Rutherford Weekly

Page 10 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, July 30-August 5, 2015 We Want Your Outdoor Photos! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Sportsman's Corner Sportsman's Corner Email: Photos@RutherfordWeekly.com Mail: 369 Butler Rd. • Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. As sightings of alligators become more numerous in North Carolina, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering tips on how to co-exist peacefully with these large reptiles. While they may look scary and intimidating, alligators are, for the most part, shy and secretive, preferring to spend their time sunning along the banks or lurking just beneath the surface of waters in coastal North Carolina. However, as the human population continues to grow and wildlands used by alligators continue to be developed, interactions between the two are inevitable. When interactions do occur, there are several steps people can take to prevent confl icts with alligators. The fi rst thing people should do when seeing an alligator is also the easiest — nothing. "If you spot an alligator, simply leave it alone and it will typically move on within a few hours to a couple of weeks," said Jeff Hall, a biologist with the Commission. "And never, ever feed an alligator. In addition to being illegal, feeding an alligator can cause the alligator to associate humans with an easy meal, which in turn causes them to lose their natural instinct to avoid humans — a situation that can be deadly for both the animal and people." Hall notes other common-sense steps people can take to avoid potentially unpleasant interactions with alligators, such as: Keeping pets on a leash and not allowing them to swim in waters where alligators have been seen;Refraining from feeding ducks, geese and fi sh in these same waters; Disposing of fi sh scraps in garbage cans instead of throwing them on the ground or back in the water; Closely watching young children and never leaving them unattended near any body of water; Never approaching an alligator — no matter what its size. "Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn so people should be particularly vigilant and cautious in areas where alligators have been spotted during these times," Hall added. On rare occasions an alligator can cause a situation that does require immediate action, for instance when one becomes trapped in a swimming pool or wanders into a public road and refuses to move. In those cases, a Commission employee or other authorized individual may move the animal to a safer location. Under no circumstances should people attempt to remove an alligator on their own, either by harassing or killing the animal. Not only is it dangerous but it is also illegal. Alligators are listed as a "threatened species" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service even in states with dense populations of alligators due to the their similar appearance to the American crocodile, which is critically endangered. In North Carolina, alligators are listed as threatened. Native to the Tar Heel state, alligators can be found in bay lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, swamps and ponds of coastal North Carolina. North Carolina is considered the northern extent of their distribution so alligators here grow much slower, reproduce less frequently and their populations are more vulnerable to local extinction than in other southern states. In North Carolina, alligators less than 6 feet grow about 4 inches a year while larger alligators grow about 3 inches a year. Females generally grow to less than 9 feet and males grow to between 12 to 13 feet and weigh 500 pounds or more. Adults usually are solitary but congregate together, particularly during the breeding season, which, in North Carolina, occurs in May and June. Females lay between 30 and 45 eggs and will actively guard the nest until eggs hatch approximately 60 days later. They become more active as temperatures warm in early spring and will remain active, relatively speaking, through the early fall. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything that gets too close to their powerful jaws — from turtles and fi sh to birds and mammals. Humans, however, aren't typically a part of their diet, and attacks on humans are rare. "Alligator attacks are extremely rare but when an alligator attacks a person, it's usually because that person has deliberately provoked or harassed it," Hall said. "By following some common-sense safety tips, people can co-exist peacefully with alligators." Alligators are an important part of the natural world here in North Carolina —they strengthen our coastal wetland ecosystems, hatchlings and eggs provide food for a host of species and the holes they dig into embankments and pond bottoms serve as cover for a wide variety of aquatic species." TIPS ON LIVING WITH TIPS ON LIVING WITH ALLIGATORS ALLIGATORS Article provided by: http://www.ncwildlife.org OUTDOOR TRUTHS As a youngster, I spent every day out- side during the summer. I don't even re- member the rain keeping the crew from Ford's Woods at bay. I'm sure we were shut down sometimes but evidently I re- fused to enter those days in my memory bank. What I did enter were the days when each of the boys in that neighborhood wanted to turn his bicycle into a two-wheeled, super chopper. Since we lived in the days of banana