Untitled Document

Monday, October 16, 2006

NOTE ON FORMATTING: When stories are transferred from the Web, certain punctuation marks and other marks in this report don't carry over and result in symbols and other formatting errors. To see or print the story in full without these translation errors, simply click on "full story" at the end of each item."

Total Clips: 7

	Date	Outlet
Safe Haven, south of the state line	10/16/2006	Anniston Star
Thomasville stands out: Residents' proactive attitude boosts city's economy	10/16/2006	Birmingham News
In bow hunting, it's no disgrace to fail	10/16/2006	Kokomo Tribune (Indiana)
Hot on the trail of the GRAIL BIRD Search for woodpecker focuses on Walton	10/15/2006	Northwest Florida Daily News
ALABAMA VOICES: AU veterinary school committed to proper care	10/15/2006	Montgomery Advertiser
Chick-fil-A founder tells tale of success	10/14/2006	Gannett Newspapers - Alabama
AU marks World Food Day	10/14/2006	Opelika-Auburn News


Safe Haven, south of the state line 10/16/2006 Anniston Star Editorials, In our opinion		Return to Top
This story about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker mentions the AU research team. To those who know the area, the recent possible rediscovery of the thought-to-be-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker in the swamps along the Choctawhatchee River in northwest Florida is not a gigantic surprise. The Auburn University research team making the discovery says the area is well within the historical range of the bird, it contains a lot of older growth, is relatively undisturbed by farming and logging and is, to a large extent, under the protection of the state of Florida. Move a few miles north of where the Auburn team is working and you'll come to the Alabama state line. Here the river doesn't spread out into flooded forest nearly as much as in Florida, the big cypresses are fewer and farther between, farm land often bumps right down to the river's edge and little, if any, of the land is under the protection of the state of Alabama. But the big ivory-billed woodpecker — the most sought-after animal in decades and last seen without a doubt more than half a century ago — used to make Alabama its home as well. Now, if it does still live, it has retreated to the only place where it has enough unbroken forest to survive. And that clearly ain't Alabama. As usual, we can thank our anemic Alabama Department of Environmental Administration for that. But we should also thank an overall culture that allows our leaders to put the interest of business and agri-industry ahead of environmental protection. If we had protected bottomlands in southeast Alabama and the watershed of the Choctawhatchee in the way Florida has, we might not only have the big ivory billed dwelling in our state, the health of that river system and every other river system in this state would be insured. The Auburn team spent a little time poking around extreme south Alabama, but they quickly realized the forest had been cut back and there was very little older growth. So they turned south, where the forest is thick. Brian Rolek, one of the Auburn researchers, was the first to spot the bird. Later he was one of two people to spend months upon months in the swamps of the river, watching and waiting for the bird. It paid off. One reason he was able to see the ivory-billed woodpecker on a number of occasions is because he almost never saw any humans or evidence of them. That's not the case just a few miles upstream.
Full Story

Thomasville stands out: Residents' proactive attitude boosts city's economy 10/16/2006 Birmingham News Mike Cason		Return to Top
An AU study is mentioned in this story. THOMASVILLE - It's 90 miles from the nearest large city, 70 miles from an interstate and barely outside the poverty-riddled Black Belt. But Thomasville is thriving, according to economic developers, business leaders and residents in the southwest Alabama city of about 5,000. Townhouses and apartments are under construction in the old downtown. Louisiana-Pacific is building a $215 million plant to make roof decking. Construction starts next year on a $30 million hospital. And the city plans to spend $26 million on a new water treatment plant and sewer system improvements as well as $4 million to convert the old high school into a civic center. Thomasville's vitality is striking in contrast to much of rural Alabama. Forty of Alabama's 67 counties are losing population. Median incomes in many rural counties lag 20 percent to 45 percent below the state median. Finding a way to shore up the sluggish economy that marks rural Alabama will be among the tasks facing whichever candidate - Republican Bob Riley or Democrat Lucy Baxley - wins the governor's race Nov. 7. Thomasville is held up as a model of what can be accomplished in those areas. "What Thomasville says to us is, just because you don't have an interstate and just because you're on the back side of the moon doesn't mean you can't do better," said Larry Lee, an economic developer and advocate for rural Alabama. "They have turned over every stone possible to make sure they would be competitive for programs that looked in their area," said Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade. Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day said other cities could follow the same path. "It's not rocket science," said Day, who still wears his Thomasville High School ring, Class of '78, and passes out lapel pins bearing the city seal. Thomasville's courtship of Louisiana-Pacific was a turning point. Soon after Day became mayor in 1996, the city lost in its pursuit of a roof truss plant, which chose Evergreen. "We looked at everything and basically tried to learn why we came in second," Day said. Taking note of an Auburn University study that identified young-growth timber as an underused resource in the region, Thomasville joined other municipalities to recruit plants that make oriented strand board, decking material made from young-growth pine that is a rising alternative to plywood. "It was a perfect niche," Day said. The Clarke County Commission, with the backing of five municipal governments but vocal opposition from some residents, passed a $25 vehicle license plate tax to pay for the 1,200-acre site, infrastructure and grant matches that landed Louisiana-Pacific. The plant, which anchors an industrial park, will employ 150 people. The city also is securing ties with five pulp and paper plants within 40 miles. Emphasis on schools: Under a new dual enrollment program, students in the Thomasville city school system can study pulp and paper technology at Alabama Southern Community College with city-paid scholarships. Students get a head start on a two-year degree and on entry-level jobs that pay an average salary of $45,000. The dual enrollment program is a way to serve students not among the 35 percent to 40 percent who plan to seek a four-year degree. "Those (college-bound) kids are already motivated," Day said. "We feel like where most rural communities do a poor job is tracking the needs of the other 60 to 65 percent." The program could help Thomasville prevent the population drain that is hurting many rural areas. Five counties in the Black Belt lost more than 20 percent of their school-age populations from 1990 to 2003. "If people don't come back, eventually it's just going to be a slow decline over three or four generations," said Scott Lewis, 45, who grew up in Thomasville and stayed to run the pest control business his father started in 1963. "If you stick around, it can make a difference. I don't believe there's any place better to raise a family than a small town in Alabama." Adequately funded schools are an asset, too. Thomasville collects a combination of school taxes equivalent to the amount 47.9 mills of property tax would raise. That earned the city an A in local funding on its 2005-06 report card from the state Department of Education. The statewide average is the equivalent of 31.4 mills. "We put our money where our mouth is," Day said. Can't go it alone: Lee, the advocate for rural economic development, said the state should set up regional development centers to form more alliances like the one in Clarke County and to extend those across county lines. "We really, really need to be taking a regional approach and looking at the state, not as 67 counties, but as the eight or so economic regions that it is," Lee said. Day supports the idea of regional centers. He said small-town mayors need all the help they can get. He found signs of complacency when he left his job as a Wal-Mart store manager and was elected mayor 10 years ago. The city's industrial board had not met for a 1½ years. A 30,000-square-foot building built speculatively in the industrial park had sat empty for six years. "We had the old adage of, build it and they will come, so to speak," Day said. Day sought advice from ADO, Alabama Power Co. and others with expertise in development. They said to start with simple things, such as trimming grass on the side of the curbs. Day learned what resources were available and how to obtain them. During the past 10 years, Thomasville has received at least 14 grants totaling $11.15 million, not including $7.4 million in grants for the Louisiana-Pacific project. Thompson Tractor moved into the former speculative building and has expanded twice. The industrial park is filled to capacity. Development doesn't always involve pursuit of giant companies. Thomasville upgraded its youth baseball fields and has hosted the Dixie Pre-Majors World Series two of the past three years. The tournament brings in teams from 11 states and is returning next year. "July used to be our slowest sales tax month," Day said. "Now it's in the top five." Day expects more new projects and growth because most people in Thomasville share his philosophy. "Instead of standing around and belly-aching 'I wish somebody would clean up that corner,' become somebody and clean that corner up," he said.
