Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1508546
Thursday, September 28-October 4, 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. One of the diffi culties in hunting mountainous areas is that we not only have to set our stands up according to the wind directions but also according to what are called thermals. Thermals are normal wind currents that change as air cools down or heats up. In the evening the cool air falls and when the temperatures heat up in the morning, the warmer air rises. This means if you are hunting from a tree stand on the top of a ridge in the evening, your scent is most likely going to be carried into the valleys below. If this is the direction the deer are coming from, you're likely to get busted. The rule of thumb is to set up high in the mornings and low in the evenings. But as you know, it is not always that simple. In my case the fi eld I want to hunt is on a ridge and I only know what part of the fi eld the deer are showing up at. I want to hunt on the edge of that fi eld, but the thermals are falling into the hollows below where, I assume, the deer are coming from. But since I don't know exactly what path the deer are taking, I'm unsure as to where to put my stand if I were to hunt below. I've thought about trying to get about thirty feet high and stay on the ridge, but something tells me it still won't work. There is one other option. It is to put my tree stand on that ridge and wait for that one day when the wind is blowing pretty hard, carrying the thermals with it, out of the direction of the hollows and valleys. In my case it would be a southerly or southeasterly wind, which is totally against our normal northwesterly current. The question then would be, can I be patient, stay away from that stand, and wait until the conditions are right. That question applies to a lot of things in my life, and yours. Most of my life can be described by the illustration "a bull in a China shop." I have always tended to think that somehow, I am immune to the normal currents of how things work. I thought since I had good intentions, I could charge into any situation, ignoring the certain, and have success. Boy was I wrong! I found out after a few of those blunders, I was not superman – just normal-man. I found out there are certain natural laws I had to work within, no matter how great my intentions were. Maybe some of you are thinking about a venture or are getting ready to jump into something that could either bring about great success or great failure. Just remember while faith always calls you to take a risk; it never asks you to do it simply according to your good intentions. It asks you only to be sure of the One who led you this far. Otherwise, the only difference in your failure will be that it happened to a great guy. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written fi ve 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 The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) announced today that zebra mussels, a harmful invasive aquatic species, have been identifi ed in an Iredell County waterbody. This is the fi rst time this species has been identifi ed in the wild in North Carolina. On Thursday, September 21, 2023, NCWRC, with assistance from scuba divers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, investigated and confi rmed a report of zebra mussels in a quarry on private property. NCWRC believes the mussels are contained to the quarry and is working on options for treatment while continuing its investigation. Zebra mussels are prolifi c. Adult mussels can move to other water bodies by attaching themselves to boats, docks lifts and other water- related equipment. Microscopic larvae can be transported in any water that is moved to another location including through diving equipment, live wells, bait buckets, boat bilges, or other gear. Zebra mussels can quickly take over an environment once they are established and affect the health of other aquatic wildlife by disrupting the food chain and changing the chemistry of the water. They are capable of clogging both public drinking and wastewater systems, as well as damaging recreational equipment. In March 2021, zebra mussels were found living in moss balls that were being sold in pet stores for aquarium use. Because of their destructive impact, it is unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, sell or stock zebra mussels in public or private North Carolina waters. To prevent the spread of invasive species NCWRC offers the following guidance: Clean: Equipment of all aquatic plants, animals and mud. Drain: Water from boats, live wells, bait buckets and all equipment. Dry: All equipment thoroughly Never Move: Fish, plants or other organisms from one body of water to another. To report suspected zebra mussels, please contact the NCWRC's district fi sheries biologist offi ces. Visit NCWRC's aquatic nuisance species webpage for guidance on disinfecting snorkel and SCUBA gear and for more information on zebra mussels. Invasive Zebra Mussels Now ConÐirmed in N.C. Invasive species can disrupt water systems and cause negative ecological impacts Article by: ncwildlife.org. Invasive Zebra Mussels Now Confi rmed in North Carolina. Thirteen Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) softball athletes and fi ve coaches competed in the 2023 Special Olympics North America (SONA) Softball Championship, winning the bronze medal in their division. The event was held Sept. 14-17, at Peaks View Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. This was the second year the tournament has been held in Lynchburg. Hosted by Special Olympics North America with support from Special Olympics Virginia, this four-day event featured 14 teams and nearly 200 athletes and Unifi ed partners, all representing states and provinces in the United States and Canada. Competition took place Sept. 14-17 and concluded with awards on Sept. 17. Competition was offered in traditional and Unifi ed Sports® team formats. Special Olympics Unifi ed Sports® brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same team. Special Olympics Cleveland County athletes represented SONC, were led by head coach Heather Kauffman and supported by coaches Katlyn Beam, Duncan Stetson, James Littlejohn, Sr. and Patricia McDonald. The following Special Olympics Cleveland County athletes represented SONC in the 2023 SONA Softball Championship: Josh Atkins, Brian Black, Kierra Bostic, Christopher Campbell, Lamorris Campbell, Kenneth Fisher, Jr., Garey Hayes, Kenneth Jones, James Littlejohn, Jr., Katie Newell, Brian Oliver, Dayla Smarr and Robert Tanner. About Special Olympics North Carolina: Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 40,000 athletes in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports offi cials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unifi ed Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Article Provided By: Jean Gordon. Photo Contributed. Cleveland County Special Olympics N. C. athletes at softball championship small town friendly BIG time results WEEKLY NEWSPAPER