seats and sissy bars, it wasn't hard to modify each bike into a unique mobile machine. Some of the guys added a high sissy bar. Others extended the front forks. Some did both. And I've said nothing about the handlebars. The only prerequisite for them was they must be wide and tall enough to fi t your best friend if he needed a ride. We all complied. Most of the time, our modifi cations were short-lived, but what we lacked in engineering ability we made up in creativity. It doesn't take long to see that humans start early in the process of design and development. It seems we were made to look at something, analyze its confi guration, and begin to mentally fi gure a way to do it different or better. My wife says this about God and man. She says, He created man, looked at him, and said "I can do better than that," and then proceeded to create woman. I'm not sure about that but I am sure about when and when not to argue with my wife. I think I'll keep my mouth shut. The desire that we have to make something better is not always positive – especially when it comes to our faith. Many people spend their entire Christian life trying to improve. But while making themselves better is an admirable quality, it is also a very egocentric one. In fact, what do we call someone who is constantly enamored with themselves? We call them narcissistic. The same goes for a Christian who is constantly thinking about themselves. The truth is our focus is not to be on ourselves but it is to be on God and others. When we focus on God through His word, we come to know Him and as we come to know Him, His Spirit works out those things in our life that make us "better." When we focus on others, we become the hands and feet of God for those in need. The result of our service is that others are made better. So stop constantly try- ing to do what you are unable to anyway. Spend your time on getting to know God more and in investing your life in the lives of others. It will be a lot more fun for you and others around you as well. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER gary@outdoortruths.org ~ www.outdoortruths.org Not Just Oil, Pennzoil Brought to you by: Brought to you by: 828-245-0434 293 S. Broadway St., Forest City FAST FAST FAST FAST WAY WAY WAY WAY ©Community First Media Community First Media SPORTS SPORTS Owls eliminated from postseason Well, it's over for Forest City this season in the Coastal Plain League. The Owls lost four in a row last week and are eliminated from the postseason. The stats tell the tale if you will. Forest City is ranked number 12 in hitting, 11 in pitching and 10 in fi elding out of 15 team in the league this season. They never enjoyed more than a three-game win streak all season, have allowed 40 runs during the four game losing streak last week. This will be the second time since the Owls were revitalized in 2008 in which they failed to make the postseason. Although they won't make the playoffs, for those who wish to see Forest City baseball in action, a the regular season home fi nale is on Friday, July 31 as they host Asheboro at 7pm. Yes, it's that time again. Football season is back. High School Football begins practicing this weekend on August 1 as the fi rst regular season game is set for August 21. Since there is talk of the upcoming season, why not be a teaser to those who are waiting for the start, just as I am. East Rutherford has their best athlete returning to the fi eld in what will be his senior season. However, 15 vital seniors graduated and most of their lineman and linebackers spots are questionable for the upcoming season. They nearly upset Mount Pleasant on the road last year in the playoffs, but won the county championship and concluded with a 6-6 record. Their defense was huge as they won three games down the stretch to make the playoffs, but the offense might be the most reliable during this upcoming season. At R-S Central, the Hilltoppers will have to fi nd a replacement in Matt Atchley. The heart and soul has now graduated after leading them to eight overall wins, fi ve of those in conference and a playoff victory last season. Although, they lose most of their offense, Central will have a good portion of their defense and linemen back. Last year's best JV team in the county could also be benefi cial in replacing some needed spots on varsity. Chase will have some athletes this season as they bring back most everybody off last year's young football team. Questionably, Will they have any blocking or depth? The Trojans won just once last season and their three non-conference games gives them a chance to win early in the schedule. They normally give Polk trouble, while Bessemer City and Cherryville seem to be close games with the Trojans in recent history. Thomas Jefferson accomplished more than they ever had during the 2014 campaign on the football fi eld. They collected 10 wins, went three rounds in the 1A playoffs and fi nished second in the Southern Piedmont Conference. If not for a late touchdown by Alleghany, the Gryphons possibly could have made the Western Finals. This season, they have some rebuilding to do. Twelve seniors, mostly starters who played both ways are gone. If there is any consolation, many of their lineman are back, but can they fi nd enough athletes to make a conference run? Chesnee (10-2, 7-0 in 2014) lost a lot of senior leadership, including Kavarius Surratt