Full Story

In bow hunting, it's no disgrace to fail 10/16/2006 Kokomo Tribune (Indiana) John Martino		Return to Top
Ann Causey, a professor of philosophy at Auburn University, is a source for this story. "I got involved in bow hunting five years ago, but have never taken anything," said one man embarrassingly at an event I recently attended. "Do you enjoy it?" I asked. "I sure do," he responded, "but one of these days I'm hoping my luck will change." What this bow hunter may not realize is that in reality he has seen success. Hunting with a bow is supposed to be hard. Acceptance of the difficulty and the failures that go along with it indicate the growing maturity of a hunter. After all, on nature's scoreboard, birds of prey, mountain lions and other top-level predators succeed only on a limited basis. Ann Causey, a professor of philosophy at Auburn University has written extensively on why we hunt. She pointed out that hunting success has been defined through tens of thousands of years of man's existence. Our earliest ancestors fed and clothed their families with their hunting skills, and the amount and size of game taken was the standard for measuring one's prowess. Historically, there was no concept of sportsmanship. Anything went. You either made a kill or starved to death. For the most part, this remained a valid measure of success and failure until roughly the last century. These days, virtually no one hunts solely for subsistence. Never the less, in some remote way, the old concept of failure as a measure of a hunter's worth remains. Maybe in some ways, this attitude is a reflection of our highly competitive society in which the final outcome is the yardstick to which everything is measured. More than ever before, change is on the wind . Bowhunting success has come to mean much more than taking an animal. The underlying attraction to hunting with archery equipment is that it places the hunter and game on a more equal footing. We want to be challenged, and then when success does come, it is much sweeter. We no longer have to hunt to satisfy a growling belly, so new motivations and standards provide the drive to bow hunt. Like the famous phrase, "It's not whether we win or lose, but how we play the game." Today, many hunters venture into the woods for the outdoor experience. Learning about the game we seek, enjoying beautiful surroundings and a communion around a crackling campfire with family and friends is what's important. These connections are what link us to our hunting roots which are the most important now that our lives are so far removed from the natural world. Who would even want to hunt if we didn’t enjoy these things? As long as a hunting trip is uplifting, we do not fail. But, the occasional taking of game is important also. A bow hunter works hard to become successful. Without harvesting game, at least occasionally, we lose intensity and direction unique to hunting with a bow. A connection to our past can be consecrated in no other way than by seeking and ultimately taking of game — if only once in a while. There's no denying that our competitive juices kept man fed for many years and is why we exist today. Those same urges are still a small part of why we hunt. But success is much sweeter once we realize that failure, by its old definition, is fine too. No ordinary classroom Eastern Middle School science teacher Monte Maggart walked around the classroom watching his students study. But the classroom wasn't surrounded by four walls and the chalkboard and the students weren’t studying reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, the kids were learning about rifles, ramrods and arrow flight and the classroom was the beautiful outdoor grounds of the Howard County Izaak Walton League. For the second year in a row, Eastern sixth graders to take a two-week-long class where they earned their certification in Indiana’s Hunter Education curriculum and boy did the students enjoy it. "This is so much fun. I'd much rather do this than go to regular class," 11-year-old Michael Hill said as he stood in line at the rifle range waiting his turn to level the sights of the .22 caliber rifle. "This is so cool getting to shoot," said Brittany Neeley, age 12, before she touched the trigger which would bring the flint-lock muzzleloader to life with a belch of white smoke. Before the day ended all 97 students would have their turn at shooting rifles, shotguns, bows and arrows. They also took part in a nature walk where they saw sign recently left by various types of wildlife. Although not Ph.D.s sporting more degrees than a thermometer, the