risks associ-ated with that extra weightdon’t make it worth doing.

Watch your pet’sbody condition and keepthem in the healthy range.Outdoor pets will requiremore calories in thewinter to generate enoughbody heat and energy tokeep them warm – talkto your veterinarianabout your pet’s nutri-tional needs during coldweather.

Weekly Wish: We stillhave litters of puppiescoming into the shelter,and we need to keep theirtummies full.

Please considerdonating some PurinaPuppy Chow (in the bluebag) to help us make surethey are well fed.

Column by Mary Wynne Kling, Out-reach and Development coordinatorat the Lee County Humane Society.

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2C ! SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019 OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS ! www.oanow.comYOUR LIFE

ScoutFrom Page 1C

First things first

The defenders usuallyhave more to think aboutthan declarer because,unlike declarer, theycan’t see each other’shands. Declarer, how-ever, with his partner’shand in plain view, is ina much better positionto formulate what needsto be done to secure thecontract.

Take this case whereWest led a spade againstthree notrump followingthe auction shown. Eastwon with the king afterdeclarer played low fromdummy and mulled overwhat to do next. He thencorrectly decided therewas no future in a spadecontinuation and shiftedto a low club, sound-ing the death knell fordeclarer’s chances.

South played low, Westwinning with the eightand returning a low clubto East’s king. There wasno recovery for South,whatever he did, andhe eventually lost threeclubs, a diamond and aspade to go down one.

East unquestionablyearned his success byabandoning spadesand shifting to a club attrick two. But actually,he should never havehad the opportunity tobeat the contract. Southerred grievously when heplayed low from dummyon the spade lead at trickone. He was asking fortrouble, and he got it!

The bidding andopening lead had clearlymarked East with theking of spades. It was

therefore unnecessaryto protect the queen byplaying low from dummy.

There was far morepressing business to betaken care of. Dummy’sdiamonds were scream-ing for attention, and thishad to be done beforedeclarer’s weak spot inclubs could be exploited.South should thereforehave gone up with theace of spades at trick oneand attacked diamondsat trick two, which wouldhave assured him of fin-ishing with at least ninetricks.

Tomorrow: FamousHand.

Bridge

time in Korea, he and hisfellow soldiers endureda coffee shortage. Somerelief came one morningwhen my grandfatherspotted a boiling kettle.

Drink this, the soldierboiling the kettle toldhim, then handed overa cup of plain hot water.But it did the trick, atleast temporarily. Never-theless, upon returning toAlabama, my grandfathermade it his mission tonever let a single cup ofcoffee go to waste.

Except one.Years ago, after finishing

and paying for his mealat a long-gone diner, mygrandfather asked for ato-go cup for the rest ofhis coffee. As he startedto head out the door, thecashier suddenly stoppedhim.

You gotta pay for thatcup, he was told.

Pointing to his table,my grandfather explainedthat he’d ordered the

coffee with his meal andalready paid for it. Butthe cashier clarified,telling him he still hadto pay for the to-go cupitself if he wanted to leavewith it.

Eyeing her fixedly, mygrandfather asked, “Soyou mean to tell me thatI’ve already paid for theliquid, but you want meto pay for this here cupit’s in?”

That’s right.Dauntless and resolute,

my grandfather turnedhis wrist and let the cof-fee spill to the floor.

“You can keep yourcup,” he said, setting itmatter-of-factly on thecounter. Sadly, a perfectlygood cup of coffee waswiped off the floor thatday. But its sacrifice wasnecessary to emphasizeanother strong convic-tion of the Sacred CoffeeCreed:

You just don’t try to pulla fast one on a man andhis coffee.

Keith Huffman lives in Opelika. Hecan be reached at kmhuffman86@

gmail.com.

HuffmanFrom Page 1C

LCHSFrom Page 1C

Courtesy of the Opelika-Auburn News (January 20, 2019)