Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008
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Outdoors With Skipper
Friday free of work, but full of activities
U sually I take Friday’s
off from work to enjoy
a long weekend. Last
Friday was no different, but what
a great day it was.
It all began, as I slept in until
around 8 a.m., instead of my
usual, up at 6:30 routine. Heading
to the kitchen, I looked out the
window towards the corn feeder
and there were four bucks having
breakfast. One was a six pointer,
and the others were four. I usually
have nothing but does around.
I enjoyed that event, and then
had my bowl of cereal, along
with some sausage. Heading once
more to the kitchen window, I
found out there were some more
visitors. Two gobblers with about
six-inch beards were poking
around for some corn. It made me
realize that turkey season is not
too far away.
It was now time to head up to
the river for a bit of trout fish
ing. We wanted to see what was
around after the dry summer and
lack of rain. My friend had his
tractor running, and a wood box
attached to the three-point hitch
for hauling firewood.
A metal chair fit in the box
nicely, so with him handling the
driving, I sat in the wood box for
a trip way back in the woods to
our fishing spots. It was a great
arrangement, and saved a whole
lot of walking.
At the first spot, I had a trout
follow my spinner bait up to the
sandbar, but he wouldn’t take
the lure. At least there was one
there. Changing baits, I had him
on for a moment, but that was all.
Nothing seemed to work at that
spot.
We headed to a second location,
and I couldn’t get anything there.
We made a last stop at the “sand
bar.” That’s where my late friend
Dr. Blumer had a most enjoyable
The
Great
Outdoors
By Skipper Smith
706-677-1520
fight with a nice trout. Last one,
before he went on to Glory.
My friend left to check the mail
and have lunch while I stayed in
the woods. I soon had a fairly
nice trout on, and walked the
bank to get my camera while
fighting it, but it got away. Oh
well, I’ll just move around the
bend and try again.
Sure enough, I was soon onto
another nice fish, bigger than the
earlier one. With the drag scream
ing, it headed up river. I tried to
steer it clear of the snags and was
successful, back it came towards
me.
I heard the tractor returning,
and the engine shutting down.
I hollered to my friend to come
take a look and enjoy the moment
with me.
He made it to the bluff over
looking the battle, and watched
as I now had the fish in hand.
Around a four pounder, we fig
ured.
Releasing the fish for someone
else to enjoy, it was time to climb
aboard and head back. After tak
ing my wife with me on a few
errands later that afternoon, it was
time for an evening event.
I had been invited to Wilder
Outdoors annual get together.
Something I enjoy, good food,
fellowship, and nice gifts to win.
Wilder’s is a first class location
for hunting and fishing equip
ment. I took Daniel Wilson from
Homer Hardware with me along
with his son Sam.
We had a big time enjoying the
food, and looking at all the hunt
ing and fishing items.They also
had several majestic birds-red-
tailed hawks and others, from the
local falconry group. These birds,
as Daniel described, are “regal”
looking.
Perhaps, we can tell you more
in an upcoming story about this
great sport. There were three
main prizes to be given away: a
fly rod, a Hoyt compound bow,
and a rifle.
As the winner of the bow was
announced, they called out over
the loudspeaker, “Daniel Wilson.”
Wow, Sam and I exclaimed,
“Your dad has won!”
Sure enough, he was the win
ner. Now, I guess the bow was
a payback for Daniel being nice
to an older fellow like me. His
son attends Washington and Lee
University in Lexington,Va. I
also attended there and played
on the undefeated football team
in 1960. Daniel one day recently
was wearing a cap with a W and
L logo on it. He asked me if I
would like one. I said sure, it has
been 48 years since I might have
had one.
Earlier in the week, he had been
up at the school, and brought me
back a new W and L cap as a
gift. It just goes to show you, “it
is more blessed to give than to
receive.” A nice cap, and he got
a $1,000 bow. I don’t know of a
nicer fellow to win it though.
Well, the trip to Wilder
Outdoors capped off a great
Friday. Let me know about your
outdoors story.
Skipper Smith is an outdoors
columnist for The Banks County
News. His column appears
weekly. Let him know about your
hunting or fishing adventure at
706-677-1520.
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SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN
The Banks County Middle School Leopards enjoyed another standout season this winter. Team
members include, front row, from left, Billy Hudgins, Mark Loggins and Tucker Gardiner; back
row, from left, coach John Bertrang, Ermain Corona, Jameson Flynn, John Morgan, Kyle Smith,
Clayton Martin, Blake Griffith, Jacob Blalock, Abraham Loggins, Jonah Thomas and manager
Brandon Linn.
BCMS... continued from page 1B
Shedd admits that he has a drive to be successful but
notes winning games is not the primary focus at the
middle school level.
“My goal is to help these girls learn the fundamentals
of basketball and prepare them for the next level in high
school,” he said. “The greatest reward I could receive
would be to see all of the girls I have coached graduate
from high school and hopefully attend college. The most
important thing to me is to see the girls become good
people and successful citizens after their basketball
careers are over. I would feel a great sense of accom
plishment knowing that I have played a small part in the
lives of my athletes and helped them to have successful
futures.”
Shedd’s counterpart at BCMS can usually be found in
some gym or another this time of the year. Bertrang, in
addition to his duties at BCMS, is also a varsity assistant
at Banks County High School and also helps with the
junior varsity Leopards at BCHS.
Bertrang said his goal in coaching the middle school
team is a simple one: to prepare the players for the next
level.
“I am getting them ready to play for Coach (Mike)
Ruth,” Bertrang said recently. “That’s what it’s about.
We want to them to be prepared to compete at the high
school level.”
Since he is obviously familiar with Ruth’s system at
BCHS, Bertrang runs the same systems and schemes.
The respect Bertang has for Ruth is returned in kind.
“I can’t say enough good things about Coach B,” Ruth
said. “He means so much to basketball in Banks County.
He is willing to go the extra mile to help the basketball
teams and doesn’t mind coaching any of the teams in the
school system.”
Baseball, softball registration concludes Friday
The Banks County Parks and Recreation Department
will host baseball and softball registration beginning
Monday and continuing through Friday, Feb. 15.
Registration fee for both sports is $40. Age control is
May 1 for baseball and Jan. 1 for softball.
For additonal information, contact the recreation
department office on Thompson Street in Homer at
706-677-4407.
Information is also available at www.bankscounty.
recware.com.
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