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PAGE 2B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008
Outdoors With Skipper
Feathered friends busy building new nests
Youth Gymnastics
Two local youth qualify for regional meet
I always enjoy the spring,
particularly because of the
activity of our feathered
friends.
I eagerly await the first hum
mingbird to arrive at the feeder.
One did this past week, and I
then hurriedly went on the back
porch, picked up the feeder and
loaded it with sugar water.
It won’t be before long when
there will be a bunch of them,
with a lot of fighting going on
to keep the feeder for them
selves. Usually I put up at least
two feeders, with some distance
between them, to encourage my
friends to share.
This past week, I have had
several gold finches at the feed
er. In the past, there usually was
only one, but now I am enjoying
a bunch. The gold finches, the
purple finches and the redbirds,
really add color and are most
enjoyable.
This past Sunday afternoon, I
decided to see who I could find
building nests on the property.
The first I discovered was a pair
of purple finches, building a
nest over a light fixture in the
shed where we park our cars.
Then one
of the bird
houses I
had put out
on a fence
pole, was
being used
by a pair of
bluebirds.
Last year we
had a pair
of bluebirds
nesting there
too.
I put up a purple martin house,
out in the pasture by the round
pen and so far have no takers. I
guess I need to put a “vacancy”
sign up.
I understand, though it may
take a couple of years to get
some tenants, once the purple
martins use the birdhouse, they
will return each year. I hope you
enjoy our friends as much as I
do.
On another note, I did get to
take my four-year-old grandson,
Carson, fishing up at Unicoi last
Friday afternoon. He had been
practicing throwing a weighted
cork with his spinning outfit in
his backyard, his mother had
told me.
Well, he caught a fish all by
himself. It was a “horny -head”
but that didn’t matter to him. It
was a fish. I appreciated a man
nearby with his children, who
encouraged Carson and his fish
ing.
These children are the future
of our outdoors, be it hunting or
fishing.
What a heritage to leave
behind when we are gone, a
love of the outdoors for our
children and grandchildren.
Make some time this summer,
to take them fishing with you.
Devote your attention and time
to them, let them play in the
creek, and have a good time
also, whether they catch any
thing or not. One day, they will
be taking you.
If you have an outdoors story,
give me a call.
Skipper Smith is an outdoors
columnist for The Banks County
News. His column appears
weekly. Let him know about
your hunting or fishing adven
ture at 706-677-1520. His col
umn appears each week.
skipper
smith
BCHS Class of 1995
establishing memorial
scholarship fund
The Banks County High School Class
of 1995 is establishing a scholarship in
memory of classmate Shawn Smith.
Smith, who was a standout athlete for the
BCHS Leopards, died following a car acci
dent last summer while attending a basket
ball camp in Alabama with members of the
North Oconee County High School team.
Those wishing to make donations or
obtain additional information about the
scholarship can contact Nicole Blalock
at 706-658-7014 or Heather Cotton at
706-654-7683.
A fund has been established at area
Freedom Bank locations.
Mooney excels at competition
Kristin Mooney had a
great strongat the Georgia
National Open Baton
Twirling Contest held in
Loganville recently.
Mooney won first
place in four divisions
including modeling,
best appearance, fancy
strut and solo twirl. She
was alternate to Jr. Miss
Majorette of Georgia.
A junior at Banks
County High School,
Mooney is also feature
twirler for the school
band. She is the daughter
of Joe and Judy Mooney
of Lula . KRISTIN MOONEY
Today we celebrate our planet.
Today we commemorate its nature.
Today we renew our commitment to nurturing both.
The NEW Waste Management.
Our planet is truly miraculous. It not only gives us beauty, but it
also provides for us. So it’s worth celebrating. And nurturing.
That’s why the NEW Waste Management is commemorating our
planet’s wondrous nature as a committed supporter of Earth
Day.
We take care of our Earth every day with advanced recycling
programs that employ the latest methods for sorting plastics
and glass. We’ve pioneered effective technologies that turn
waste products into clean energy.
Our efforts to care for our planet are making a difference. Your
efforts can too. Celebrate Earth Day with us by recycling
plastics and cans, planting trees and promoting environmental
awareness.
An uncompromising commitment to nurture our Earth. It’s
another way we’re making a difference. One community at a
time. www.wm.com
From everyday collection to environmental protection, look to
the NEW Waste Management.
Two local youth recently qualified
to represent the state of Georgia in
the USA Gymnastics 2008 Region
VIII - Level 8 Championships at
Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge,
Tenn.
Amanda Grogan, 13, and Spencer
Turk, 11, will represent Georgia
in Tennessee May 2-4 competing
against top gymnasts from Region
VIII, comprised of the following
Southeastern states: Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Tennessee.
Grogan and Turk recently compet
ed at the Level 8 USAG State Meet
held at Life University in Kennesaw
where 77 out of 136 gymnasts qual
ified to represent Georgia in the
Level 8 regional championships.
Grogan qualified for regional com
petition finishing 12th out of 54
gymnasts in her appropriate age
group with an all-around score of
35.850 out of a possible 40.00.
Turk also competed against 55
gymnasts finishing 7th in her age
group and qualifying for regional
competition to represent the state
of Georgia with a personal best all-
around score of 36.625. In a sport
where scores are calculated to the
one-thousandth, this was a giant win
for Grogan and Turk.
Grogan competed on all events
scoring an 8.950 on vault; an 8.600
on the uneven bars; a 9.050 on the
balance beam; and a 9.250 on floor.
Turk also competed on all events
SPENCER TURK
scoring a 9.050 on vault; a 9.175
on the uneven bars; an 8.975 on the
balance beam and a 9.425 on floor.
Grogan and Turk love the sport of
gymnastics and are very disciplined
gymnasts dedicated to year round
training - working out in the gym
four or more hours five days a week.
Competitive gymnastics begins at
level 3 to level 10 and then a gym
nast can go on to the Elite/Olympic
level. Grogan and Turk are cur
rently Level 8 gymnasts, training
AMANDA GROGAN
at Gymnastix Training Center in
Buford.
Both young athletes are both home
schooled students. Grogran is the
daughter of Vic and Allison Grogan
and has a sister, Kayla, of Alto.
Turk is the daughter of Billy and
Carlita Turk and sister of Newt,
Emily, and Tandy, of Cornelia.
Grogan and Turk are excited and
honored to have this opportunity
to go attend the regional meet in
Tennessee.
www.mainstreetnews.com
Banks County news and sports online
The Banks County Republican Party will be holding a
fund raising barbecue on April 26, 2008 at the American
Legion Hall in Homer, Georgia from 10:00 a. m. to 2:00
p.m. Barbecue plates will be available for $6.00, and will
include barbecue pork, bread, baked beans and cole slaw.
The Banks County Republican Party will also hold its
regular monthly meeting that morning at 9:00 a.m. All
interested persons are invited to attend the meeting prior to
the barbecue event. The American Legion building is
located on Historic Homer Highway in Homer, Georgia.
Paid for by Clyde A. McArthur, Chairman, Banks County Republican Party
132 Lakeview Drive, Baldwin, GA 30511
Customer
Appreciation Week
i Lower Than Usual Prices
On Entire Selection of SAS
Shoes, Sandals & Handbags
Today
Through
April 26
SAS FACTORY SHOE STORE
TANGER FACTORY OUTLET CENTER
800 STEVEN B. TANGER BLVD.
COMMERCE, GA
(706) 335-9576
STORE HOURS: MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 9-9, SUNDAY 12- 6