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PAGE 2B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008 Outdoors With Skipper New barn resident means no more mice I recall the jingle that went like this “You’ll wonder where the yel low went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” Well, I wondered “where the mice went, when the mouse poison was still not spent.” I had put some poison for rats and mice out in the feed room in the barn. Seems like there was quite a bit of poison that just stayed there and never was eaten. However, I did not see any more mice around the barn. They used to hide in the corner of the horses stalls, and then run out to get a bit of dropped feed. My wife would have no part in having a barn cat to take care of the mice population, though we had seen a stray black cat around the farm, at times. Well, I found the answer the other day as I headed to the barn. Coming around a corner of the barn was a long black figure. It kept on coming and coming. Longer and longer, till I figured at least six feet. It made its way up on a bush adjoining the barn, I figured it was hunting for supper. It then headed up the side of the barn and into the loft. I watched as it stuck its head here and theresearching for a mouse. There was some chicken wire at one point, and it would go in a bit through the wire till its body was too big, and then back out and try again. I wondered what I would do if it got stuck in the openings in the wire. I couldn’t leave it there to die. Now, I know some folks, like my wife, figure that the only good snake is a dead one. But I have learned the good ones and the bad ones. In Florida where I fished and hunted before, we had to deal with the water moccasins and the diamondbacks. The water moccasins I couldn’t stand, but in reality the diamondbacks were to me, very pretty, though deadly. I would kill them and usually sell the snake to a fellow that made wallets, etc. The non-venomous snakes in nature do a lot to keep things bal anced, so I leave them alone. It’s nice to know that there is a snake around so there are no surprises. I recall an older lady in Florida, who was going out her screen door. Seems there was a big black snake lying on top of the door, when she opened it, it fell around her neck. You can imagine what happened next. Well, I thought I would call the barn snake “Blackie” but my grandson decided upon “Barney.” Now I haven’t seen “Barney” for the past few evenings, but I do keep an eye out for him when I go to feed. I don’t relish him dropping on my neck, with my being unaware of where he is. But, I do know what happened to the declining mouse population, and I am glad for that. Let me know if you have an out doors 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. skipper smith A BETTER MOUSE TRAP This black snake, named "Barney” by Skipper Smith's grandson, has been helping to control the mouse population in the Smith barn. Service Loan & Tax Here to meet all your loan and tax needs. Most cases you can pick up your cash in one hour or less. Call or come by today! We also have phone services, no deposit required. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6:00p.m. rr HI A D. ■f- 1 Eve Odom & Sandy Anderson 49 Washington St. • Jefferson, GA 706-367-9700 Jeff Suggs & Connie Wood 1730 N. Broad St. • Commerce, GA 706-423-9660 All applications subject to our liberal credit policies. BIG FIREWORKS SHOW! THURSDAY, JULY 3 TOYOTA TUNDRA presents INDEPENDENCE 125 125 Laps - Pro Late Models Plus Local Divisions Pit Gates Open at 11:00 a.m. • Practice at 1:00 p.m. Grandstands open at 5:00 p.m. • RACING at 7:30 p.m. Children 12 & Under FREE For more information visit www.georgiaasphaltseries.com or call 706-387-7490. Local Racing Jefferson racer takes Atlanta Dragway win FAMILYAFFAIR Jefferson's Stacey Blanton enjoyed his victory Saturday with his wife Debbie, son Ryan and daughter Shannon in attendance at the Atlanta Dragway. Photo by Tim Glover BY AMY GLOVER Despite predictions of thunderstorm, the first day of summer and the second points race of the season met with sunshine at the Atlanta Dragway. Each class was full, and many final rounds were decided by break outs and fouls in the face of some great runs and race vehicles that seemed to run better broken down. Super Pro Winner Stacey Blanton, Jefferson, pulled a near perfect pack age in his ’05 Undercover Dragster, running dead on with a zero at 5.04. Clay Fancher of Loganville would have faced a tough run with or without his breaking out (5.336 on a 5.34), which gave Blanton the win light. “I was very excited, I was shak ing. “ Blanton exclaimed, reaching enthusiastically for his winner sticker. Blanton’s wife Debbie, five-year-old son Ryan and his one-year-old daugh ter Shannon were in attendance. It was the children’s first time seeing their father’s success in the fast lane. Jim McKelvey of Snellville and Robby Brown of Winder placed in the semi-final rounds. The Pro class winner was instant ly determined when Canton’s Larry Chance cut a red-light, handing the win to Howard Warren of Douglasville. “I just thought my car was broke the last two runs,” he said. Warren dialed his car up with an educated guess at 7.96, ultimately running a 7.90. His Maverick normally runs around 7.15. “This is my first win in five years,” Howard said. “Hopefully this is the start of getting back on track.” Chad Brewer, from Canton, placed third. D.A. Streber, of Greenville, SC, took top honors in the Sportsman class, with a .0123 margin of victory against the “Bounty Hunter” J.D. Burford, also of Greenville, who defeated last weekend’s champion Mel Abney ear lier in the competition. Burford broke out with a 12.97 run against his 13.00 dial-in. Streber ran dead on at 19.82 with a .006 light, securing his fifth Atlanta Dragway win. Terry Turpin of Maysville finished in the semi-finals. The Motorcycle class faced an inter esting circumstance, when Jay “Bird” Rhyne from Athens met with Tim Sutton of Clermont in a repeat of the last race’s final. Sutton running a 9.34 on a 9.27 dial, against Rhyne’s 12.55 on a 12.53 dial, giving Rhyne the win, despite experiencing clutch trouble. “My clutch was slipping like last time,” he said “I put a whole new clutch in it, and it was worse, it just kept on revving’ up. “Tim was gunning for me. He broke his glasses during his bye-run into the finals.” The 13-17 Junior Dragster category was dominated by 16-year old Chase Mullinax of Buford, who defeated 14-year old Kelsey Lynn of Marietta with the better light (.024 vs. .086) and better ET (7.91 vs. .7.93), as both raced on a 7.90 dial. “I blew three motors before this,” Chase said. “Tim Stevens helped put the motor together, and Bill Gillen loaned the clutch. That’s why I cut good lights all day. I couldn’t have done it without them.” Chase thanked his mom and dad, also. Thirteen-year old Dylan Hutchins, from Monroe, placed in the semi finals. Eleven-year old Becky Granneman of Kennesaw ran dead on at 9.92, overcoming her late light (.141) against 12-year old Chris Bowden of Homer, who ran 9.35 on his 9.28 dial-in to take the 8-12 Junior Dragster win. Granneman’s solid run at the top end guaranteed her first-time victory. She is the daughter of track veteran Mark Granneman, multi-time cham pion and race-winner. Nine-year-old Charlie Smith of McDonough was the semi-finalist.