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PAGE 16A BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 O O WORK AT FORT YARGO Volunteers who participated in the August work session take a break from work. Volunteer group works to maintain Fort Yargo trails By Scott Thompson News-Journal Reporter Winder-Barrow High School science teacher Brandon Mitchell can't think of many days where he and his wife aren't biking, hiking or walking along the trails of Fort Yargo State Park. A study by the University of Georgia in recent years revealed that the majority of park visitors use the more than 20-mile trail network in some form or fashion. Only three miles of that total was actu ally created by park staff. The rest came through volunteer work and volunteers like Mitchell are responsible for main taining it. Mitchell has been a constant force the last four years, volunteering hundreds of hours of work. But he came to realize he needed more help and has started the Yargo Trail Crew, a nonprofit dedicated to maintenance of the trails. It is actively recruiting mem bers and is already seeing some promis ing growth in its early stages. The group launched in August and had six volunteers at its first monthly work session. Twelve were at the Sept. 17 ses sion, and 25 had signed up for the Oct. 22 one. Mitchell said last week. “We’re on our way and getting start ed pretty good,” Mitchell said. “We’ve gotten a couple of big donations, and businesses are starting to chip in. Every little bit helps.” The work isn’t exactly easy, Mitchell said. Volunteers are required to work a minimum of 25 hours on the trail before becoming an official crew mem ber, according to the group’s website. “It's by far the hardest work I’ve ever done,” Mitchell said. “And I was a mechanic before. I've done flooring and roofing work. Yes. roofing can get hot, but when you get into full hours of working on these trails, most people walk away.” Work in the warmer months typically consists of pulling back brush and sticks, mitigating effects of rain washout and slowing the water by re-routing the trails. “In the last four years, I think I’ve done two miles of re-routing,” Mitchell said. “So you’ve got 20 miles of trail, and by the time you get through working on it a year later, there's another area that needs attention. So it’s continuous work.” Mitchell was formerly part of a group of volunteers that worked on the trails, but no longer does so. Still, he said he “couldn't let the trails go” and has got ten by mostly on borrowing tools and doing enough to try to keep the trails user-friendly. But keeping the trails in good condi tion will rely on dedicated and passion ate volunteers, along with financial and accessory contributions moving forward, Mitchell said. The group will host a 3.25-mile and 8.75-mile trail run at Fort Yargo on Oct. 8 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $2 per participant, and the proceeds will go to the purchase of more tools. The group is accepting donations of equipment such as shovels, rakes, string trimmers, wheelbarrows, chainsaws and limb loppers as well as simple monetary donations. The group is also under the umbrella of the Friends of Fort Yargo group, so tax-free donations can be made, Mitchell said. For more information on the group, registering for the Oct. 8 race or dona tions, go to yargotrailcrew.com or contact Mitchell at bamitchell71@gmail.com. WORKING ON THE TRAIL The Yargo Trail Crew, a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining the trail network at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, is seeking more volunteers for its month ly work sessions. Southern Circuit Tour coming to Winder The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Film makers Fall 2016 Tour is coming to Winder in Octo ber and November. On Sunday. Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. “Shu-De! (Let's Go)” will be presented at the Winder Cultural Arts Cen ter Colleen O. Williams Theater, 105 East Athens Street, Winder. “Hotel Dal las” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18. For more information call 678-425-6836 or visit the website windercultu- alarts.com. FRIENDS AT FALL FESTIVAL Sydney Smalls and Erika Thomas were just a few of the many visitors at the Hoschton Fall Festival Friday afternoon. Photos by Wesleigh Sagon DIXIE DOCDOGS Matthew Gyurgyik’s dog Alii Z, competed in the Extreme Vertical Dixie Docdogs competition at the Hoschton Fall Festival Saturday. Gyurgyik is from Knoxville, Tenn. Simulated surgical procedure. LASER PRECISION. II i^iciak N. Words every man wants to hear when it comes to treating his BPH. That’s why we offer GreenLight”" Laser Therapy—a minimally invasive option for the treatment of enlarged prostate. 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