Newspaper Page Text
October 12, 2022
■ Reporter
Page 5C
Cheer Dogs shine in Ola
By Dana Morris
dana.h. morris 1010@gmail.com
The Mary Persons varsity competition cheer
leading squad competed at Ola High School in
McDonough last Saturday The team had their
best performance statistics and earned their
highest score of the season. The team earned an
impressive score of 90. They took first place but
were the only team from Class AAA.
Even though the team had an amazing perfor
mance, there are still areas that that they must
continue to grow. Coach Kyle Ward says that
they plan to seek perfection for the routine by the
end of the season.
This year’s routine has lots of energy and draws
in the crowd. In panel A of the score sheet, the
team scored exceptionally well in the areas of
jumps, cheer, and dance. In panel B, which is
standing tumbling and running tumbling, the
team did well but there are timing issues that the
team will work to improve moving forward.
For panel C of the score sheet which includes
the primary stunt, secondary stunt, and pyra
mid, the team executed well but the score sheet
reflected a lower score. The team will work to im
prove this portion of the routine before the next
competition so that the scores reflect how well the
skills are executed.
Overall, it was a great mid-season performance
and one that Coach Ward hopes will build con
fidence as the competition season progresses. In
the meantime, the team and Coaches Kyle and
Katie Ward will put in the work and continue to
strive for perfection.
Looking ahead, the team’s next competition is
at Northgate High School in Newnan on Satur
day, Oct. 22.
Kinzee Wheeler (front) and Addie Mae Cobb (back) flip during Mary
Persons routine. (Photo/Russ Campbell)
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Before building, save some native trees on the lot
The redbuds rosy-pink blossoms cover the tree early in the
spring before it leafs out. (Photo/Terry Johnson)
D uring the more
than half century
I have lived in
Monroe County,
I have seen many changes.
However, in recent years
these changes have been
taking place
more rap
idly than ever
before. The
reason for this
is our popula
tion is growing
by leaps and
bounds.
The simple
fact of the mat
ter is people
want to live
here. While
this growth is
inevitable, if
we are not careful, we will
destroy one of the reasons
why so many folks want
to call Monroe County
home-the natural beauty
of our landscape and the
wild animals and plants that
enhance our quality of life.
If you are preparing to
build a home here, one way
that you can mitigate the
impact of these changes is
by preserving some of the
native trees that are both
beautiful and of value to
wildlife. Begin by walking
over your property before
the bulldozer arrives. Mark
the trees that you feel will
add to the beauty of your
landscape and provide your
new wildlife neighbors with
food, nesting sites and pro
tection from the elements
and predators. One of the
great things about leaving a
mature fruit, berry or nut
bearing tree is you do not
have to wait years for it to
produce of crop of wildlife
food.
Here is a short
list of some of
the trees that you
should consider
including in your
landscape plan.
Oaks - Be
yond a shadow
of a doubt, this
group of native
trees is most valu
able to Monroe
County wildlife.
Approximately
150 species of
wildlife eat acoms. Some of
the local species that dine on
acorns are white-tailed deer,
wood ducks, wild turkeys,
squirrel, brown thrashers
and tufted titmice.
Throughout the country,
various oak species serve
as hosts for 557 species of
moths and butterflies. Here
are the names of just a few of
the local moths and butter
flies that use oaks as a host
plant: red-spotted purple,
banded hairstreak and Hor
ace’s duskywing butterflies;
and clymene, cecropia and
imperial moths.
Any of the oaks are valu
able additions to Monroe
County yards; however, the
water oak is perhaps the
species most often seen in
local yards. It begins bearing
acorns at age 20 while many
of the other species do not
begin producing acorns
until 40-50 years of age.
In addition, the water oak
produces a bountiful crop
of acorns ever year or two.
In comparison, the highly
touted white oak bears a
bumper crop of acorns only
every four to six years.