kids were taught by some of our area's top instructors. National Sporting Clays Champion Ashley Hafley could be seen on the skeet range where she showed the kids proper shot gunning techniques. World Champion 3-D target archer Adam Gibson coached another group of students on the finer points of shooting a bow. Conservation officers from neighboring counties stood with watchful eyes while providing helpful hints as these kids plinked away at various targets nestled against the earthen backstop. I have always believed Indiana's Hunter Education program is so beneficial that it should be required in every school system. It appears the Eastern school board believes it also. "This is such a great thing for the kids," Maggart said as watched over his young students. "It was awesome that the school board approved it." Throughout the class, each student learned about firearm safety, conservation and wildlife management. "This was so much fun," said Neeley when describing the program. Students also learned about first aid, proper ethics and outdoor safety. There is no doubt every child benefits from the Hunter Ed. curriculum. Complete firearm safety and first aid is something all kids should be exposed to whether or not they ever intend to hunt. Eastern's school board should be commended for its decision in making this program part of the annual curriculum. Tournament results Morse Reservoir was the site of the Kokomo Senior Bass Anglers final tournament of this summer's fishing season. After weigh-in it was the team of Wayne Eads and Jerry Picket that came away with top honors. The winners carried five largemouth bass to the scales sporting a combined weight of 12 pounds, four ounces. A three pound, nine ounce fish also gave them the tourney’s "big bass" award. Second place went to Dave Ault with four fish weighing six pounds, 13 ounces. Wayne Nolder and Bob Rose edged out a third place finish with two fish tipping the scales at four pounds. The Kokomo Bass Anglers recently completed their end-of-the-year Classic Tournament, held on Michigan's Gun Lake. In spite of tough fishing, Dave Pross weighed in two largemouth bass totaling five pounds, 10 ounces, which was good enough to earn him the title of 2006 Classic Champion. He also had the big fish of the final event, a largemouth tipping the scales at three pounds, 11 ounces. It was a good day for Pross as he also received the club’s prestigious Angler of the Year distinction. Max Kelly took second with two fish weighing four pounds, six ounces. Third place went to Bob Lawson with two bass weighing two pounds, 13 ounces. Hunting results Here is this week's list of bowhunters who have seen success and found it necessary to visit one of our area's state-approved deer check-in stations. This information is provided through the help of Bryant's Outdoor Store, Burlington Locker, Full Draw Archery, Jack's Tackle and Frank Simpson's Deer Processing. Boone County: Melanie Jarrett — 130-pound, eight-point buck. Carroll County: Larry Reef — 90-pound doe; Chad Bingaman — 110-pound doe; Joe Kelly — 120-pound doe; Levi Pullen — 65-pound button buck; Mark McCarty — 90-pound doe. Cass County: Richard Brown — 135-pound, eight-point buck; Mike McNabb — 125-pound doe; Brad Young — 125-pound doe; Matt Good — 70-pound doe; Malachi Clark — 65-pound doe. Clinton County: Nick Freedline — 110-pound doe. Fulton County: Robert Swette — 100-pound doe; Joe Conyers — 130-pound doe; Jeff Renie — 115-pound doe; Greg Bartrum — 100-pound doe. Hamilton County: Zack Martin — 110-pound doe. Howard County: Brian VanHorn — 125-pound, eight-point buck; Adam Craig — 100-pound doe; Jason Shoemaker — 90-pound doe; James Hickey — 105-pound doe; Don McElroy — 110-pound, eight-point buck; Joe Woodruff — 90-pound doe; Jeff Gillem — 140-pound, seven-point buck; Richard Gasaway — 80-pound doe; Dona Armfield — 207-pound, 10-point buck; James Ade — 180-pound, 10-point buck; Gary Spangler — 120-pound doe; Aaron Maple — 155-pound, nine-point buck; Shawn Petty — 144-pound, five-point buck. Marshall County: Billy Bryant — 100-pound doe. Miami County: Alan Welcher — 125-pound doe; Nathan McKee — 115-pound doe; Herschel Conyers — 90-pound doe; Greg Carden — 110-pound doe; John DeGrow — 97-pound doe; Gabe Hartwig — 145-pound, six-point buck. Pulaski County: Nelson Noble — 125-pound doe; Mark Cade — 110-pound doe; Ron Sharpless — 80-pound doe; Chris Miller — 120-pound doe. Tipton County: Zack Lawson — 178-pound, eight-point buck; Russell Lawson — 75-pound doe. John Martino is the Tribune's outdoors columnist and may be reached through the sports department.
