Category: Main Stories

By Deborah Storey | Living 50 Plus Jack Nagel of Decatur has a simple explanation for why he’s still swimming in his 90s. “For my health,” he said. “That’s why I’m 91.” Get ready to feel guilty, you workout slackers. This inspiring senior citizen swims 30-minute pool sessions at least five days a week. Nagel has been swimming as part

By Catherine Godbey | Living 50 Plus Tucked away in the corner of libraries and archives in north Alabama, Tuscaloosa and Atlanta, the Rev. Wylheme Ragland spends hundreds of hours each year researching the past. “History, specifically African-American history, is my passion,” the 76-year-old Ragland said. “If I am doing research, I may stay up until 2 or 3 in

By Wes Tomlinson | Living 50 Plus When talking about work ethic and the immigrant’s journey to obtain the American dream, Hispanic residents near Central Parkway and 14th Street Southwest smile when they talk about the success of Decatur resident Alfredo Chavez, a man respectfully referred to as El Jefe (The Boss). Chavez, who turns 57 this month, owns five

By Catherine Godbey | Living 50 Plus Eleven years ago, a small group gathered inside the Carnegie Visual Arts Center to discuss ways to raise money for the nonprofit arts center. From that meeting came an idea for a Mardi Gras-style fundraiser. They called it Carnegie Carnival, which has become one of the most popular events in Decatur, attracting thousands

By Emma Daniel | Living 50 Plus Having children or grandchildren getting married can be stressful for everyone involved, but local wedding coordinators say being supportive is the key to parents, grandparents and the new couple having a good time at the wedding. Carlee Koehler, owner of the Event Planner event coordination service in Huntsville, said showing support is the

By Catherine Godbey | Living 50 Plus When asked to give advice to those new to decorating for the holidays, Dena Stephenson — a self-described “non-recovering Christmasaholic” — said, without hesitation, “Don’t do it.” Then she laughed. “Seriously, do what you can manage and then try to stop, but you might not be able to stop, because once you start,

By Catherine Godbey | Living 50 Plus Tucked away inside the closet of a guest bedroom, Martha Newman gets to work. Armed with a glue gun, cone-shaped shiny paper, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches and broaches, the 75-year-old Decatur woman creates glitzy and sparkly bejeweled trees. She calls the creations memory trees. Each bead, pendant and pearl she hot glues on