Rutherford Weekly

Page 10 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, May 25-May 31, 2017 Email: Email: photos@rutherfordweekly.com photos@rutherfordweekly.com Mail or Drop-Off: Mail or Drop-Off: 369 Butler Rd • Forest City, NC 28043 369 Butler Rd • 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: 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. OUTDOOR TRUTHS Thomas Paine wrote, concerning our freedom; "That which we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dear- ness only that gives everything its value." That statement could be applied to many things in our lives, whether it's our freedom to own a gun and hunt or our freedom to worship and have free speech. It does seem, many times, we "esteem these things too lightly," because many of us have obtained them at a price paid by someone else or one obtained at a very cheap cost to ourselves. When I think about that state- ment I think of all of those who are overseas, who are pay- ing the price for the freedoms you and I are enjoying here and now. I'm so thankful the soil that I turn is not full of land mines and the skies I stand in awe of are not fi lled with bombers and fi ghter jets. I'm so thankful I am not under a dictatorship and my money and goods are not distributed equally among everyone else. The price of these freedoms was not obtained cheap and neither are they protected that way. As you have heard, "Free- dom is not free." Outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen ought to be the most pa- triotic people around and our children ought to be the same. We must not only teach them to hunt and fi sh and enjoy the outdoors but to respect and honor those who carry a gun into a foreign land so we can carry one into a familiar one. But not only are our military protecting freedom, they are also providing it to anyone who will take it. Why? Because freedom is not an American property and we are not its owners. We are simply one of its stewards. Freedom is a gift of God for everyone. To keep it to ourselves would be like having the cure for cancer and yet not sharing it with the world. Freedom makes us obligated. Sometimes the cure is painful. Just ask those who have gone through chemotherapy or radiation. But the pain will lead to a better life. May God bless all of those who enjoy freedom. May God bless all who yearn for freedom. And may God bless all of those who are protecting and providing freedom. By By Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ ller ller ller ller GARY MILLER gary@outdoortruths.org ~ www.outdoortruths.org Builders Check-Point 1-800-232-8453 builderscheckpoint.com Gaffney, SC We Will Beat Any Deal! Lowest Rent to Own! No Credit Check! 1-2 Day Delivery after hours call 864-491-0772 ©Community First Media Community First Media 509 Hwy 11 Gaffney, SC 29341 2 blocks from Ford place View display lot on I-85 at exit 90 across from Premium Outlet Mall 8x12~ $1295 +tax 10x12~ $1495 +tax 10x16~ $1695 +tax 12x16~ $1895 +tax 12x20~ $2195 +tax 12x24~ $2695 +tax 345 S. Broadway, Forest City 828-245-8067 w w w . w w w . M o o r e s A u t o s I n c M o o r e s A u t o s I n c . c o m . c o m NO CREDIT, POOR CREDIT ©Community First Media Community First Media LET US LET US DECIDE! DECIDE! WE FINANCE HENRIETTA, NC 828-657-6346 CHESNEE, SC 864-461-8511 SERVING YOU FROM 2 LOCATIONS P O O L S U P P L I E S AVA I L A B L E 100 LB. GRANULATED CHLORINE PROPANE GRILL TANK FILL SELF SERVICE PUMP FOR FARM FUEL With any purchase of $ 100 worth of pool supplies get a FREE thermometer. Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-12pm $ 139 STARTING AT 00 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 It's been over a decade since R-S Central's baseball team has reached a Western Regional Final, but they accomplished the feat last week. East Rutherford and R-S Central played in the third round of playoffs. Unfortunately one had to lose, but it was a heck of a game, with the R-S Hilltoppers winning the playoff game! East Rutherford grabbed the early lead in the fi rst inning as Kendall McGowan singled to right, Gehrig Christopher doubled to right and Josh Searcy brought in the run on a groundout. Dillion Phillips had the big two-out, two- run base hit to left as R-S Central took it's fi rst lead of the game at 2-1 in the third. East tied it back up in the bottom of the sixth as Christopher (walk) would score on a sacrifi ce fl y. It was in the bottom of the seventh that decided it all. Cam Snethen legged out a single into a double that was sliced into left fi eld. Jace Crowe and Dillon Phillips walked with one out as Jake Laughter came to the plate. East was trying to set up the double play or force out and it almost worked. Laughter grounded a pitch to second base, but the throw was high and wide of the plate as Cam slid in safely for the walkoff win. Phillips allowed just four hits on the mound, while East pitcher Tucker Toney gave up just fi ve. R-S Central skipper, Chadd Fowler was about as energetic as a coach could get after the win. "That game had just an unbelievable atmosphere and that's a great club they have over at East." Fowler said. "I am just so happy to win and move on." East Rutherford Baseball Coach Bobby Reynolds was humble in the loss. "We prolonged the game at times tonight, but you have to tip your cap to (Dillon) Phillips," Reynolds said. "We have faced him three times this year and I thought we would have done better tonight at the plate." On Friday night, it was the pitching of Jace Crowe and the defense of Nate Collins, plus one monster hit from Dillon Phillips. R-S Central's Phillips crushed a pitch for a solo shot in the fourth inning and defeated West Davidson 1-0. Crowe tossed a complete game shutout by allowing only three hits. Collins made eight plays from third base, which included a diving stop in the fi rst inning. He also picked off the runner who tried for home on a grounder to Collins with no outs in the third inning to prevent a run. Central also rolled a double play in the