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Outdoors Only beavers should be allowed to dam the Flint River, I read, with great interest last week, the title in the teaser on front of the Houston Times Journal which read, "Dams Are Needed". I' could hardly wait to find the article and see why we need more dams on one of our few remaining sections of a free flowing river. I was active in the fight to stop the dams which were mentioned in the article, and I do not remember the facts exactly as they were spelled out by the writer of the article. I realize that 20 years and the approach of old age tend to make a person forget many things; but, I do remember the beauty of the Sprewell Bluff section of the Flint River and the importance of saving this area. I do remember the dam project as a super "Pork Barrel" project of some politicians who wanted to feather their nests at the expense of taxpayers, environmentalists, and outdoor lovers. 1 also suspect that landowners and others who were very interested in feathering their pockets were also very much in support of this project. There are three classes of animals who hate a free flowing stream —beavers, politicians and the Army Corps of Engineers. Of these three species, I far prefer the beaver, as their work doesn't cost the taxpayer $159 million, as the politicians dams were projected to Rising water hurts fishing on local lakes Just about every reservoir in Georgia or Alabama is at or above full pool, with most being above full pool. Every since the floods hit us in July, and with the heavy rains since then, high water has become a ma jor problem in the lakes. With the heavy rains from last week that hit North Georgia, lakes like Eufaula, West Point, Lanier, Oconee, and Sinclair are all having to contend with high water. I was Lake Sinclair over the weekend and water was just about to cover the docks at Little River Park. The water coming down Little River and the Oconee was bloodied. Someone made the comment that several people were trapped in the mud and couldn't swim up near Optimist Island. I don't know if it was that muddy; but, it sure was red. Further down towards the Sinclair Dam, the water changed color several times, but, for the most part, it was fairly clear. There definitely wasn't much go ing on as far as fishing. In fact, I Buckarama comes to Perry agricenter Area hunters will get a chance to improve their skills as the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Buckarama will come to the Georgia Agn center in Perry Aug. 26-28. Headlining the seminar schedule this year is Dan Fitzgerald. He has made some of the most successful hunting videos in the country. He will speak on family hunting from the swamps to the mountain tops. Sammy Schrimsher, expert deer and black bear hunter, bowhunter Galen Schinkle and Joe Kelly, one of the top whiietail experts in the South will also be on hand during Buckarama. The seminar will fea ture fewer speakers; but, they will speak more often, giving everyone a chance to hear them. In addition to the speakers, two shows involving live animals will be featured at the Buckarama. Please see tfucKarama page 6C Perry Area Home Loan Rates |Jetterßßon & Associates 8.625 % + 0 pts. 7.750%+ 1.500 pts. Debt ratio to 50% •FHA/VA rates upon request. Debt consolida tion loan*. Mobile homes on osrned land 15 to 3*-rr. terms. Second mortgages at prime. Commerklsl * SBA Loans. Farmer MAC Loans. ftetiers6on& Associates Financial Planner, Insurance Services Commercial, Residential, and Farm Loans P.O. BOX 27 514-B GEN. C. HODGES BLVD. Tel: 912-987-3817 cost, and beavers do not make mistakes in building as the Corps does. Former Congressman Jack Fiynt stated that dams on the Flint would have regulated the flow of water on the river and prevented the flooding of Montezuma, Albany, Americus and Newton. I find this awfully hard to believe and wonder where Fiynt got his information. I just looked at my Georgia Road map and, unless I have lost my ability to read a map, Americus is located 18 miles away from the Flint. I would really like for the knowledgeable politician Fiynt to explain to me how a dam on the Flint River could save a town 18 miles away from the river. Americus was flooded by local creeks and 21 inches of rain which fell in the immediate area—not by water from the river. Montezuma was flooded by a creek long before the river waters got to it I wonder where Fiynt got his only caught eight small bass off a couple of points in Rocky Creek. I talked to a fishing buddy, Jim Windham, who as at the Oconee, and he said the mudline had moved from Lakeside all the way to where the gas line crossed the Oconee Dam, adding that more water to Lake Sinclair. He reported fishing was real good early, using a methi olate trick worm, but all the fish were in the "slot." Generally when water is on the rise, bass will move up with the water to take advantage of the bait fish and crawfish that move up to feed on the worms and other foods in the water. I've found that if the water is rising too fast, the fish won't move up right away. It may take them several days for them to GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR NEEDS SOME GOOD PEOPLE ON A PART-TIME BASIS. NOW HIRING FOR: PARKING SECURITY MAINTENANCE