Features

Samantha Newsome and Rebel

June 25, 2010
Samantha and Rebel

Samantha Newsome, a W. R. Tolar 4th grade teacher, lives in Blountstown with her very large dog, Rebel. She has always been a dog lover and a firm believer that no dog is born mean or violent. She had always wanted a pit bull after growing up around them. Samantha finally got a pit bull puppy in March of 2008 from one of her students. She went and met the mother of the litter, Dixie, and found that she was very loving and gentle. Samantha said that it was hard to choose which puppy would come to live with...

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Blake Goff & Big Red

June 25, 2010
Blake Goff and Big Red

Blake Goff, a second grader at W.R. Tolar School, has an usual best friend – a red tailed boa named Big Red. Big Red lives in Blake’s bedroom in a large aquarium. Blake also has another snake, a three-foot-long Australian Grass Snake, as well as four dogs. Blake and his animals live with his parents, Donna and Dwayne Goff and his two brothers, Levi and Stetson. Blake’s teacher, Ms. Jessica Hobby, has allowed Big Red to visit the class a few times but admits that she really doesn’t look forward to those visits. Blake has been interested in snakes...

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A pup named Paisley

June 25, 2010
A pup named Paisley

Doug Harrell of Blountstown is shown with five-month-old Paisley, a chocolate double-dapple mini-dachshund. The double-dapple label applies to animals with four or more patterns in their coat; Paisley has six, which creates a unique look, hence her name. She may be cute and tiny, but Harrell warns: “She’s meaner than snot.” The pup shares a household with Harrell, his wife, Patti, two cats, a rat terrier and a two-year-old dachshund, Wolfgang. Paisley’s chewing habit has reduced her wicker bed to about half its size, but she still finds it comfortable to sleep in. She is waging an ongoing battle...

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Zac & Chief

June 25, 2010
Zac and Chief

Zac Eikeland is still playing with the Christmas gift he got two years ago – a Boston Terrier he calls Chief. “They’re best friends,” says Zac’s mom, Cayla Eikeland. The pair enjoy riding on a golf kart around their home at Lake Mystic in Bristol and after a busy day of playing, mom tucks seven-year-old Zac and his pup in bed together. “Zac feeds him and helps bathe him,” mom says. When Zac’s busy, the dog shares his affections with the other family pet, a cat called Kitty. The pair often snuggle up on the couch. The family celebrated...

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In The Garden

June 19, 2010
In The Garden

Joshua Goodman, 8, of Bristol is shown with his giant zucchini grown in the family garden. The zucchini measured 13 inches long and 13 inches around. Joshua is the son of Chris and Marie Goodman of Bristol. Joshua plans to get his Nana (Patsy Godwin) to make his daddy some Zucchini Bread.

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Kristen and Jerri

June 19, 2010
Kristen and Jerri

Kristen Bateman of Bristol is shown with her new pet, an 11-week-old Maltipoo she named Jerri. The little dog is a cross between a Maltese and a Toy Poodle. Kristen, her sister, Clary, and their dad, Brian Bateman, are getting use to life with the dog. “She’s pretty calm. She’s a good little puppy,” says Kristen. Jerri loves riding in the car and often falls asleep while lying on her back. Kristen admits Jerri does have one bad habit: “She loves to chew on things, especially Clary’s shoes,” she said.                SHARON AUSTIN PHOTO

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Marcus and Pepper

June 19, 2010
Marcus and Pepper

Marcus Sherrod of Blountstown is shown here with his little buddy, Pepper, a toy fox terrier. Pepper waits each day for Marcus to come home from work. The two toss a ball around until suppertime and then settle in on the couch for a little TV with Marcus’ girlfriend, Trish. The two are shown here in their matching camouflage shirts.

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Evan and CornPops

June 19, 2010
Boys Snake

Evan Hunter of Clarksville has an unusual pet – a 5 foot corn snake named CornPops. Evan and his brother Zeb found the snake at church almost a year ago. They tamed him, but only after being bitten a few times. They enjoy his monthly feedings of store-bought mice. The snake has gotten accustomed to being held and likes to hang out on the boys’ arms. The snake gets along well with the other cats and dogs around the house. Even the boys’ sisters, Ashley, Shauna, Kyla & Anna-Ruth, enjoy taking turns with CornPops. They are the kids of...

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Oliver & Alycia

June 19, 2010
Alycia Shuler and Oliver

Liberty County High School Senior Alycia Shuler has a special pet – a gerbil named Oliver. The two share a room as well as plenty of playtime with the family dog, Lacie. Oliver enjoys traveling outside his cage in the safety of his plastic ball while Lacie chases him. Alycia often supplies Oliver with his favorite treat of sunflower seeds. She received Oliver as a gift from her friend, Cheyenne Griffin, for Christmas 2008. Alycia is the daughter of Craig and Vicky Shuler of Bristol. SHARON AUSTIN PHOTO

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Taz, Tango & Paige Shepard

June 19, 2010
Paige Shepard

Even though she’s fallen off “more times than I can count” and suffered head concussions and dislocated bones, Paige Shepard loves to do one thing more than anything else: barrel race. The Liberty County High School senior finds the sport exhilarating. “It’s just an adrenalin rush,” she says of the challenging rodeo event that’s earned her a bit of cash over the years, and more recently, a saddle. That money’s important because it supplements what she makes on her weekend waitressing job to cover the costs of feeding and caring for her horses, including four-year-old Tango, Taz, 11, (above)...

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