Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Thursday, August 25-August 31, 2022 www.shelbyinfo.com 704/484-1047 - shelby shopper & info - Page 11 "Call Us And Compare Our Rates" "Call Us And Compare Our Rates" WITHERSPOON INSURANCE INSURANCE LOW DOWN LOW DOWN PAYMENTS PAYMENTS CALL TODAY CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FOR YOUR QUOTE! QUOTE! "Serving Cleveland County Since 1986" Agents: Wayne Witherspoon, Justin Witherspoon, Linda Thomas, Katelynn McCall & Tammy Shaffer • AUTO • HOME • LIFE • HEALTH • AUTO • HOME • LIFE • HEALTH • COMMERCIAL • MOTOR • COMMERCIAL • MOTORCYCLES CYCLES • RVs • • RVs • GOLF CARTS GOLF CARTS 704-480-9595 125 N. Lafayette St. Shelby, NC Across From First Baptist Church www.witherspooninsurance.com Another Outdoor Truths Circle Event in the books. This was our second one on the North Fork River. Our cabin was only a few hundred yards from the Norfork Dam. Last year was my fi rst time to experience the daily changing conditions the river offers. And its all about if the gates of the dam are open or closed and whether both gates are opened or just one. Each condition determines if fi shing will be serene and confi ned or if as much effort will be given to maneuvering the boat as will be catching fi sh. This year was different from last year. This year not only did the gates stay closed until late morning, but only one gate was opened. Both situations made everything so much easier – especially when the gates were closed. When the gates are closed, the water is much like a lake. Yes, it still fl ows, but it's negligible, and an anchor can easily hold a boat in place. As you can imagine, less water also gives the fi sh less places to hide. This means if you catch one, it's most likely a few others will be hanging around that same area. One of things low water also does, is expose small islands. These islands reveal some areas the fi sh might fi nd attractive when the waters rise. I like to be just below these structures, knowing that fi sh might be waiting on a food ambush that might be washing out of the grass as the water rises. But everyone has their own techniques and methods. And in that river, there are a lot of them that works. These islands also reveal dangers that boaters would not normally know about when the water is up. When the water is moving and nothing is standing still, there's no time to pay much attention to what's lurking under the water. We are too busy with what needs our immediate attention. And then, out of the blue, a motor is destroyed because we failed to remember the exposed areas that needed attention. What goes for the North Fork River, goes for our lives. Sometimes God allows the fl ow of life to slow down. He narrows our areas of accomplishment. He confi nes our ability to be successful. The tempo that was once hurried and fast- paced is now slow, methodical, and even boring. But it's at these times, God shows us those things we were once too busy to see. He reveals things in our life that if let go, will eventually cause a shipwreck. God is always working on us. What seems slow to us might be His way of causing us to look around at the places we'll need to maneuver when the waters rise. Don't miss His clues. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER Gary has written the Outdoor Truths article for 20 years. He has also written four books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4;10 Each day millions of stu- dents use school buses as transportation to and from school. Although school buses represent the safest form of highway transporta- tion, there are several safety factors of which both student and drivers should be aware. Hoping to ensure school bus safety, Sheriff Alan Norman encourages caution when- ever school buses are pres- ent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad- ministration (NHTSA), in recent years there were an average of 128 fatalities in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year and more school-aged pedestri- ans have been killed during the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. than any other time of day. Children are often eager to get off the school bus be- cause they are excited to tell their parents about all of the fun, they had at school that day," said Sheriff Norman. "It is crucial that parents re-enforce the school bus safety rules children learn at school." Sheriff Norman also sug- gests that parents drive their child's bus route with them to practice the proper safety precautions they can take to help ensure their child en- joys a safe ride to and from school. Sheriff Norman encour- ages all parents to discuss the following safety mea- sures with their children: Student •Always arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes early. •While the bus is ap- proaching make sure to stand at least three giant steps away from the curb, wait until the bus has come to a complete stop, the door opens, and the bus driver says that it's OK to board. •Always walk on the side- walk when preparing to cross the street near a bus. Make eye contact with the driver so that you are sure he or she sees you. •Never walk behind the bus. •If you are walking beside the bus, walk at least three giant steps away. •Use the handrail when entering and exiting the bus. Take extra precautions to make sure that clothing with drawstrings and book bags do not get caught in the handrail or door. •Never stop to pick something up that you have dropped when a bus is stopped. Tell the bus driver or wait until the bus has driven off to avoid not being seen by the driver. Motorists •Remember that children are unpredictable in their ac- tions. Take extreme caution when traveling in a school zone. • If there are no side- walks, drive cautiously. Be more alert to the possibility of children walking in the road. • Slow down and pre- pare to stop whenever you see yellow school bus lights flashing. • Never pass a school bus when there are flashing red lights and the stop arm is extended. This is a sign that children are getting on or off the bus. Motorists must wait until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is with- drawn, and the bus is moving before they can start driving again. • Learn and obey the school bus laws in North Carolina. Parents know that each new period in a children's life brings both noteworthy mile- stones and a host of new concerns. Those concerns often reach new heights as children enter adolescence, a period in life when pressure from peers and at school can make it hard to be a kid, which in turn makes it harder to be a parent. Adolescence is a period of significant change, as chil- dren's bodies are physically changing and they're inch- ing closer to indepen- dence. It's during this t r a n s i t i o n period that many chil- d r e n a r e first offered d r u g s o r alcohol. In fact, the Na- tional Cen- ter for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that 50 percent of teenagers have misused a drug at least once. In addition, data from the NCDAS indicates that drug use among eighth graders increased by 61 percent be- tween 2016 and 2020. Such statistics are enough to make any parent lose sleep. But parents aren't helpless against teen drug and alcohol use. There are many things parents can do to help children handle the temptation to use drugs and alcohol. Learning to spot the signs kids might already be using can help parents deter- mine if they need to step in and help kids make the right decisions regarding drugs and alcohol. The Partnership to End Addiction is the nation's leading organization dedi- cated to addiction preven- tion, treatment and recovery. The Partnership recognizes how challenging it can be for parents to determine if kids are using, as many of the symptoms of using mimic normal teen or young adult behaviors. But parents who suspect their teen might be using can look for these po- tential indicators. Shifts in mood & personality • Sullen, withdrawn or de- pressed • Less motivated • Silent, uncommunicative • Hostile, angry and/or un- cooperative • Acting deceitful or se- cretive • Unable to focus • A sudden loss of inhibi- tions See SIGNS, Page 18 School bus safety, does your child know the rules? Signs kids might be using drugs or alcohol