Full Story

Hot on the trail of the GRAIL BIRD Search for woodpecker focuses on Walton 10/15/2006 Northwest Florida Daily News Rudman, Mladen		Return to Top
This story about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker mentions the AU research team. Oct. 15--BRUCE -- Mark Bailey leaned his hand against an old cypress, its diameter wider than a dump truck's tire. I promise you. An ivory-billed woodpecker visited this tree, said the conservation biologist. The birds were here a hundred years ago or more. Even if they are extinct now, an ivory-bill once visited this tree. The soil beneath Bailey's feet at Nokuse Plantation was spongy, typical of a bottomland hardwood forest. Cypress knees 5 feet tall jutted from the ground. Trees of all sorts reached for the sun, blotting the sky with a green canopy of leaves and moss. No one disputes that the Choctawhatchee River floodplain in eastern Walton County would be ideal ivory-bill habitat. But there are plenty of skeptics, especially in the bird-watching world, waiting for definitive proof -- a dead bird, DNA matching, or a clear photograph or video image -- that ivory-bills are still among us. Stakes are high. The push to find America's rarest bird has become a social phenomenon as well as an adventure in science. Seek and find Bailey is a consulting biologist for state and federal governments. He also works at Nokuse Plantation in Walton. Owned by M.C. Davis, the private preserve spans 53,000 acres and features some bottomland. Nokuse plans to field a group of volunteers to help Auburn University scientists search for ivory-bills in the winter and early spring. Everybody had given up on this, Davis said about re-discovering ivorybills. It's truly exhilarating that (we) might play a role in saving a beautiful species. Bailey is charged with coordinating Nokuse's volunteer effort. The search for ivory-bills was organized to coincide with the wet season. The Choctawhatchee should overflow its banks, flooding the bottomland to allow birders to use kayaks and canoes. Paddling through the trees isn't a simple task -- snags lurk everywhere -- but there are good reasons to chase ivory-bills that time of year, Bailey explained. You can see better ... and sound carries a lot better, he said. Many trees will have shed their leaves, making it easier to spot ivorybills. The birds are -- some argue were -- the continent's largest woodpeckers and prefer nesting or roosting in high tree trunk cavities that they've excavated. Scientists will be listening for ivory-bills, which often double-knock when probing trees for food. Their kent calls, described as sounding like amplified toy trumpets, carry better in the winter when the air is cool and dense. Near Nokuse land north of State Road 20 and east of State Road 81 is the Choctawhatchee River wildlife management area, which also might host ivory-bills. It's the area where scientists are encouraging birders unaffiliated with the upcoming Auburn expedition to search for them. The WMA is accessible by a gravel road at Tilley Landing Lost Lake Recreation Area. Making his way to a dead cypress by using terrain markers and a handheld GPS receiver, Bailey noted that bottomlands teem with birds. These woods are full of woodpeckers, he said. Bailey then quoted a study that says it's unlikely ivory-bills care that lots of smaller cousins are around because the big, boldly marked birds have no trouble with company. It wasn't like it had to be one or the other (woodpecker) species, Bailey continued. It was like the more, the merrier. Though it's good news that the forest can support many woodpeckers, it's inconvenient when trying to identify a species. Among the other woodpeckers are pileateds, which share striking similarities with ivory-bills. A big pileated can look like a small ivory-bill, said Bailey. An average ivory-bill is 18 to 20 inches tall, with a wingspan of some 30 inches. There are also sharp distinctions. When perched, an ivory-bill's folded wings cover part of its back in a bright white shield of feathers. In flight, ivory-bills show white feathers along both leading and trailing edges of their wings. Pileateds have white feathers only along the leading edge. If someone spots a large woodpecker with an all-black head, it could be a female ivory-bill because both pileated genders and ivory-bill males have red crests, Bailey said. When his GPS started beeping, he had found what he was searching for. A tall water tupelo trunk stood in a small patch of open land. Most of the tree was missing. Bailey figured it had floated away during a flood. At the top of the trunk, some 20 feet up, bark looked like it had been chiseled off. Part of the tree's skin was lying at the trunk's base. Ivory-bills rap their flat bills against dying or freshly dead trees to peel bark in search of beetle grubs. This certainly is not inconsistent with ivory-bill feeding behavior, said Bailey, looking at the curved sheets of tupelo bark on the forest floor. I'm not saying this was an ivory-bill. It could have been a pileated. ... That's a pretty big chunk of bark to come off all by itself. I think it was a bird working on it. Another fact made the biologist's discovery tantalizing Plants beneath the bark were still green, suggesting that it