The water oak does not
display pleasing fall foliage;
however, it does make a fine
shade tree.The water oak
grows to a height of 50-80
feet and has a spread of
50-80.
Flowering Dog
wood - This is one of our
most beautiful trees. In the
spring it adorns the Monroe
County countryside with
splotches of white flowers
that can be seen from afar
scattered throughout our
leafless woodlands. If that is
not enough, it treats us to an
autumn visual extravaganza
created by its shiny red ber
ries and crimson leaves.
At maturity the flower
ing dogwood has a spread
of20-30 feet and height of
25-30 feet.
Throughout the fall and
winter, scores of mammals
and birds vie for the tree’s
crop of red berries and the
seeds they contain. These
critters range from gray fox
es and eastern chipmunks
to quail and wild turkeys,
brown thrashers, eastern
bluebirds and others.
Although the flowering
dogwood is not considered
to be a valuable nectar plant,
its blooms do offer food to
bees and other wild pol
linators. The tree is also an
important host plant for the
spring azure butterfly and
115 other moths and but
terflies.
Redbud - Although the
redbud is one of our smaller
trees (20 feet in height),
it is also one of our most
beautiful. One of its most
endearing features is that it
blooms before most trees
begin leafing out. In fact,
it blooms earlier than the
flowering dogwood. Its rosy-
pink blossoms literally cover
the tree in spring. In file fall,
its heart-shaped leaves turn
yellow-green.
This tree reaches a height
of20-30 feet while its
branches can blanket 25-35
feet.
Henry’s elfin butterfly lays
its eggs on redbuds along
with a handful of moths,
including the striking io
moth.
Since the redbud blooms
so early in the year, it is an
important source of pollen
and nectar to wild pol
linators. When my largest
redbud is in full bloom, the
tree literally hums with the
sounds of feeding bees.
White-tailed deer, squir
rels, cardinals, rose-breasted
grosbeaks, quail, wild
turkeys and other birds eat
redbud seeds.
Eastern Red Cedar -
Many Monroe Countians
refer to this tree as cedar.
This attractive evergreen
often serves as a Christmas
tree.
It is an important wildlife
food plant. Its small fleshy,
greenish-blue berries are
produced annually with
bumper crops appearing
every two-three years. The
berries are eaten by cedar
waxwings and more than
two dozen other birds.
Mammals, such as chip
munks and opossums,
among others also dine on
them.
The red cedar is also im
portant to wildlife because
its dense foliage offers birds
and other wildlife escape
from predators and cold
weather.
The red cedar can reach a
height of 50 feet and have a
canopy of only 10-20 feet.
There are scores of other
native trees and plants that
deserve a place in your yard.
Unfortunately, space does
not allow me to discuss
them in this column. Conse
quently, I promise to expand
this list in the future.
In the meantime, if pos
sible, leave some native
plants when you prepare
your lot before building your
dream home. Ifyoudoso,
you, your wildlife neighbors,
and your fellow Monroe
Countians will all benefit.
Terry Johnson is retired Pro
gram Manager of the Georgia
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife
Program. He has written the
informative column Monroe
Outdoors’for the Reporter for
many years. His book, “A Jour
ney to Discovery’ is available
at The Reporter. Email him
at tjwoodduck@bellsouth. net.
TERRY W. JOHNSON
High Falls Triathalon draws 80 participants
Kayaks on the shore at Saturdays triathalon. (Photo/Sara Reed)
By Joe Reed
jpreed57@gmail.com
On a beautiful day, begging for a parade,
the Friends of High Falls State Park decided
to have three of them. They did it all within
the confines of a very unique Tri Not to Get
Wet Triathlon staged in and around High
Falls State Park.
