Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008
Outdoors With Skipper
News of birds, garden and a big grand slam
N o fishing last week, as
I had a Grandparents’
Day at my grand
son Hunter’s school in Dacula
Friday.
By the way, Hunter, age seven,
hit a grand slam, last Saturday
morning. The ball went over
the back fence. In all his ball
games we have been to, I have
never seen that happen before.
Nevertheless, Grandma and
Grandpa were real excited and
proud. Well, that is outdoors
news, and thanks for allowing
me to brag a bit.
Around the farm, I went out
to check on the garden, as I
have some tomatoes, egg plant,
squash, cucumbers and bell
pepper plants in the ground. As
I approached, I heard my old
friends, or friend, blowing at me.
I thought to myself, hey this is
my garden, not yours.
Of course, it was a deer or two
in the woods adjoining the gar
den spot. I had to put up a seven
foot chicken wire fence to keep
them out. When I was tilling up
the garden and had left the door
open, sure
enough there
were deer
tracks when
I returned
the next day,
as they took
a tour of
the — thank
goodness —
empty gar
den.
I was able
to get a couple of rows of black
eyed peas and half runner beans
planted this past Saturday, before
a light rain came.
On the back porch at the bird
feeders, as I mentioned before, I
have enjoyed more gold finches
than ever in the past. Even the
dove are flying up and enjoying
the sunflower seeds.
I had a new visitor, and had
to look him up on the inter
net. I turns out it was a rose
breasted grosbeak. A beautiful
bird, with its red breast, and
black and white color on its
wings. I have been watching
the bird nests, bluebirds, spar-
rows, purple finches, a brown
thrasher and some other small
bird. Interesting, as they fly back
and forth bringing food to the
little ones inside. I am afraid that
the birds may take better care
of their young, than do many
human parents. My big new
purple martin house sits unoc
cupied. Perhaps, I will find some
tenants next year for it.
I am planning a camping/fish
ing trip the end of this week,
so hopefully, will have a great
report to give you next week. I
am counting on my friend, Len,
catching the big one. If you
recall, how badly I hated catch
ing two trout over five pounds
or so, when we were fishing a
couple of weeks ago. It is his
turn. Let me know if you have a
great outdoors story. Until then,
good fishing.
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.
GA
skipper
smith
Get your record catch recognized by state DNR
Each year, the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources,
Wildlife Resources Division
(WRD) recognizes anglers for
outstanding and state-record
catches.
Submit a clear photograph of
the fish for proper identifica
tion and length verification (the
photo should at least show the
entire length of the fish and the
ruler or tape used to measure the
fish).
In addition, a photo of the
angler with the fish is also
required. Complete an applica
tion and submit with photos.
State record applications must
be received within 90 days of
the catch.
Information regarding angler
awards and state record fish can
be found on the WRD website
at www.gofishgeorgia.com or
in the Georgia Sport Fishing
Regulations Guidebook avail
able at all WRD offices.
WEEKLYPLANNER Upcoming prep sporting events (Wednesday, May 7, through Tuesday, May 13.)
Banks County High School athletics
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.
Mon.
Tues.
•Track Class AA state
meet in Jefferson
•Baseball @ Holy In
nocents, state playoffs,
best of three series, 2:30
p.m., 5:30 p.m.
•Track Class AA state
meet in Jefferson
•Baseball @ Holy In
nocents, state playoffs,
best of three series,
game three, if neces
sary, 1 p.m.
•Track Class AA state
meet in Jefferson
•Football spring
practice
•Football spring
practice
The Banks County News
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High School Football
Leopards begin on-the-field spring work
SPRING DRILLS
The Banks County High
School football team
(above) ushered in the
start of spring practice
last Thursday. Second-year
head coach Blair Armstrong
(left) will look to help the
Leopards take more posi
tive steps this fall.
Photos by
Chris Bridges
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County High School foot
ball coach Blair Armstrong said it
was “exciting” to be back on the
practice field last week.
The Leopard football team began
spring practice Thursday as work for
the 2008 season continues. Players
have been involved in the offsea
son program for weeks but returned
to the practice field Thursday and
Friday.
“It was great seeing all the new
faces out there,” Armstrong said
Sunday night after breaking down
the first two days of spring. “We are
still missing a few baseball play
ers and one athlete who is involved
in track. However, this gives us a
chance to work with the younger
kids.”
The players did not practice
Monday or Tuesday and will also be
off today (Wednesday) because of
academic testing. Practice sessions
resume Thursday and Friday and
will be held all of next week. The
annual spring scrimmage will be
Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m.
Armstrong and Chuck Hudson,
who will be the offensive coordina
tor this fall, could be seen working
with the players on that side of the
football.
“Coach Hudson and I have
worked together on offense before,”
Armstrong said. “There will be some
small adjustments from last season
but not a great deal.”
New defensive coordinator Paul
Hoch, who arrives from Peachtree
Ridge, was also working with
the Leopards at spring practice.
Armstrong, who oversaw the defense
last fall, said many of the defensive
principals will remain the same in
2008.
In addition to Hoch, new assis
tant coach Tyson Baxter, a BCHS
graduate, was working with the team
last week. Armstrong expects to
bring in at least a couple more new
assistant coaches although nothing
had been finalized earlier this week.
Approximately 60 upperclassmen
are involved with the program while
38 eighth graders took part in a
spring practice session held prior to
the varsity drills.
Worley eager for next chapter of athletic career
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Dustin Worley was only an obs-
ervor at spring football practice at
Banks County High School last
week but that doesn’t mean the
senior’s football career is over.
Worley, who will graduate from
BCHS later this month, is preparing
to continue both his education and
athletic career at Catawba College in
Salisbury, N.C. In fact, Worley said
he will report to school in July as
preparation for fall football practice
begins.
“I am looking forward to it,”
Worley said last week. “I went up
and watched their spring game. The
coaches said I will have a chance to
come in and compete right away.”
Catawba’s quarterback from last
fall, Brad Roach, was a senior and
in fact has signed a rookie free agent
contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
Worley said Catawba’s quarterback
operates out of the shotgun forma
tion on most plays.
Worley had a standout athletic
career at BCHS. He was 30-of-57
passing during his senior football
season for 390 yards and also rushed
for 189 yards.
He was also a standout on the
Leopard basketball and golf teams.
He earned honorable all area status
during his senior season for the bas
ketball team.
In addition to his athletic accom
plishments, Worley has also been a
standout in the classroom.
TolbertiSiBradford
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