and Bobby Foos. Not all is lost though. Chesnee will have a number of experienced lineman and a solid JV team from a year ago. If those who step up from JV grow up quickly, another region title maybe possible. NASCAR Welcome to the Kyle Busch Invitational!!! If Kyle is involved, drivers are pretty much racing for second right now. What else is there to say? Busch has won four of the last fi ve events and sits 23 points outside the top 30 in points. There is six events left before the Chase and one would think Busch has a Chase invitation nearly in the bag. On the down side, Jeff Gordon isn't one to believe in luck. Well, if it's not bad luck, I don't know what you call it at this point of the season. Sure, he sits 12th in the standings, but he not as strong as expected. In his fi nal race at Indy, he crashed in trying to avoid a spinning Clint Bowyer and fi nished 42nd. Up next is Pocono this weekend. R u t h e r f o r d W e e k l y R u t h e r f o r d W e e k l y By KEVIN CARVER Owls, Football Teaser and NASCAR 284 Daniel Road Forest City • 828-286-2614 ATTN: ACURA OWNERS WELCOME SPECIAL Award Winning Service Courtesy Loaner Cars Factory Honda Parts Certifi ed Techs $ 27. 95 * Oil Service www.forestcityhondanc.com *With coupon. 0W20 oil models $37.95. Plus taxes. By Appointment. Expires 8-31-15. ©Community First Media Community First Media onda onda The Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of professional bass fi shing, will return to Lake Ouachita and the Hot Springs, Arkansas, area August 20-23 to crown bass fi shing's top angler of 2015. Hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, the tournament will feature 50 of the world's best bass-fi shing professionals and co-anglers casting for the sport's biggest awards – $500,000 cash in the pro division and $50,000 cash in the co-angler division. Local anglers Bryan Thrift and Quaker State pro Matt Arey, both of Shelby, North Carolina, will be two of the 50 anglers competing in the Forrest Wood Cup championship. (FLW) Local anglers Bryan Thrift (left) and Quaker State pro Matt Arey, both of Shelby, North Carolina, will be two of the 50 anglers competing in the championship tournament – Thrift's ninth and Arey's fi fth Forrest Wood Cup appearance. Thrift punched his ticket to the event by fi nishing the year ranked No. 3 out of the 154 anglers who compete on the Walmart FLW Tour, while Arey qualifi ed at No. 33. Among the 50 competitors at the Forrest Wood Cup will be Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, the reigning FLW Tour Angler of the Year who claimed his Forrest Wood Cup victory on Lake Ouachita when FLW last visited in 2011. "This is going to be a very exciting tournament," said Martin. "The Forrest Wood Cup is the fi shing tournament that nobody forgets. I've had fi ve other major victories in my career, and some people may remember them, but no one forgets the Forrest Wood Cup." Martin said that multiple different patterns would be in play amongst competitors and that he expected the fi shing to be even better than when he won in 2011. "There are so many ways to catch fi sh this time of year on Lake Ouachita," Martin continued. "Every time we visit, it seems like the fi eld splits pretty evenly – half of the anglers fi sh shallow while the other half opts to fi sh deep. You can really fi sh to your strengths. One factor that may be different this year, though, is the grass. There is more grass on Ouachita than we have seen in the past, and that could really add another dimension to this event. We're also visiting the lake a little later in the year this time, so it's hard to say exactly what pattern will be dominant." Martin said that he expects anglers will need to catch at least 13 pounds a day in order to make the top-20 cut and fi sh the weekend, and he expects the winner to weigh in a four-day total right around 60 to 61 pounds. "This tournament will change somebody's life," Martin went on to say. "All of the press and the prestige that comes from winning this event – it's a game changer. This event is something that you will never forget." Anglers will take off from the Brady Mountain Resort and Marina in Royal, Arkansas, at 7 a.m. each morning. Each day weigh-ins will be held at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs, Arkansas, beginning at 5 p.m. daily. Fishing fans that can't make the trek to Arkansas can still follow along with all of the tournament action at FLWFishing.com. Live on-the-water tweets, updates, photos and videos will be posted throughout the four days of competition as well as a live streaming video feed of the weigh- in held at 5 p.m. each day. Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup will be broadcast in high- defi nition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) when "FLW " airs December 6 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. ET. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. For a full schedule of events, complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing. com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook. com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. SHELBY ANGLERS READY FOR PROFESSIONAL BASS FISHING'S FORREST WOOD CUP Article Provided By: Brian Johnson For upcoming events in and around Rutherford County @Rutherfordwkly Follow On @Rutherfordwkly @Rutherfordwkly Follow On on FOLLOW

• Cover