You may be aware that most triathlons be
gin with a swimming leg, followed by a bike
ride and conclude with a rim portion. But
swimming in a lake, even one as beautiful
as High Falls Lake, is not for everyone. With
that in mind, 80 participants began their
triathlon with a challenging three mile trail
rim along the western edge of High Falls and
around Tranquility Trail. Back at the start
ing point they transitioned to bikes and raced
11 miles on an out-and-back course along
High Falls Rd. to Mount Vernon Church
Road. The final leg involved kayaking 1.5
miles out to and around a buoy on High Falls
Lake, where they were obviously encouraged
to Tri Not to Get Wet. A final climb up a
grassy hill to the finish line completed the
event.
As for parades, there really were three of
them. Eighty colorfully garbed runners of
all shapes, sizes and ages (from 7-66) joyfully
celebrating their good health and the beauty
of nature was the first one. Tranquility trail
is not for the timid runner. Roots, rocks and
stumps abound and more than one runner
landed on all fours along the way. Fortu
nately, only one person was seriously injured
and another competitor graciously stopped
to assist her. The injured woman was more
concerned that her husband cut short his
participation in the triathlon than she was for
her own swollen ankle.
Nick Morgan (20:13) and Curtis Reynolds
(20:21) were both just over 20 minutes for
this three mile leg, which was especially im
pressive considering the terrain. They stayed
close to one another over the next two legs
before Reynolds edged out Morgan by 30
seconds for the Overall Men’s win in 1:19:40
with Morgan claiming the Male Master’s
title in 1:20:10 for men 40 and older.
There were actually a couple more female
competitors than there were men and
the competition was just as fierce. Ashley
Gleason led the women through the trail run
in 25:02. Carol Picard was close behind in
27:18. Picard made up nearly nine minutes
on the bike leg and five more minutes on
the kayak and managed to win the Overall
Women’s title with a time of 1:35:57. Gleason
held on to claim first place for women 20-29
in 1:46:40. Penni Hartley used an excellent
bike leg to finish in 1:48:40 as the Masters
Female champion.
The bike leg of the triathlon was a roll
ing parade of sights and sounds as all of the
competitors could see one another. The faster
riders were well on their way back to the
park as the slower runners/riders were just
getting their bikes going over the rolling hills.
“Good job”, “Way to go” and “Thankyou”
to volunteers at the turns and intersections
were heard loudly, clearly and often along the
route. Weekly contributor to The Monroe
County Reporter, Sloan Oliver, volunteered
for the race and got all of the riders turned
around at the halfway point with his own
shouts of encouragement.
The athletes made it to the last leg pos
sibly thinking that a kayak paddle had to be
more relaxing than what they had already
endured. A strong wind from the north
blew in the face of that daydream as each
paddler struggled to make progress to reach
the turnaround point halfway up the lake.
Fortunately, with a couple of minor excep
tions, all of the participants adhered to the
race maxim of Tri-ing Not to Get Wet. Aside
from wet feet and one flipped kayak this
leg of the triathlon was memorable for the
colorful and boisterous flotilla of vessels all
heading generally in the same direction. It
was one last colorful and joyous parade of
effort on a beautiful lake.
Finishers received homemade chocolate
chip cookies and a medal designed by Lisa
Harris. All participants also received t-shirts,
race towels and swag bags (filled with good
ies) all with Lisa’s designs. In a unique feature
of this race, top finishers in each age group
received homemade chocolate chip triangles,
of course, with their place neatly displayed in
icing.
Volunteers were essential for the success
of the race. From setting up the transition
zone, registration, monitoring the three race
courses, and cleanup, Friends of High Falls
State Park and their volunteer friends led the
way. Also crucial was the staff of High Falls
State Park, the DNR crew on the lake, the
High Falls Fire Department Station who also
manned a boat on the lake and the Monroe
County Sheriff s Department.
As participants packed up dirty clothes,
bikes, and kayaks, many were already con
templating their next fitness adventure and
making plans for next year’s attempt to once
again, survive and surpass the hundreds of
roots, the rolling hills and the rippling waves
as they Tri Not to Get Wet!
Complete results can be found on www.
arrowliveresults.com/TriNotToGetWetHigh-
FallsStateParkTriathlon