“If you don’t get better, we’ll be out here for days,” Bob O’Daniel hears his wife jokingly yell from their home in Eclectic. Scouring the O’Daniel’s property — all 36 acres of it — has become Bob’s favorite pastime, and one numerous Lake Martin area citizens benefit from daily.
On any given day, Bob, 80, will search for a small plastic sports-type Project Lifesaver bracelet hidden along the earth, dutifully leaving no stone unturned. By doing so, he tests the quality of the bracelet — and, of course, tries to beat his personal record.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm“%9@D6 =:EE=6 H9:E6 3C246=6ED 2C6 92C5 E@ D66 F?56C A:?6 DEC2H[ :? 2 9@=6 @C 2?JH96C6 6=D6 4=6G6C >J H:76 92D 9:556? E96>[” q@3 ~’s2?:6= D2:5] “qFE :E DFC6 :D C6=:6G:?8 E@ <?@H E96 56G:46 H@C<D 2?5 H:== 96=A @FE E9@D6 H9@ 2=D@ 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D EF4<65 2H2J 7C@> A=2:? D:89E]” k^Am
kAm%96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C 3C246=6ED 2C6 ;FDE @?6 4@>A@?6?E @7 2 ?2E:@?2= >:DD:@? 3J E96 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? E@ 7:?5 H2?56C:?8 2E\C:D< A@AF=2E:@?D :? 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@?] k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C =:E6C2EFC6[ ?:?6 9@FCD :D E96 2G6C286 E:>6 2 D62C49 =2DED 7@C 2 >:DD:?8 p=K96:>6C’D A2E:6?E @?46 96 @C D96 :D C6A@CE65 >:DD:?8] k^Am
kAm(:E9@FE 67764E:G6 AC@465FC6D 2?5 6BF:A>6?E[ D62C496D 42? :?G@=G6 >F=E:A=6 286?4:6D[ 9F?5C65D @7 @77:46CD[ 4@F?E=6DD >2? 9@FCD 2?5 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD] |@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J[ 3642FD6 E:>6 :D @7 E96 6DD6?46[ E96C6 :D @?=J 2 d_T DFCG:G23:=:EJ C2E6 27E6C ac 9@FCD H:E9 E92E E:>6 36:?8 27764E65 3J 4=:>2E6 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 E6CC2:?[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 C:D< @7 2 EC28:4 @FE4@>6] k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 E:>6 DA6?E D62C49:?8 7@C 2 A2E:6?E H62C:?8 E96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C EC2?D>:EE:?8 3C246=6E :D C65F465 E@ D@>6H96C6 :? E96 `d\ E@ b_\>:?FE6 C2?86]k^Am
kAmx? 5:C64E C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 ?665D @7 E96D6 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 E96:C 42C68:G6CD[ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C A2CE?6CD H:E9 DE2E6 2?5 =@42= AF3=:4 D276EJ 286?4:6D E@ DF446DD7F==J C6D4F6 H2?56C:?8 A6CD@?D] %96 E2D< @7 D62C49:?8 7@C H2?56C:?8 @C =@DE :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 4@8?:E:G6 4@?5:E:@?D :D 2 8C@H:?8 2?5 D6C:@FD C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 244@C5:?8 E@ ~’s2?:6=] $@[ ~’s2?:6= 564:565 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 23@FE :E] k^Am
