Lake Martin Magazine

Lake Martin is my second home, a place that brings a sense of tranquility and peace to my heart. It’s the kind of place that gets inside of you and stays with you everywhere you go. I’ve spent every summer for 27 years on Lake Martin, making sure to never miss a Fourth of July with friends and family. As I got older, I shared the magic of this place with others as well.

Larkin and Richie Radney’s two-story raised cottage combines elements of traditional architecture with comfortable “lake home” décor. The Willow Point home was originally built by Bill Watts in 1997, but underwent an extensive renovation by John Thames in 2011. Richie said the goal of the renovation was to make the home less formal and more lake-friendly.

Feb. 26 marked a monumental milestone in the lives of two of Lake magazine’s longtime columnists. Professional angler Greg Vinson finished in second place in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in Shreveport, La. Later that day, Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at Springhouse restaurant, assisted in defeating celebrity Iron Chef Bobby Flay on the popular Food Network show, “Iron Chef America.”

For the sheer joy of bird watching, it’s hard to beat wood ducks. These amazing birds have it all: a flight call so distinctive that it just sounds like the America’s swampy oak bottoms and creeks, a spooky elusiveness that makes any close-up spotting a big event and a bodacious, over-the-top color scheme that just demands long stares when you do find them.

Russell Marine will kick boating season off in style this month as it hosts its eighth annual In-Water Boat Show at the Ridge Marina. The show, which is the largest in-water boat show in the Southeast, will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 27-29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The restoration of the historic Smith Mountain Fire Tower is almost finished and a dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the end of May.

Gold! The word brings to mind 49er’s rushing to California, or later the push into Alaska’s gold fields. But one of the first gold rushes in the U.S. was to Alabama, right here in the Lake Martin area.

After Alexander City native Jackson Dozier graduated from Benjamin Russell High School in 1998, he left town to pursue a career on the water.

Dave Commander was born in Enterprise, Ala. and graduated from Decatur High School. He attended the University of Alabama and earned a degree in Manpower and Industrial Relations.

With boating season about to begin, I’d like to remind everyone about boat driving tips, drivers’ safety and boating etiquette – a refresher course, if you will. Following these guidelines could potentially save you or the life of one of your loved ones, so please take safety and etiquette seriously.