was peeled recently. Bailey isn't completely convinced Choctawhatchee bottomlands harbor ivory-bills. He has known Auburn ornithologist Geoff Hill -- lead author of the study published in September that argues there's strong evidence the birds are present in Northwest Florida -- for years. I am quite nearly convinced, said Bailey. If he says he's seen it, I pretty much believe it, but I want to see the (bird) myself. Hill is sure he has seen ivory-bills. In fact, the researcher says he saw ivory-bills twice during his first foray into Choctawhatchee swamps from December 2005 to May 2006. We think that we found a population that's always been there, said Hill. We're just focused on getting better information about this bird. Ivory-bill needed or else Hill is now raising funds for a second expedition. He plans to field two eight-man teams that would monitor stretches of the nearly two square miles of bottomland that yielded 14 sightings, 99 double-knocks and 210 kent calls during the first study. Along with sound recording equipment, Hill wants to use 30 continual-snap digital cameras. At $1,000 each, the cameras are a massive cost but offer round-the-clock vigilance without intrusive humans being present. The cameras would be placed in areas where ivory-bill activity has been detected. The principal targets would be suspected nest and roost cavities. Even today Hill talks about a very promising cavity -- it appeared to be freshly excavated -- in a tupelo that might have been compromised because researchers showed too much interest. That cavity really haunts me, he said. We think we may have scared away a bird. One major objective of the second ivory-bill tour is cataloging cavities and suspiciously de-barked trees, or scaled trees, so researchers will have reference points. Hill is well aware that fellow ornithologists and birders will pay close attention to the teams' work. Catching an ivory-bill on a camera would settle the debate about their existence. Scientists and wildlife managers could then begin addressing conservation. We have stuck our necks out a little bit, but we do have good evidence, I think, said Hill. It seems like they're giving us a year to come through. The they are skeptical birders, some from around the globe. Ivory-bill research has even become fodder for bloggers, who have become some of the study's harshest critics. Chuck Hagner, editor of popular Birder's World magazine, agrees that birders are paying close attention to the unfolding ivory-bill saga. Many are doubtful and they don't want their hopes dashed again. Hagner explained the alleged rediscovery of ivory-bills in Arkansas two years ago hasn't been confirmed by subsequent efforts to get definitive proof. Scientists attribute the birds' perilous decline -- ivory-bills are listed as endangered, not extinct, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- to heavy logging of southeastern floodplain bottomlands through the early 20th century. For Hagner, ivory-bill research resonates at two levels. Simply finding what one author has called the Grail Bird and another the Lord God Bird alive would be a stunning accomplishment. Ivory-bills also serve as testimony to the importance of conserving land; save bottomlands and not just woodpeckers benefit. One of Hagner's worries is that if the second Choctawhatchee expedition turns into a bust, people who now see the merit of leaving land undisturbed would be discouraged from setting it aside. The ivory-bill is a great way to draw attention to some of these magnificent places, he said. There's real concern that if we cry wolf two times then, maybe, people won't believe us anymore. Hagner mentioned that had not the upcoming issue of Birder's World magazine gone to press before news broke about the Choctawhatchee ivory-bills, the woodpeckers would have graced the magazine's cover again. They were the big story in 2004 after the Arkansas re-discovery made headlines. There are birders, however, whose belief that ivory-bills still exist is strong enough to withstand an expedition that yields no conclusive images of living and breathing Grail Birds. Count Niceville's George Atwell among them. The first time that I saw it I was pretty young, he said. My grandfather and father used to take me on the Eglin (Air Force Base) reservation frequently. Scientists suspect ivory-bills ranged beyond bottomlands to feed. Tall pines would have been good places to forage. Atwell was 7 or 8 years old then, which means the sighting happened in about 1951. It would be another four decades before the veteran saw his second ivory-bill while fishing in Walton's Basin Bayou east of Choctaw Beach. He flew onto a dead tree right on the edge of the water, so I got a good look at him, Atwell said. Having some training in biology, zoology and botany, he's certain the woodpecker was an ivory-bill and not a pileated. Atwell also mentioned facing the same hurdle back then that birders and Auburn researchers encounter today. I could hear them calling a lot more than I would see them, Atwell said. They were very elusive to see. Daily News Staff Writer Mladen Rudman can be reached at 863-1111, 443. Copyright © 2006 Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach NOTE: No Web link was provided for this story.


