Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1500481
Thursday, June 1-June 7, 2023 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 9 Email: Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail or Drop-Off: Mail or Drop-Off: 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 *Publisher has fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. We Want Your Kids Sports Photos! •Basketball •Baseball •Softball •Soccer •Archery •Equestrian •Etc! 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: events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail: 157 W Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. There's one thing about hunting. One will have to get used to walking in the dark. I have noticed lately how each morning, I begin my turkey hunt, walking through woods and across a fi eld in the dark. This year the lightening bugs have put on a daily pyrotechnical display. I tried to fi lm it one morning, but there was not enough surrounding light to show its real beauty. And sometimes the sky is so clear, it's almost that one can't see a spot without a star. And then there are the times when the overcast is so dense, you can barely see your hand in front of your face. These are the times a fl ashlight is a must. And these are also the times when a little fear wants to show its head. Now, don't get me wrong. I am rarely afraid in the woods. That is unless I'm hunting the mountainous places in my home area. There, I'm always thinking about black bears and the occasional mountain lion that has been spotted. Then, I am making sure I have one hand on a pistol, the other with mace, and a headlamp on that could light up the local football stadium. No one has ever been bored from fear. And nothing great has been accomplished without it, as well. My Christian life is no different. There is a statement in the Bible that is to characterize a believer's life. It is, "The just shall live by faith." Faith is needed when uncertainty is absent. When uncertainty is absent, fear will rear its ugly head. The greater the uncertainty, the greater the fear. Just ask Moses, as he stood with two million grumbling Jews at the bank of the Red Sea. Just ask Joshua as he surrounded the city of Jericho without weapons. Just ask Peter as he released his grip on the boat in order to walk on the water. Don't let anyone tell you anything differently. They all had fear. None had perfect faith, because each one depended on a supernatural interruption in a natural world. All through the Bible, perhaps God's most given command and advice to his people was don't fear. Don't be afraid. He was not telling them that so they wouldn't be afraid. He was telling them that because he knew they WOULD BE. No one who has ever attempted something great and risky has done so without a temptation to fear. That is simply impossible. And if a believer is to live by faith, God will call him or her to attempt something great and risky… and unlikely, improbable, or even impossible. With that call, will always be the temptation to fear. And THAT is why God says, "Don't fear." He knows, great men and women of faith are made, as they put fear in its rightful place. And that's just below the words of the One who has just told us not to be afraid. If your Christian life is boring, maybe you need to get out of the boat. No one has ever been bored from fear. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 20 years. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org GARY MILLER Andrew James Pope of Boy Scout Troop 129 was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout Saturday, May 20 at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in Forest City. Eagle Scout is the highest award given by the Boy Scouts of America, it signifi es extreme leadership, outdoorsman skills and a duty to Community Service. Andrew planned, organized and led to completion a handicapped children's swing at Kiwanis Park in Rutherfordton. He is a 2023 graduate of Thomas Jefferson Classics Academy and will attend NC State University in the fall. BSA Troop 129 is sponsored by Spencer Baptist Church in Spindale. Article Provided By: Jean Gordon. Photos Contributed. Andrew Pope awarded Eagle Scout Award The Eagle Scout Award presentation was held May 20. Shown (left to right) front row: Kiersten Pope- sister; Bryan Pope- father; Andrew, Lisa Pope- mother and Terry Henderson-Scoutmaster; second row: Steven Hughes, Kevin Goettge, Kevin Johnson and Jeremy Hicks- Assistant Scoutmasters, Special Presenters: RV Hyder-American Legion Post 74 Forest City, Jon Carlisle- U.S. Marine Corps League in Forest City and Alan Toney- Rutherford County Commissioner. Andrew Pope with friends, Rutherfordton MayorJimmy Dancy and Scoutmaster Terry Henderson at Kiwanis Park where the handicapped children's swings were built and placed. Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission say this month is when people are more likely to spot a coyote than other time of the year. Coyotes are common throughout North Carolina, including in cities and suburbs, but often go unnoticed because they are skilled at avoiding people. In late spring, however, coyote parents are busy raising their young pups, which means more hours scouting for food and more opportunities for people to catch a glimpse of one. While coyotes usually raise their young in secluded areas, keeping a litter of pups well-fed and healthy means covering plenty of ground to fi nd enough food. Coyotes will roam a large area, crossing through neighborhoods and business districts, looking for an easy meal. Coyotes mostly eat rodents, rabbits, insects, fruit, and carrion, but will also dine on pet food and table scraps left outside. Seeing a coyote in a residential area shouldn't cause alarm, as attacks on humans are very rare, and coyotes actually help to keep rodent populations in check. However, concerns for small pets, such as cats and small-breed dogs, may be valid as these animals can easily be mistaken for a coyote's natural prey. For this reason, small pets should always be closely supervised when outdoors, or kept behind a dog-proof fence that is at least 6 feet tall and prevents digging underneath. "Using a 6-foot leash is an excellent way to protect small pets when they're outside," advises Falyn Owens, extension biologist for the Wildlife Commission. "If you notice a coyote watching or following you during a walk, pick up your pet and haze the coyote until it leaves. Your physical presence can be a powerful deterrent for a curious coyote." In neighborhoods, residents can make the area less attractive to coyotes by removing easy food sources and actively scaring off any coyotes they see. Teaching a coyote to have a healthy fear of people is a great way to discourage unwanted behavior and foster coexistence. Owens offers these tips to deter coyotes: • Keep cats and small dogs on a leash or harness whenever they are outside. Backyard poultry should be kept in a predator-proof coop and run. • Feed pets inside and keep food waste in secure containers. If you feed pets outside, set specifi c feeding times and remove the dishes and spilled food afterward. • Keep fruit and bird seed off the ground. These foods can attract rodents and wildlife that prey on them. Haze coyotes seen around homes and businesses. Scaring coyotes away teaches them these areas are off limits and that people should be avoided. Pup season brings an added factor to interacting with coyotes. While a coyote will typically leave the area when confronted by a human, one that has vulnerable pups nearby is more likely to stand its ground. "This time of year, if you pass through a brushy or wooded area and notice a coyote watching you or following you at a distance, it could have a den nearby," said Owens. "Calmly leave the area and notify others if you are near a public trail." Coyotes use dens only as a nursery for newborn pups. As soon as the pups can survive outside of the den, the coyotes will abandon it and move on. If you have questions about interactions with coyotes, visit www.ncwildlife. org/coyote or call 866- 318-2401 or email HWI@ ncwildlife.org. Coyote Sightings on the Rise as Pup Season Gears Up Article by: ncwildlife.org. Email news and events to events@rutherfordweekly.com or go to or go to www.rutherfordweekly.com www.rutherfordweekly.com to submit online. to submit online. Have interesting news about your business or organization? Email it to us! Email it to us! SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE o n l i n e o n l i n e Visit Visit rutherfordweekly.com rutherfordweekly.com click on click on "subscribe to our weekly digital edition" "subscribe to our weekly digital edition" Online Subscription Online Subscription is FREE! is FREE! Be notifi ed via email Be notifi ed via email of new of new publications! publications! Online Version Same As The Printed Copy! RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM