About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2023)
Wednesday, May 31,2023 dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 3B The good doctor It was two years ago, around 11 in the morning on a Thursday. I was in our bedroom where, more often than not, I tuck in to write. Most of my nine books and over 1,000 columns have been written while propped in bed - mainly because I start while still in my night clothes - but others have been written from a back porch rocker. Tink walked in, his laptop in hand and open. His face was ashen covered with a look that I had never seen. I looked up from my own work and, as life as unfortunately taught me, I braced myself. “What is it?” I did not breath again until he had spoken. He sat down in an easy chair at the foot of the bed, swirled toward me, and took a moment to gather his words. “Do you remember Dr. Lesslie? I was looking at developing his books...” I finished the sentence. “Angels in the ER. Lovely man. From South Carolina.” Tink nodded, his face turning from ashen to white. “I just saw this news bulletin - someone broke into his house and killed him and everyone there.” The breath left my body. “Kind Dr. Lesslie?” Tears welled in Tink’s eyes. “It just happened in the last couple of hours.” Dr. Robert Lesslie was a man who loved Jesus with all his heart, was married to woman with remarkable faith herself, and together they had raised a family to serve the Lord, their community and, importantly, those less fortunate. As a young doctor working in an emer gency room, Dr. Lesslie saw many miraculous recover ies in people who should not have survived. His faith was deepened by those experiences and eventually led the doctor to write a series of books, documenting those incredible events. A producer optioned the books and, having heard of Tink’s strong faith, inquired if he would shape the books into a television series. Tink liked the idea and was very impressed with the gentle kindness of Dr. Lesslie. He agreed. I wound up in the middle of the contract, working with the producer’s attorney. It was one of those situations where the deal fell apart over a couple of contract clauses. One day, I was in the car when Dr. Lesslie called Tink and listened while they talked on speaker. Dr. Lesslie said, “My wife came to me last night and told me she had prayed about it and the Lord told her that you are the one to do these books. I will only do them with you as the writer and producer. When we pray and the Lord answers, we listen.” Several months later, Dr. and Mrs. Lesslie were in their beautiful home, babysitting two elementary school grandchildren. Outside, in the early April spring, two HVAC technicians were working on their air condition ing unit. Perhaps we will never know everything because all six died, though one of the technicians lived long enough to give some information. A patient of Dr. Lesslie’s had entered the house, per haps seeking opioids. Phillip Adams was a former NFL player who had suffered several severe concussions. Dr. Lesslie’s response was displeasing to Adams and he murdered the Lesslie family then went outside to the HVAC techs. One man was shot six times. That night, a SWAT team descended on Adams’s house he shared with his parents and tried to negotiate him out, peacefully, but Adams killed himself. An autopsy later revealed that Adams had an “unusually severe” case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) caused by the football concussions. The Lesslie children issued a statement in which they confessed to not understanding how such tragedy could happen then said, in part, “Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ.” They have carried on admirably, keeping their father’s several medical and hospice centers in business. I think that not only did Dr. Lesslie see angels in the ER. He and his wife raised angels, too. RONDARICH Columnist When you do pork tenderloin, do it right Pork tenderloin is one of those cuts that never disappoints—especially if you don’t overcook it. This is where an instant read meat thermometer is crucial. For just a few bucks, you can be certain you will never overcook those cuts of meat which can dry out—even if you only leave them on the heat for a few minutes too long. Pork tenderloin is delicious on the grill, but it is equally good in the oven. I also love pork ten derloin because it is great for left overs. You can chop it up finely and toss it into fried rice, or add it to a variety of soups. You can add it to some sauteed peppers and onions, add to a soft hoagie roll, top with some cheese and broil for a few min utes. The possibilities are duly end less. Here are a few no-fail and deli cious pork tenderloin recipes. Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloins • 2 pork tenderloins • 1 tablespoons olive oil • Vi teaspoon salt • 14 teaspoon pepper • 'A teaspoon garlic powder • 14 teaspoon onion powder • 2/3 cup honey • 14 cup chicken broth • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon apple cider vine gar • 11/2 tablespoons cornstarch • 14 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Brush the tenderloins with the olive oil. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Sprinkle spices all over tenderloins. Add tenderloins to baking dish. In a bowl, whisk togeth er honey, chicken broth, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar and corn starch, stirring to combine. Pour mix ture all around tenderloins and sprin kle with crushed red pepper flakes. Bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Remove from oven and cover with aluminum foil. Let sit for 10 minutes. Slice pork and spoon the sauce over all. There are plenty of bottled teriyaki sauce out there, but making it your self is quick and easy. It is also supe rior to anything in the bottle. Teriyaki Pork Tenderloins • 2 pork tenderloins • % cup teriyaki sauce (recipe follows) • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds • 2 green onions, sliced Teriyaki Sauce • 1/2 cup soy sauce • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice or pineapple juice • 3 tablespoons brown sugar • 1 tablespoon avocado oil • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 teaspoons • ginger, grated • Vi teaspoon sesame oil • 1 Vi tablespoons cornstarch, plus 1 Vi tablespoons water Make teriyaki sauce. Whisk togeth er soy sauce, orange or pineapple juice, brown sugar, avocado oil, minced garlic, grated ginger and sesa me oil. Place tenderloins in a plastic zipper bag and pour % cup of the sauce over all, massaging to coat the meat. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Reserve remaining sauce mixture. Place pork tenderloins in a baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking oil. Discard marinade. Bake in a pre heated 425 degree oven until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine reserved sauce mixture with cornstarch mixed with cold water. Bring to a boil and then simmer, stir ring until slightly thickened. When pork tenderloins are done, remove from oven and tent with foil for 8-10 minutes. Slice pork and driz zle with teriyaki sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Balsamic Pork Tenderloins 2 pork tenderloins • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar • 4 tablespoons olive oil • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into slices • 2 tablespoons favorite steak seasoning • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed and finely minced • 3 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, removed and minced Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour balsamic vinegar into dish. Pat pork tenderloins dry with paper towels. Cut small slits in the pork tenderloins and insert the garlic slices. Pour the olive oil over tender loins and then mb them all over with steak seasoning, rosemary and thyme leaves. Place on balsamic vinegar. Roast, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil. Let sit for 10 minutes. Slice and serve. Rice is the perfect side dish for pork tenderloins. For the teriyaki pork, you can make a simple rice dish that everybody loves. Just cook some rice according to the package direc tions and then top with a few gener ous pats of butter and a few glugs of good soy sauce. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and a sprinkling of sesa me seeds. For the other two pork reci pes, this rice pilaf is a spectacular side dish. Rice Pilaf • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1/3 cup onion, finely minced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 14 cup orzo pasta • Vi cup long grain rice • 1 Vi cups chicken or vegetable broth • 14 teaspoon garlic powder • 14 teaspoon onion powder • 14 teaspoon paprika • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 14 teaspoon pepper • 2 tablespoons parsley, minced • 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted In a small saucepan, add olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft ened, about 5 minutes. Add orzo and rice, stirring to combine until orzo and rice are beginning to get toasty. Add broth, garlic powder, onion pow der, paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a sim mer and cover. Cook until rice is ten der, about 20 minutes. Uncover and add parsley and almonds. Cover and let sit off of the heat for a few min utes. Fluff with a fork and serve. Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Parfait for Two • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt • ¥i cup fresh blueberries • ¥i cup favorite granola • 2 mint sprigs In a small bowl, toss the sliced strawberries with the sugar. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or even overnight. Spoon the strawberries and juices into two glasses. Top with half of the yogurt, half of the blueberries, and half of the granola. Repeat the layers and top with the mint sprigs. ADLEN ROBINSON Columnist Humphreys will be continuing sideline cheer career at Piedmont Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of What Southern Women Know About Faith. She is married to television producer and writer John Tinker. Rio White Dawson County News Ansley Humphreys signs her letter of intent to join the sideline cheer squad at Piedmont University. FROM 1B Golf Baker said. “It was fun to watch her at state, know ing that she had been working really hard ... to go out and shoot a career- best round on the first day was awesome.” Having narrowly missed out on qualifying for state last season, Dewendt put everything into this year’s opportuni ty, utilizing her much- improved iron and wedge game to put Class 3A on notice. The junior hit a round of 79 in the second round to finish with the aggre gate score of 149 to secure third place. “The thing I have learned about Sam is, she prepares as well as any one,” Baker said. “She gets a game plan together for the course she is play ing and she sticks to that. I think the preparation allows her to relax a little in the big moments and just play golf.” For the boys team, fel low junior Milholland had some of his best swings of the season in Columbus, starting the tournament with a first round of four-over 76. Maintaining his consis tency on the second day, Milholland finished sev enth overall with a 7-over 151. “Walker was unbeliev able. It is very difficult to shoot in the 70s, but to do it in those conditions, at the level, on both days was unbelievable,” boys team head coach Will Anglin said. “He is such a great kid and understands the game so well. His approach to the game, preparation, and mindset are what set him apart. He has aspirations of playing at the next level and I know he will have that opportunity and he proved he can perform on the biggest stage.” The two-day tourna ment also marked the final rounds of golf for seniors Logan Casey, Will McNatt, and Jeremy Ray. “This was a great year and one of the most fun groups that I have been around. I loved the way this group challenged one another,” Anglin said. “They would hold each other accountable at prac tice and were competitive with one another on the course. Obviously, that mindset and work ethic started with our seniors. They were determined to keep the state playoff streak alive and would not be denied once again.” By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com Dawson County High School held a signing day on Wednesday, May 17, for recent graduate and sideline cheerleader Ansley Humphreys, who inked her letter of intent to continue her cheer career at Piedmont University. “I’m just really excited to go to college and have a whole new team after being on so many,” Humphreys said. Humphreys was a leader on both the foot ball and basketball cheer squads, organizing two groups that displayed intensity all season long. The DCHS sideline cheer team had many memorable moments over the past year, pump ing up the Tiger Stadium crowd during the football team’s successful season and bringing plenty of energy to the Ford Phillips Center during the Lady Tiger basketball team’s Sweet 16 game. For head coach Brooke Walker, Humphreys is the first cheerleader she has coached to move on to cheer at the college level. “This is an awesome moment for Dawson County sideline cheer,” Walker said. “I’ve watched [Ansley] grow up in this sport. This is my first sideline cheer leader to go collegiate — I’m very proud of you.” FROM 1B Parks said. “It has been a joy to watch these kids grow as athletes and gain confidence during competition.” Two athletes who are the closest in age to becoming varsity athletes had some of the best performances for the parks and rec Tigers. Self-taught javelin thrower Mitchell Allshouse was the boys state champion in the 13- to 14-year-old age group with a throw of 95 feet, 8.5 inches. Fellow teenager Moses Angle also had a big day, finishing second in the 400-meter dash and third in the discus throw. Athena Paulk rounded out the podium placers in that age group with a fifth-place finish in the girls shot put. In the 11 to 12-year old category, Samuel Loring finished third in the discus while Noah Gloeckner — one of many talented siblings — broke the 6-minute mark in the mile run to place third. Whitaker Harrison had a pair of podium results, placing fourth in the javelin and fifth in the shot put. There were also notable results from the youngest athletes — with Jude Angle earning a runner-up fin ish in the 9- to 10-year old javelin event and Titus Angle placing sixth in the 8 and under javelin competi tion.