ALABAMA VOICES: AU veterinary school committed to proper care 10/15/2006 Montgomery Advertiser Guest columnist: Timothy Boosinger		Return to Top
This is a column by AU Dean of The College of Veterinary Medicine, Timothy Boosinger. Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine is recognized around the nation for producing outstanding veterinarians and providing compassionate care for about 15,000 animals each year. Established in 1892, the college is the oldest in the South, and its award-winning work in small animal care, cancer and parasite treatment, neurosurgery and many other areas is enhancing veterinary medicine and leading to better lives for our pets and animals. Unfortunately, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an organization often associated with extremist and headline-grabbing tactics, mounted an attack on the college, alleging financial mismanagement and neglect of animals. The accusations are wrong and unjust and represent a disservice to the faculty and staff who strive every day to develop advancements in veterinary medicine and responsibly treat the animals in our care. PETA chose to attack Auburn's canine kidney transplant program. According to veterinary studies, approximately 5 percent of dogs die from kidney failure, and although kidney transplants often prove successful for cats, there are no known effective treatments for dogs, making the disease a virtual death sentence for those who have it. Owners whose dogs suffer from end-stage kidney disease literally have few options, all of which are costly and provide little hope of survival. That's why veterinarians and researchers throughout the country, including at Auburn, are working to unlock the secrets of successful dog kidney transplants, specifically how to convince the immune system to accept the new organ. Canine kidney transplant research conducted at Auburn has shown promising signs for several years. Because the research showed potential to treat kidney disease, a number of owners contacted the college asking if we would apply what we learned in our research and perform transplants for their seriously ill pets. Even when informed of the risks, some owners continued to request the procedure, hoping to gain more time with their dogs. It is these operations and subsequent hospitalization that PETA chose to attack after planting an "investigator" in Auburn's Veterinary College. As dean of the college, I take seriously any allegation, from PETA or any other group or individual, about the college's practices or procedures. Auburn immediately responded to PETA's claims by launching a top-to-bottom investigation. The results of that investigation will determine if any employee of the College of Veterinary Medicine acted inappropriately and, if so, what corrective action should be taken as a result. Last year, the college stopped offering dog kidney transplants as a service to dog owners after the procedures performed in the clinic did not achieve the same positive results produced in our research. Still, we stand behind our commitment to improve the quality of life for dogs, cats and other animals through responsible, humane and legal research, clinical studies and treatments that employ the latest science and veterinary care methods. For example, thanks to the work of Auburn veterinary professors and researchers, much-improved flea and tick treatments are now available for dogs and cats, and we are better able to control infectious diseases in cattle, poultry and fish. Auburn faculty members are also working to develop a vaccine to prevent the spread of avian flu in chickens. We are proud that the College of Veterinary Medicine is accredited by the highest authority in lab animal care, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. The AAALAC promotes humane treatment of animals in science, and Auburn's voluntary participation in its accreditation program demonstrates our commitment to compassionate animal care and our compliance with local, state and federal regulations. The college also follows rigid financial standards to make certain that all funds are used only for the research, procedures or treatment for which they were intended. The college does not profit from any of the funds it receives. Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine has a 114-year tradition of achieving the highest quality and standards in veterinary care. We know that the work, research and study conducted today at Auburn and other responsible veterinary institutions is leading to more effective treatments and better lives for dogs, cats and other animals in the future. Dr. Timothy Boosinger is dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and president-elect of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
Full Story

Chick-fil-A founder tells tale of success 10/14/2006 Gannett Newspapers - Alabama Bob Lowry		Return to Top
Cathy spoke at the Women's Philanthropy Board of Auburn's College of Human Sciences. AUBURN -- The founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc., said Friday the best business decision he ever made was to close his fast-food restaurants on Sundays. S. Truett Cathy, in a religion-tinged speech on the Auburn University campus, recalled how he started on the road to becoming an ultra-successful entrepreneur at age 8 by selling Coca-Colas for a nickel on the streets of Atlanta during the Great Depression. "When you talk about success in business, it's people that make things happen," said Cathy. "Secondly, we feel there's no conflict between Biblical practices and good business practices. I'm sold on the fact that the Bible is a road map for our lives." Cathy said his family were south Georgia cotton farmers until the Depression forced them to move to Atlanta, where his mother operated a boarding house. That's when he took up soft-drink sales, delivered the now-defunct Atlanta Journal and sold The Ladies Home