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PACE 2B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 OUTDOORS WITH SKIPPER Long-awaited arrival of gun season T his week is one of my favorite times to hunt, especially if one has been hunting with a bow during bow season. I headed to the back woods at my place on Saturday morning. As usual, when I entered the back gate, with daylight approaching, three deer took off running through the woods. I figured maybe they will come back when things settle down. The wind was calm as I entered the woods. Getting situated in my ladder stand, I eagerly awaited seeing a deer. As it be came lighter, the wind started to pick up and soon was blowing through the tree tops. The only good sound was that of acorns falling off the trees. It sounded like hail fall ing throughout the woods. That was great, as last fall the early freeze had destroyed the acorn crop at my place. Acorns mean deer and turkeys will be feeding where I hunt. A few squirrels began playing around and the sound of crows was heard overhead. I figured with all the wind that the deer would be bedded down somewhere. I guess they were because for the next two and a half hours, I didn’t see one bit of brown fur. I didn’t get to hunt Saturday evening, but was able to put up a new two man stand with the help of my son-in-law Brandon, and grandson Carson. I’ll give that stand a try this week. Changing the subject, I did get to see a bear crossing the road around 7:30 in the morning, when we left a “Couples Retreat” in the mountains up near Brevard, North Carolina. That’s the first time I have seen one, without being at Cades Cove or in the Smokey Mountains. On the talk about bears, a friend told me of going up to their sons cabin near Dahl- onega. He had a pond with some big trout in it, and lost 20 or so six pounders, due to the drought and warm weather. He laid them out on a log, and it wasn’t long before a big black bear that evening came to feast on them. Estimated at around 400 pounds, the bear ate all 120 pounds or so of fish. The next night he came back as they sat on the porch of the cabin, one of the folks took a video but was shaking so, the video shook also. My friend and his wife went back a few days later to feed the fish, and another bear crossed in front of them as they approached the cabin. Not the big one , but a smaller bear. Well, that makes for an interesting time. Let me know how you do this week. Skipper Smith is an outdoors columnist for The Banks County News. His column appears weekly. Let him know about your outdoors or hunting adventures at 706-677-1520. DNR accepts Youth Deer Hunt applications The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announces that applications will now be taken for the annual Banks County Youth Deer Hunt to be held at the Windmill Farm location. Applicants should be of hunting age and not over 16 years of age, and must be ac companied by an adult. Adults must be at least 18 years old. All participants, youth and adults, must possess a Hunter Education Certificate before application will be accepted. All other eligibility require ments and hunt rules are listed on the application. Applications can be picked up at the Banks County Ex tension Office, Shuler’s Great Outdoors - Commerce loca tion, and the Commerce Wal- Mart store. Applicants will be entered in a drawing for a chance to participate in the hunt that will be held Nov. 28 and 29. All applications must be complete, signed and sub mitted to the Banks County Extension Office located at 413 Evans Street in Hom er no later then 4:30 p.m., Nov. 4. The phone number is 706-677-6230. Applicants who are drawn for the hunt will be required to attend a safety and orientation meeting to be held on Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. Softball continued from page IB “We were able to wait on our pitch at the plate, and most often, we did not miss it,” Lord said. “It was the most runs scored of the year and most hits (20). We showed the power we are capable of. It was a great game for us all around.” BCHS set the tone early with eight runs in the first inning which allowed Rogers to settle in and throw to contact. Lord said. Franklin was 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. The freshman had two doubles and a triple. Baird was 3-for-4 with two RBI, three runs, a double and a walk. Madison Porter was 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and four RBI. Denton, Pickens and Brittany Cook all had two hits. Samm Kennedy scored two runs in the win. Read, then recycle this newspaper! C T •/AY LOR, You worked in the Tax Commissioner’s office for over 12 years and you were Deputy Tax Commissioner for 3 years, but what makes you different? When I decided to run for Banks County Tax Commissioner, / did not feel like I needed to change the way I did my job, or suddenly try to improve things just to get YOUR vote. Everyday I tried to provide YOU with the best customer service and I put myself and my family members in YOUR place on the other side of that window. How would I want someone to treat my grandfather or my grandmother!! Most days I was the first to arrive in the office to make sure that we were ready to serve YOU when our doors opened and I was the last to leave making myself available if YOUR transaction took us past closing time. I want to be YOUR Tax Commissioner. And as YOUR Tax