kAmx? u63CF2CJ a_`a[ ~’s2?:6=[ E96 E96? AC6D:56?E @7 p=232>2 !@H6C r@>A2?J’D C6E:C66 @C82?:K2E:@? <?@H? 2D E96 t?6C8:K6CD 2?5 >6>36C s@? uC2?<=:? >6E H:E9 EH@ DE2E6 EC@@A6CD H9@ H6C6 ECJ:?8 E@ AC@>@E6 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C :? E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“|J >@E96C 2?5 H:76’D 8C2?5>@E96C 3@E9 5:65 H:E9 p=K96:>6C’D[ 2?5 uC2?<=:? 92D 72>:=J >6>36CD H:E9 :E[” ~’s2?:6= D2:5] “(6 3@E9 925 D@7E DA@ED :? @FC 962CED 7@C E96 5:D62D6] x E@=5 E96 DE2E6 EC@@A6CD H6 H@F=5 96=A 7@C EH@ C62D@?Di E@ D2G6 =:G6D[ 2?5 36 2==@H65 E@ C:56 H:E9 E96 2G:2E:@? E62> :? E96 96=:4@AE6C @?46]”k^Am
kAm%96? 2?5 E96C6[ E96 t?6C8:K6CD 564:565 E@ 3C:?8 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C E@ p=232>2]k^Am
PL Facts2 use.jpg
Graphic by Abby Driggers / The Outlook
kAmr@?46AEF2=:K65 :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 H:E9 E96 $E@<6D r@F?EJ |@F?E2:? #6D4F6 %62> 2?5 @77:4:2==J 7@C>2=:K65 3J 2 D62C49 2?5 C6D4F6 E62> :? r96D2A62<6[ ':C8:?:2 :? `hhh[ E96 962CE @7 E96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C @A6C2E:@? :D 2 3C246=6E E96 :?5:G:5F2= H:E9 2 4@8?:E:G6 5:D@C56C H62CD] %96 AC@5F4E EC2?D>:ED :ED @H? :?5:G:5F2= C25:@ 7C6BF6?4J 2?5 :D H2E6CAC@@7 E6DE65 F?56CH2E6C 2E 2 56AE9 @7 h 766E] ~’s2?:6= D2:5 E96 3C246=6E :D AFCA@D67F==J ?@E v!$ E@ :>AC@G6 :ED C6=:23:=:EJ 2D 2 AC@5F4E] k^Am
kAm~’s2?:6= D2:5 E96 t?6C8:K6CD’ >2:? >:DD:@? H:E9 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C H2D E@ C2:D6 7F?5D 7@C E96 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D’ Sc[___ DE2CE6C’D 766 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 4@DED E@ A2DD E96 Sc__ 3C246=6E 2=@?8 2E ?@ 4@DE E@ 72>:=:6D :? ?665] k^Am
kAmx? 6:89E J62CD[ E96 t?6C8:K6CD 5@?2E65 >@C6 E92? S`bd[___ E@ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C 2?5 D6CG65 2D E96 D:?8=6 =2C86DE 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C =:E6C2EFC6] !C@;64E {:76D2G6C ?@H 92D `` 492AE6CD E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6] k^Am
kAm“%96 :?5:G:5F2= 492AE6CD 7F==J DFAA@CE65 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C[ 3FE 2 ?F>36C @7 @E96CD 96=A65 2?5 H6C6 DJ>A2E96E:4 E@ @FC 42FD6[” ~’s2?:6= D2:5] k^Am
kAm%96 t?6C8:K6CD C2:D65 >@?6J E9C@F89 2 D6C:6D @7 7F?5C2:D6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 A642? A:6 32<6 D2=6D 2?5 AC:G2E6 5@?2E:@?D] k^Am
kAm p7E6C ~’s2?:6=’D E6C> 2D AC6D:56?E 6?565 :? a_`h[ E96 t?6C8:K6CD C67@4FD65 :ED 677@CED @? E96 p=232>2 x?DE:EFE6 7@C s627 2?5 q=:?5]k^Am
