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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