fi fth and seventh inning to preserve the win. So this week, they hosted Lake Norman Charter Tuesday, would go to Lake Norman on Thursday and end up back at R-S on Saturday if the series goes three games. Should R-S Central (24-4) win the series, they go to the state fi nals in Raleigh. As for East Rutherford (19-7), nobody had a fi erce line of batters in 2A, but R-S Central pitching got the best of them this season. The Cavaliers will graduate eight off this club, including: Kendall McGowan, Tyler Bridges, Gehrig Christopher, Weston Randall, Kevin Gonzalez, Adam Barnette, Caleb Stewart and Holden Greene. Meanwhile, R-S Central's Softball (21-3) was on the verge of the Western Regional Finals, but lost to Madison on Saturday 5-2. The Lady Hilltoppers went up 1-0 in the second frame, but Madison tied it back up in the next inning, before going off for four runs in the fourth to end Central's season. Only three seniors are lost from this club as Kyonna McEntrye, Brooke Moore and Taylor Koon have played their last game in a Hilltopper uniform. All three were big bats and this was a team that maybe were as dangerous as any when it came to 1-9 in the batting order. 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 West Regional Finals: R-S baseball Email your questions, pictures, scores, etc. to photos@rutherfordweekly.com As the weather warms, snakes start moving and calls start fl ooding the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Wildlife Helpline, where biologists answer questions and address concerns from people who have spotted something slithering in their backyard. Their fi rst words of advice? If you see a snake, don't panic. Leave it alone and walk away. "When people encounter a snake, particularly in their backyard, it can be startling for both the person and the snake," said Jeff Hall, a wildlife diversity biologist with the Commission. "We reassure people that, for the most part, snakes are completely harmless and, if given a wide berth, a snake will usually move out of the area on its own in time." Most snakes, even venomous ones, are reluctant to bite because they use their energy or their venom to acquire food, and they don't view humans as a food source. Most snakebites occur when a person picks up a snake, steps on one accidentally or tries to kill one -- which can be illegal depending on the snake species. In North Carolina, four of the six venomous snake species are protected. The pigmy and timber rattlesnakes are listed as species of special concern while the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake and Eastern coral snake are listed as endangered. None of these four species of snakes should be handled or disturbed without a permit issued by the Commission. North Carolina is home to 37 native snake species. Of the six snake species that are venomous, only one, the copperhead, is common and can be found across the state. In many areas, including most of the larger urban regions, it is the only venomous snake. Because of their ability to live in a wide variety of habitats — from wooded areas to mountain ridges to suburban backyards — copperheads generate the most phone calls from people who think, often mistakenly, that they have one in their yard. "While it's not uncommon for people to have a copperhead in their yard, usually what they have is a non-venomous and harmless species, such as rat snake or a garter snake, both of which are commonly found in backyard habitats," Hall said. "Unfortunately, many nonvenomous snakes are mistaken for copperheads and killed, although, copperheads are relatively easy to identify. Just look for the distinctive hourglass-shaped or Hershey- kiss-shaped crossbands on a light brown or gray body." Regardless if a snake is venomous or non-venomous, snakes pose little threat to pets and children — if left alone. When confronted or harassed, snakes are more likely to fl ee than they are to bite. However, if given no escape route or restrained, they will bite or lunge toward their perceived aggressor to defend themselves. The Commission does not send people out to trap and remove snakes since removing one snake is not going to prevent another one from taking its place. However, Hall provides a few tips that people can follow to make their backyards less hospitable to snakes. · Clean up the clutter by removing piles of rocks, wood and other debris that attract rodents and snakes. · Mow the lawn to keep the grass cut short. Snakes prefer tall grasses to seek out their prey. They're also easier to spot in shorter grass. · Discourage snakes from entering your home by closing gaps and holes, repairing damage to siding and foundation, sealing openings under doors, windows and around water pipes. When it comes to snakes, Hall says the most important thing people can do is to educate themselves and others about these cold-blooded reptiles and learn to appreciate them as an important part of the ecosystem. "Snakes are strictly carnivorous, preying on smaller animals, such as rodents, slugs and insects," Hall said. "Snakes also serve as an important food source for other animals, like foxes, raccoons, eagles, hawks, owls. Instead of being widely feared and unjustly persecuted, snakes should be appreciated for the awesome creatures they are and treated with respect." For other questions regarding human-wildlife interactions, call the Commission's new NC.Wildlife Helpline toll-free at 866-318- 2401 Mon.- Fri. 8am-5pm. For more information on snakes, read the Commission's "Co-Exist with Snakes" handout. For more information about co-existing with other wildlife species, visit the Commission's Tips on Co-Existing with Wildlife page (http://www.ncwildlife. org/Have-A-Problem/Tips-on- Coexisting-with-Wildlife). See a Snake? See a Snake? Don't Panic! Don't Panic! Article provided by: http://www.ncwildlife.org Because of their pattern, corn snakes are often mistaken for copperheads and needlessly killed. Don't kill snakes.

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