Journal and Saturday Evening Post magazines door-to-door for only pennies in profit. Now at 85, Cathy has risen to become the owner of a private corporation with revenues of $2 billion a year. Speaking at a luncheon for the Women's Philanthropy Board of Auburn's College of Human Sciences, Cathy said he is asked often about the religious aspects of his business. "A lot of people say, 'I understand you're a religious businessman' and I say, 'No, I've got a long ways to go yet to come up to what God expects of us.'" Cathy, who has taught a boys Sunday School class for 51 years, said he was "brought up to go to Sunday School and church. Sunday School is very important to me and going to church is very important to me." When his business acquaintances asked him in the early days about his Sunday closing, Cathy said his answer was: "It was the best business decision I ever made. When you work six days a week, 24 hours a day, you're ready for a break. And our restaurant equipment needs a break." The origins of Chick-fil-A began in 1946 when Cathy and his brother, Ben, fresh out of World War II, acquired some property in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville and opened The Dwarf Grill. Cathy said he didn't have an opportunity to go to college after the war. "I never got excited about school, but I got excited about working," he said. "There's nothing wrong about getting excited about working." After inventing the boneless breast of chicken using cooking techniques from his mother's boarding house, Cathy opened the first Chick-fil-A in 1967 at the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta. Today, the chain has 1,255 restaurants in 37 states and Washington, D.C., and opens 60 new stores annually. Cathy said the company hit a rough spot in 1982 shortly after it invested $10 million in a new corporate headquarters and interest rates were in the 20 percent range. In addition, there was new competition in chicken breast sandwiches from hamburger chains. When he asked his management team for a solution, it had none. But one member wrote on a chalkboard: "We glorify God and be a positive influence on all people we come in contact with." Cathy said that became Chick-fil-A's "corporate purpose." The next year, the company's profits rose by 36 percent and have been profitable ever since. "The Lord had us in mind," said Cathy. "The more I live the principles that are written in the Bible, the more I believe Proverbs 22:1 'A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.'"
Full Story

AU marks World Food Day 10/14/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Staff Report		Return to Top
This story features the AU/UN partnership Universities Fighting World Hunger. Auburn University and the United Nations World Food Programme will officially launch Universities Fighting World Hunger Monday on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Universities Fighting World Hunger is an emerging student movement that began at AU in 2004, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, to mobilize colleges and universities both nationally and worldwide to create a grass-roots student campaign to conquer world hunger and malnutrition. The launch, scheduled on World Food Day, will feature representatives from the U.N. World Food Programme, academic leaders, dignitaries and a host of representatives from colleges and universities. The campus and public can take part by watching the debut of a documentary film, "To a Willing Mind: Universities Fighting World Hunger," at noon Monday in any of the following locations: Comer Hall, Room 109; Spidle Hall, Room 226; Haley Center, Room 3203 or Foy Union. The film’s debut is part of the annual World Food Day teleconference sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Organization. AU, through the vision of Dean June Henton of the College of Human Sciences, became the first university to partner with the U.N., and developed a prototype model for other universities to follow. More than 50 colleges are currently part of Universities Fighting World Hunger. On Monday, all schools in the program - from across the country, in Canada and the Virgin Islands - will host various on-campus kickoff events to show the united effort to address both short-term and long-term solutions to ending the world’s hunger epidemic. Auburn University's World Food Day event will kickoff of its annual "Beat Bama Food Drive," the annual friendly rivalry between AU and the University of Alabama to collect non-perishable food items for the hungry. The drive starts with a kickoff celebration at 5 p.m. on the Samford Hall lawn. Aubie, cheerleaders, the Committee of 19, the Student Government Association and others will be present for the event. Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will be accepted at the SGA office and the Food Bank of East Alabama through Nov. 16. Donations can also be made at www.beatbamafooddrive.com AU has won eight of the past 12 food drives with UA. Among those who will take part in the launch in D.C. are James Morris, executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme; Peter McPherson, president of the National Association of Universities and Land Grant Colleges; Tony Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Missions in Rome; David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World; U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama; and Lauren Bush, the WFP student ambassador. "The timing appears right for a student movement to address world hunger," Henton said. "As the world shrinks, students are becoming more keenly aware that a quality education involves not only technical competence in one’s chosen field of study, but an awareness of global issues and a commitment to making the world a better place." For more information about Universities Fighting World Hunger, visit www.auburn.edu/event/hunger/publish.php?doc_id25.
Full Story