Commissioner, I will continue the same friendly, honest and complete customer service I have shown YOU for over 12 years. With my years of experience serving YOU, I have the knowledge of the job as well as the RESPECT for the citizens of Banks County to carry out the responsibilities of Tax Commissioner in the professional and consistent manner YOU deserve and should expect from YOUR public servant. But I think YOU deserve much more than that! YOU deserve someone who truly has the heart to do this job. And I DO! I’ve formed friendships with many of YOU over the years and YOU knew YOU could count on me to give YOU all the information YOU NEEDED for YOUR particular situation. This election is not about me, IT’S ABOUT YOU and doing all we can to help YOU with the business YOU need to conduct with the Tax Commissioner’s office. There IS A DIFFERENCE! I love what I do and I am good at what I do and I do care about YOU! I have YOUR best interest at heart. Remember.... YOU are and have been worth my time and l will be worth YOUR vote! VOTE FOR AND ELECT BECKY TAYLOR YOUR NEXT BANKS COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER VOTE NOVEMBER 4, 2008 Paid for by the candidate. Preview continued from page IB Armstrong said Jefferson will be the best team his Leopards have played to this point in the 2008 season. “North Oconee and Riverside are good teams,” the coach said. “Jefferson beat River side pretty good. It would be a different story if we played Riverside now.” A factor which continues to hurt BCHS is a non-winning tradition. “Hopefully, our guys will see this as an op portunity to show what we can do,” Armstrong said. The Leopards will enter this week’s contest with no significant injuries. While some coaches may take the plan of formulating new schemes of special game plans for contests against undefeated opponents, don’t look for BCHS to do that this week. “We are better off when we do what we have been doing,” Armstrong said. “Whenever we try to do something different or try a new pack age, it seems to backfire.” 8-AA Standings Team Reaion Overall Jefferson 5-0 6-0 Fannin County 4-1 5-1 North Oconee 4-1 5-1 Riverside 3-2 4-2 Union County 3-2 4-2 Banks County 3-2 3-3 Dawson County 1-4 2-4 Rabun County 1-4 1-5 East Jackson 1-4 1-5 Oglethorpe County 0-5 1-5 First and Ten continued from page IB On the wrestling front, Kasey Hanley has provided a stable, knowledgable hand for the Mat Leopards. Hanley was just what the doctor ordered when he took over the program three years ago. It is amazing how far the BCHS wrestling team has pro gressed in the time he has been head coach. Look for even more progress this winter un der his leadership. There are many more people who play a major impact on the BCHS sports front. People like Dwayne Worley, who certainly is never at a loss for words. Dwayne was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Banks County and he made me feel as welcome as anyone. You don’t mind many people as genuine and down to earn as Dwayne and his family. I will miss them as much as anyone. As I wrote in a recent col umn, Angie Bowen is a special person when it comes to BCHS athletics. She does so many things behind the scenes that it would be hard to replace her. She has helped bail me out of so many jams it would be hard to recount them all. From indentifying players in photos to getting copies of schedules, Angie is always willing to lend a hand and help anyone who needs it, including your local sports writer. She always has a smile on her face even when I know she has to be at the point of exhaustion. I could only hope to find some one as helpful as her in my new venture. A special note of thanks must go to Randy Crump and Lyn Sengupta who have helped me tremendously in the area of sports photography. Pictures make a sports section and these two talented individuals have helped make these pages standout. This, of course, is only a partial list of people who have been helpful to me and who play a major role on BCHS athletics. All deserve praise for what they do on a daily basis. I will still be around for a little while longer. If I don’t get a chance to see you before I go, just imagine I am standing by you right now shaking your hand and telling you, “Thank you.” It has truly been my plea sure. Let’s keep in touch. Chris Bridges is sports edi tor of The Banks County News. E-mail comments to chris@ mainstreetnews.com. JV Football continued from page IB Justin Fincannon, Brett Bowman, Kenny win included Homer Carver, Levi Thomas, Langston, Logan Prater and Issac Mayfield Chris Rutherford, Bo Garrison, Trenton Davis, also drew the praise of the coaches for their de- Cody Sears, Barry Whitfield, Nathan Krum- fensive work. now, Phillip Wood, Jordan Boyle and Darrell Other top defensive players in the 20-point Childress. msmMsnmmmsninmsMm NORTH GA S #1 SLEEP CENTER! MATTRESS t LIQUIDATION j l! g Midway* J-rossi ae fvrnel THURS. EVERYTHING GOES! FRI., SAT., SUN. ONLY!!! Free Layaway R MODELS MUST GO! KING SET UNBELIEVABLE g PRICE! CTQQ 5 Reg.$799 ® financing available! “ MATTRESS MQUIPATION Sttlll 5 Scled SeUU 70W SPECIAL Queen Sets $199 VIDEO ROCKER $59 DtUa f. $199 Jt Complete A SUNBURST Black Canopy q - $199 r—= W M Bestseller Futon Bunk Bed $399 COMPLETE FUTONS DESIGNER BEDS U4 1 1 v 1 rffij FUU $199 QUEEN $299 SPRING AIR SPECIAL BACK SUPPORTER! 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