kAm *6E[ ~’s2?:6= :D DE:== 24E:G6 H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>[ 2?5 2E 6G6? 8:G6? >@>6?E 92D E96 6BF:A>6?E @? 9:> E@ CFD9 E@ 2:5 2 >:DD:?8 A6CD@? :7 ?66565] “tG6CJH96C6 x 8@[ E92E 6BF:A>6?E 8@6D H:E9 >6[” ~’s2?:6= D2:5] k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 2== E96 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ 2C62 4=:6?ED’ :?7@C>2E:@? :D <6AE :? 2 52E232D6 :? E96 =@42= 4@F?EJ’D D96C:77’D @77:46[ :?4=F5:?8 “6G6? E96 4@=@C @7 E96:C 6J6D]”k^Am
kAm~’s2?:6= @7E6? 4964<D :? H:E9 =@42= D96C:77’D @77:46D :? E96 2C62 E@ D66 :7 2?J 255:E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@? @C >2E6C:2= :D ?66565] w6 C68F=2C=J <66AD FA H:E9 4=:6?ED 2?5 92D 366? <?@H? E@ D:E :?D:56 E96 (2=>2CE 2?5 :?7@C> A2DD6CD3J 23@FE !C@;64E {:76D2G6C]k^Am
kAm“xE’D D:>A=6 2?5 4=62C 4FE H9J x 2> D@ A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE E9:D AC@8C2> — :E’D >J 86?6C2E:@? @7 7@=<D H9@ ?665 E9:D 6BF:A>6?E[” ~’s2?:6= D2:5] ~7 E96 4@8?:E:G6 5:D@C56CD[ p=K96:>6C’D :D E96 AC:>2CJ 5:D@C56C !C@;64E {:76D2G6C H@C<D H:E9] p=K96:>6C’D 5:D62D6 :D 2 AC@8C6DD:G6[ :CC6G6CD:3=6 ?6FC@=@8:42= 5:D@C56C] |@DE G:4E:>D 2C6 @=56C E92? ed[ 3FE p=K96:>6C’D 42? DEC:<6 :? E96 c_D @C d_D] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 p=K96:>6C’D pDD@4:2E:@?[ 4=@D6 E@ dhT @7 E9@D6 27764E65 H:E9 E9:D 5:D62D6 H:== 56G6=@A E96 H2?56C:?8 E6?56?4J] p=K96:>6C’D 5:D62D6 56DEC@JD D9@CE\E6C> >6>@CJ H9:=6 <66A:?8 =@?8\E6C> >6>@CJ :?E24E] }@ 4FC6 :D <?@H?] k^Am
kAm$:?46 `hge[ p=232>2 92D 925 2 9:896C 562E9 C2E6 7@C p=K96:>6C’D 5:D62D6 E92? E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286] (:E9 2 `ddT :?4C62D6 D:?46 a___[ p=232>2 92D E96 6:89E9 9:896DE 562E9 C2E6 @7 p=K96:>6C’D A2E:6?ED :? E96 ?2E:@? H:E9 `__[___ A6@A=6 =:G:?8 H:E9 p=K96:>6C’D :? p=232>2[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !F3=:4 $276EJ] k^Am
kAm{6DD E92? `[___ @7 E96> 4FCC6?E=J 92G6 2 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C 3C246=6E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C =:E6C2EFC6]k^Am
kAm!C@;64E {:76D2G6C :D 2 d_`4b 4@>>F?:EJ\32D65[ AF3=:4 D276EJ[ ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? AC@G:5:?8 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD H:E9 E649?@=@8J 2?5 EC2:?:?8 E@ BF:4<=J =@42E6 2?5 C6D4F6 DF49 H2?56C:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D] k^Am
k9am{2H 6?7@C46>6?E DFA6CG:D6D !C@;64E {:76D2G6Ck^9am
kAm!C@;64E {:76D2G6C :D F?56C E96 5:C64E DFA6CG:D:@? @7 =@42= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] p=232>2 {2H t?7@C46>6?E p86?4J Wp{tpX pG:2E:@? &?:E 2DD:DED E96 @E96C 286?4:6D :? E96 7F?5C2:D:?8 2?5 D62C49:?8 @7 >:DD:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D]k^Am
