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Page 2B The Braselton News Wednesday, November 28, 2007 GHSA - continued from page IB his school may or may not be significant from an athletics point of view. “I think overall on the state level, I think we have some sports — looking at it from an athletic standpoint —that you aren’t really going to notice much of a change,” he said. “There’s going to be some people in different uniforms and schools represented, but I would hope that we would enjoy some of the same success, and in some sports we won’t. (But), it’s hard for me to stand here and speculate which one’s are going to be more competitive than others.” The Jefferson AD said there hasn’t been much communication between his school and the GHSA regarding where it might fall in terms of region placement, mean ing that, like a lot of schools, there are still a lot of questions that remain to be answered. “A lot of people talk about not having rivalries and stuff, but I don’t see where that’s going to be a problem, I really don’t,” Corbett said. “Unless — and there’s a minute chance — that we won’t be able to schedule Commerce in football if we get put in a huge region and we don’t have an open ing.” Corbett said he thinks it will likely be next week before he hears anything regarding what region his school will be placed in next year. “I don’t know, there’s a lot of different ways it could go. We’ll have to see,” he said. Elsewhere in the county, the opening of East Jackson Comprehensive High School just outside of Commerce, siphoned off many students from JCCHS as well as some from Commerce High School. EJCHS is projected to be one of the largest Class AA schools in the GHSA next year, with more than 978 students. Commerce, with more than 402 students expected next year, will remain comfortably in Class A, making it the smallest high school within Jackson County and the only remaining Class A school. Mill Creek, located in Hoschton, is expected to become the state’s largest school, with more than 3,771 students projected for next year. Schools have until Dec. 14 to file a written appeal for a lateral transfer within the same classifica tion once the region alignments come out on Thursday. GHSA RECLASSIFICATION: THE LOCAL IMPACT: School Currently Startina ‘08-09 Proi. FTE Class Chanae Commerce Class A Class A 402.5 None Jefferson Class A Class AA 636 Up one E. Jackson Class AA Class AA 978.5 None Jackson Co. Class AAAA Class AAA 1,020 Down one Mill Creek Class AAAAA Class AAAAA 3,771.5 None STATEWIDE: Expected number of schools per classification (2008-09): Class AAAAA 66 Class AAAA 81 Class AAA 81 Class AA 82 Class A 100 (71 in football) * figures provided by the Georgia High School Association Dove hunter’s input wunted Outdoors Sandhill Crane Migration marks fall in Georgia It might seem hard not to notice greater sandhill cranes as they migrate through Georgia. Adults stand more than 4 feet tall, sport a nearly 7-foot wingspan and emit a loud, rattling trumpet call laced in bass. But these big, gray birds often fly at almost out-of-sight altitudes during the day and when heard or seen are occasionally mistaken as Canada geese by people not familiar with them. For others, however, the fall migration to southern Georgia and Florida is a seasonal land mark, with flights peaking in this state at about Thanksgiving and sometimes involving hundreds of sandhill cranes a day. Large flocks circle high into the sky as they ride thermal air currents, constantly cackling back and forth. Then, they assemble into formation and begin long, straight glides before catching the next thermal several miles closer to their destination. When conditions are less favor able for soaring, including some times at night, they flap along in formation at lower altitudes. Usually they roost for the night in an open pond or wetland. “It is really a spectacle if you learn to appreciate it,” said Jim Ozier, a senior wildlife biolo gist and program manager with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. “It’s the only really large bird we have that passes through in significant numbers during migration, but is typically not present here at other times of the year.” Sandhill cranes are one of the most common cranes in the world. Greater sandhill cranes, the largest subspecies, breed in the northern U.S., Canada and even eastern Siberia, and winter in the southern U.S. and in Mexico, according to the International Crane Foundation. Georgia havens include the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge near the Florida line, where wintering greater sandhill cranes mix with resident Florida sandhill cranes, and Panola Mountain State Park in Rockdale, Henry and Dekalb counties, which provides valu able stopover habitat for migrat ing cranes. The loss of wetlands and riv erine ecosystems is a significant threat to the birds, which favor open, fresh-water wetlands but, depending on the subspecies, can range from pine uplands to plowed fields. Sandhill cranes are protected in Georgia, but it is likely that native Americans and early set tlers occasionally enjoyed a meal of them. The species’ migration covers much of the state, includ ing population centers, such as metro Atlanta. Keys to spotting cranes are sim ple: Keep an eye on the sky - san dhills travel in v-flocks like geese - and listen. “Once you’ve heard that sound, you’ll always notice it,” Ozier said. Check online at www.geor- giawildlife.com to learn more about Wildlife Resource’s Nongame Conservation Section and the State Wildlife Action Plan, a conservation blueprint for Georgia’s diverse wildlife and natural habitats. On a related note, 17 young whooping cranes are on their way to and through Georgia. Ultralight aircraft are leading the 1,250-mile Operation Migration flight from central Wisconsin to wintering grounds on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The high-profile project headed by the public-private Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership is aimed at re-establishing this “severely” endangered species in eastern North America. Check for updates at www.operationmigra- tion.org. In response to recent public comment regarding Georgia’s dove hunting season structure, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has created a convenient online dove season questionnaire, available at www. gohuntgeorgia.com. The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide hunters an opportunity to share their opinions on certain aspects of Georgia’s current dove hunting season schedule. The 2007-2008 season runs through Jan. 5. Questionnaire responses will be considered as public input in the Department’s effort to evaluate potential season alternatives. Classified as migratory birds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), doves are reg ulated under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under this authority, states must adhere to the USFWS framework which provides for an opening date no earlier than Sept. 1, a closing date no later than Jan. 15, no more than three seasons and a total of no more than 70 days. Georgia’s current season conforms to this framework. However, considering the recent feedback regarding the desire for more late-season hunt ing opportunity (i.e. additional days in January), WRD is assess ing the possibility of adjusting the current season structure to accommodate the public input. In order to do so, the proposition to adjust the current season must be presented and approved. Hunters and other interested parties can access the online survey at www.gohuntgeorgia. com - click on “Hunting” and then the link “New: Dove Season Evaluation,” located near the top of the page. The online evaluation is avail able through Jan. 18, 2008. For more information or ques tions regarding the dove season survey, contact WRD Hunter Services at (770) 761-3045. For general information regard ing dove season, visit www. gohuntgeorgia.com or call (770) 918-6416. + ONEY MARKET RATE % BONUS APT for ttDdw 4,10 ■No Monthly Service Charge •Low Minimum Balance Rapned to Earn Interest No Other Account g MONEY ikqmttiti,ofi / V M X D LTT a Money Market MARKET apy* SATE Aaxmt MimOiee HrrJll-Etedm-mMfrJtft JcEouk 15% Sl ■ Je&frji H MISW H<Ktil«i; J52S ll^lr/ r. 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