TICKET SELLERS GATE ATTENDANTS If you are interested, please call 912-987-3247. EOE IbWM ri.agPFrjgy WBmjfr ■ m ' ■ SNACK MEAL V • 2 Chicken Fingers • 4 Chicken Fingers I IIIIJV • Your Choice Of • Your Choice Of 0•00 p 01 |0 Dipping Sauce Dipping Sauce For A Limited Time! H I ■ f Win f p ‘94! w y ddie^^igginsW 900 Russell Pkwy. Warner Robins jmr information, that dams would prevent flooding. The Missouri River is one of the most dammed up rivers in this country. Ask the victims of last years flooding on the Missouri, how effective those dams were. Ask the citizens of Macon, Georgia, how effective Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee were in preventing the flooding of Macon. Lake Blackshear, one of the flat water lakes that the politicians are extolling, compounded the flood damage by holding back the waters and flooding countless homes on its shores. The writer admitted that the lake caused even more damage when its dam would not hold the water and gave away. Would the Sprewell Bluff dam have done the same thing? The writer of last weeks article quoted a letter from then Governor Vandiver in the 1960 s to a Corps of Engineers general. This letter stated that the dam on the Flint would aid wildlife and benefit industrial development and recreation. How a flat water lake, which drowns thousands of acres of precious river bottom hardwood wildlife habitat could enhance wildlife is beyond me. Environmentalists are doing everything possible to save the few undeveloped river corridors and to jj David and I Susanne Andel move up with the rising water. For the next several days, or even weeks, I think you will find this to be true. Now, once the rains slack off, if they ever do, then the water will begin to stabilize at a high level, and the the bass will start to move in. I can't remember when we have had a wetter July and August. As we move toward September and October, I certainly hope we dry out some. CHICKEN FINGERS CHICKEN FINGERS Wednesday, August 24, 1994, Houston Times -Journal- Special Edition Tuggle can't understand dams on river protect the remaining wetlands that these dams would destroy. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is desperately trying to buy river bottom land right here in Houston County so that it can be preserved. The department acquired a large tract of land in the Sprewell Bluff area last year under the Governors preservation program. They thought that this area was important enough to be preserved. Please explain to me how a lake would enhance industrial development in an area. The days of using lakes to dump industrial wastes and furnish unlimited water for private industry are long gone. Please explain to the church groups, the Boy Scouts and many thousands of their people who canoe and enjoy the Sprewell Bluff area of the Flint every year how a flat water lake would enhance recreation. We have thousands of acres of lakes over the state for fishermen and for people to drive their motorboats at seventy miles per hour. Leave a few areas of quiet solitude, beauty and wilderness for people who do not prefer the noises, crowds, boat fumes and houses of the flat water lakes. Rivers will flood. Houses, buildings and towns will be inundated as long as human beings are dumb enough to build on flood November through January sometimes prove to be a wet time of the year for us; and, if it is this year, we may see a lot more flood ing before we get completely out of the woods. Susanne and I have about three weeks before we go to the USA Couples Championship, being held this year on Lake Mitchell in Alabama. The lake is mostly river, and is used, as many lakes in Alabama and Tennessee are, for power generating and flood control. We can just imagine what the place is going to look like with all this water around us. We'll just have to give it our best shot. Until next time ... we’ve gone fishing. Go - Fight - Win! | | | II Exit 46-HWY 49 Byron 956-4007JS We Know Uou Can Do ut! HERBERT Houston Times-Joumal plains. God created hills far above the reach of flood waters to build on. Former Governor Carter will always be a hero to me because he had the courage to stand ud to iimnii'Si £ THE TRADITION CONTINUES ... REGISTER TO WIN FREE DRAWING Model BOL7OO Remington Rifle Deerstand by Trax America Dame-O-Flage By Lucky Lady Camoflage Ghcenoc Boat Galvanized Trailer & MolniGimle Llecliic Molor Edwards Harper 909 Carroll Street • 987-2391 August 26, 27, and 28 Georgia AgrlCenter l-75/Exlt 42 Frt 1 pm - 9 p.m. Sat. 10 am - 9 pm Sun. 10 am. - 6 pm Adults $6, Senior Citizens S 3 6-12 Yts. $3, Under 6 Free * ■ For more Inftymadon Contact Doug flltbmire 404-929-3350 fax 404-929-3534 One Dollar Of Adult Admission With This Ad Score in ‘94 Short Sleeve Knit Shirts & Shorts Only sl2^ Page 5C politicians, the Corps of Engineers and other self serving individuals to stop the Sprewell Bluff Dam project in its tracks. I wish we had more politicians with this courage! /V/> %' w PT Free Seminars Dan Fitzgerald: Family Hunting From Swamps to Mountain Tops Sammy Schrimsher: Expert Deer & Black Bear Hunter Monteen McCord: Birds Ot Prey Diamondback Snake Show By Dan Holloway X Steve Fiynt Joe Kelly Huntimi tmpliy Deer lialim Nlimklr Minium Day lliiliin Hood Flambeau /HzfMZB