kAm p=E9@F89 E96 p=232>2 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C AC@8C2> EC2:?:?8 :D AC@G:565 3J DE2E6 4@@C5:?2E@C 4@CA@C2= z6?E $>:E9[ E96 D96C:77D @7 6249 4@F?EJ 2C6 :? 492C86 @7 E96 :?5:G:5F2= AC@8C2> :? E96:C 4@F?E:6D]k^Am
kAm$>:E9 2=D@ 24BF:C6D 6BF:A>6?E 7C@> !C@;64E {:76D2G6C x?E6C?2E:@?2= E@ 96=A D62C49 7@C H2?56C:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D] k^Am
kAm“*@F 92G6 4@F?E:6D :? @FC DE2E6 E92E 2C6 G6CJ A@@C 4@F?E:6D 2?5 E96D6 D96C:77’D 56A2CE>6?ED 4@F=5 ?@E 277@C5 3C:?8:?8 :? !C@;64E {:76D2G6C[” $>:E9 D2:5] “qFE 3642FD6 @7 E96 t?6C8:K6CD[ E96J H6C6 23=6 E@ DA@?D@C E9@D6 286?4:6D] $@ ?@H[ E96 t?6C8:K6CD 2C6 27764E:?8 =:G6D 2== @G6C E96 DE2E6 @7 p=232>2]” k^Am
kAmu@C %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ[ :?G6DE:82E@C r2>6C@? !6CCJ :D E96 4@@C5:?2E@C @7 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C] k^Am
kAm!6CCJ D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> :D 7C66 @7 4@DE E@ 2?J A6CD@? :? %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ E92E BF2=:7:6D 7@C E96 D6CG:46D] k^Am
kAm“%96 6BF:A>6?E E92E :D FD65 E@ =@42E6 =@DE =@G65 @?6D H9@ 2C6 6?C@==65 2?5 H62C:?8 2 EC2?D>:EE6C :D 6IEC6>6=J 244FC2E6 2?5 96=A7F= :? E96 6G6?E :E 92D E@ 36 FD65[” !6CCJ D2:5] k^Am
kAmt249 4=:6?E 2446AE65 :?E@ E96 AC@8C2> H:== 36 C6BF:C65 E@ 7:== @FE 2 AC@7:=6 2?5 AC@G:56 2 4FCC6?E :>286 @7 E96 >6>36C] %9:D AC@7:=6 :D <6AE 4@?7:56?E:2= 3FE 42? 36 G6CJ 96=A7F= :? 42D6 2 A6CD@? 364@>6D >:DD:?8] k^Am
kAm“%96 :?G6DE:82E:@?D F?:E 6?DFC6D E92E E96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C AC@8C2> :D >@?:E@C65 C@FE:?6=J 7@C E96 D276EJ @7 2== E96 4=:6?ED]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 3@E9 !6CCJ 2?5 ~’s2?:6=[ E96 D:8?2= :D 62DJ E@ EC24< 2?5 =625D C:89E E@ E96 H2?56C:?8 A6CD@?] k^Am
kAm~7 E9@D6 27764E65 H:E9 E9:D 5:D62D6[ 4=@D6 E@ dhT H:== 56G6=@A E96 H2?56C:?8 E6?56?4J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !C@;64E {:76D2G6C =:E6C2EFC6]k^Am
kAm%96 2AA=:42E:@? 7@C 2 ?6H >6>36C 6?C@==65 :? E96 !C@;64E {:76D2G6C 52E232D6 42? 36 =@42E65 @? E96 u2463@@< A286 @7 E96 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46] k^Am
kAmu@C 7FCE96C :?7@C>2E:@? C682C5:?8 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJUCDBF@jD !C@;64E {:76D2G6C >:DD:@?[ 42== E96 D96C:77UCDBF@jD @77:46 2E ade\gad\caec @C 6>2:= !6CCJ 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iC2H=Deab`oJ29@@]4@>QmC2H=Deab`oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am
