POWERGRAMS

26 vary, but some people believe the population increases at least 20 percent during prime hunting and fishing periods each year. Sadler McGraw, 43, is the Wilcox County property appraiser but he is better known for his turkey calling talent. He started mimicking the big birds when he was 11 and over the next two decades became more and more skilled at bringing them out of the woods. In 2009, he won the National Wild Turkey Federation turkey calling championship. Three years later, he won the world championship. Along the path to the top of his game, McGraw became disgruntled with the grunts of the instruments he bought at sporting goods stores for $40 or more. He began experimenting at home, turning pieces of wood on a lathe. After about five years, McGraw came up with an instrument that sounded more realistic. He began using his own turkey call, and as competitors took notice of the sound they began asking if he would build one for them. He now runs Champions Choice Game Calls out of his garage, taking orders from across the nation. "I like to sit out there in my spare time and work on them," McGraw says. "Anybody that wants to learn about turkey hunting, I'm very happy to work with them." Black Belt Treasures began working with Alabama artists more than a decade ago. Boosted by grants from the Alabama Power Foundation and other benefactors, the nonprofit center has become a factor in the region's economy. An initial group of about 75 artists has grown to nearly 500 craftsmen displaying their works for people from around the world who drop by the building on Claiborne Avenue. Visitors have spent more than $1.2 million, with 70 percent of the money going back to the artists. "It is exciting," says Sulynn Creswell, executive director, who lives in the historic Beck-Miller-Creswell house (circa 1840s) near downtown. "We all have such a passion for this effort and we're seeing dreams come true." Inside the old McGraw-Webb Chevrolet building, volunteers work with artists from rural counties statewide, assisting existing talent and educating the next generation of painters, potters, quilters, masons, sculptors, photographers and the like. Most of the artists use natural materials from the Black Belt, including wood, clay and pine straw, as well as scrap metal, cloth, paper and glass. "We want to make sure when people come here they feel welcome and that we offer a really high-quality product that is representative of the talent in this region," Creswell says. Black Belt Treasures routinely partners with the Alabama Tombigbee Association, Daniel Foundation, guild members and other benefactors to help keep the store doors open. The staff hopes to soon expand operations inside the 6,000-square-foot former body shop now used for storage. "We're preserving the artistic history of our region," says Judy Martin, the outreach coordinator who 12 years ago began searching a 19-county area for artists and artwork. Some artists are for the first time making a living off their craft. A few years ago, QVC found out about Andrew McCall and asked him to sell his unique woodworks on television. He soon had more orders than he could meet. Other exhibitors are just happy dealing with the 14,000 or so annual shoppers who see what's inside Black Belt Treasures. Visitors can buy a $20 wood feather carved by John Sheffey or opt for one of his lifelike ducks for $2,000. The store offers authentic area crafts ranging from $1 postcards to $4,000 Charlie Lucas pieces on display Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. "I think the variety we have speaks well of the area," says Kristin Law, art programs and marketing director. "It reflects diversity in all respects. We used to wonder how we were going to fill one wall. Now even our storage area is filled." Martin notes that Black Belt Treasures was intentionally located off the interstates and the beaten path. Her remark that "I won't say we're in the middle of nowhere, but it's close" is often repeated by longtime Camdenites. Indeed, a traveler would be hard-pressed to reach the town without intentionally taking one of the back roads that end up in the heart of Camden after running through miles of flat green pasture land. But just beyond those fields, into the county's lucrative pine tree stands, visitors may run into feral hogs, whitetail deer, wild turkey and other game by the thousands. Miller's Ferry reservoir holds more than 140 species of fishes. Just a few doors down from the Camden Alabama Power Office is the world's largest alligator, pulled from the river and stuffed just two years ago. And the potential for running into offspring of the near-16-foot, 1,000-pound gator caught by the Stokes family isn't enough to keep most people out of the Wilcox County waters. Camden Office Merchandise Salesperson Tricia Griffin (16 years with the company), Field Service Representative Rick McCreary (10 years), Local Operations Lineman Steve "Cuz" Richardson (27 years) and newcomer Customer Service Representative Katrina Wilson have spent much of their lives enjoying nature and neighbors around Camden. Harris said the reservoir and the woods are an extra benefit for his employees and most everyone else in their town. People enjoy the laid-back lifestyle where children go to school barefoot and call their teachers "Miss Mary" rather than "Mrs. Smith." "I liked growing up in Camden and have found it a great place to raise a family," Harris said. McDonald's Grocery in 1955 and today.

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