Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 5, 1993 TAG: 9307080286
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
July 8: The Appalachian Trail doesn't just leap from ridge top to ridge top on its own during its Maine to Georgia journey. It gets a lot of help from volunteers who labor with picks and saws. So if you've enjoyed the trail on a number of occasions, maybe it's time to give something back.
Now's your chance. Two important work sessions have been scheduled for July 8-12 and 22-26. Both involve the relocation of the trail on Fulhardt Knob in Botetourt County.
Volunteers get the chance to work with a summer crew from Konnarock. Most are expected to turn out on weekends, July 10-11 and 24-25, but help is welcomed any time during the sessions. Bring your lunch, water and work gloves. Tools will be furnished.
Call Jim Hutchings, 343-5760, or Charles Parry of Blacksburg, 703-951-1402, for more details.
Putting wind into a Rebel's sail
July 12: Some 30 sailboats, their owners coming from as far away as Texas and Michigan, are expected to compete in the Rebel Nationals on Smith Mountain Lake, July 12-15. The event has been around since the early '50s.
Sailing World magazine will be there to do a feature on the Rebel, a 16-foot boat that weighs 700 pounds and carries 166-square feet of sail. The craft was the first mass-produced fiberglass sailboat, and traditionalists hooted when it came out, saying sailboats should be made of wood.
The competitors will sail out of the Virginia Inland Sailing Association facilities on the Roanoke River arm of the lake. Spectators are welcome but should contact Lee Shaffer at 345-0722 or 703-721-2785.
It's your forest, so speak up
July 13: How do you want your national forest managed? More trails, more hunting opportunities, more wilderness, more timber cutting?
You have a chance to make suggestions when officials of the Jefferson National Forest, headquartered in Roanoke, revise its Land and Resource Management Plan. The current plan, which gives direction to the management of the 705,000-acre forest, was approved in 1985 and is due for a revision.
There are a couple of ways to participate:
Submit written comments, which will be accepted through Sept. 7, by sending them to Joy Berg, Jefferson National Forest, 210 Franklin Road S.W., Caller Service 2900, Roanoke 24001.
Attend one of several public meetings scheduled (7 to 9:30 p.m.) throughout the forest region. The first is set for July 13 at Natural Bridge Resort. Others are July 15, Holiday Inn, Blacksburg; July 19, Clinch Valley College Chapel of All Faith, Wise; July 20, Holiday Inn, Marion; July 27, McCleary Elementary School, New Castle; July 28, Sheraton Airport Inn, Roanoke; Aug. 2, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville.
If you need additional information, call David Olson, 982-6270.
The not-so-common games
July 16: They are called the Commonwealth Games of Virginia, but there is\ little common about them as far as target shooting and archery are concerned.\ The sports shooting is Olympic style, unlike the competition familiar to most\ local gunners. Archers aim arrows at colorful, cartwheel-size targets, not the animal-shaped figures of local ranges. These events, along with competition for sailing, water skiing and cycling, offer area outdoorsmen an opportunity to test their skills agains participants from across the state.
Added to the games this year are a couple of the fastest growing outdoors sports: mountain biking and sporting clays.
The competition is July 16-25. For more information, call 343-0987 or 1-800-333-8274.
Taking aim at the dove season
July 16: Fall hunting seasons may seem a long way off, but the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will meet at its headquarters in Richmond to set regulations for the dove, woodcock, snipe and rail seasons. Also to be considered is a September season for resident Canada geese.
Most likely game officials will choose a Sept. 4 opening for the dove season in order to encompass the weekend that includes the first Saturday in the month and Labor Day Monday. But board members always are open to suggestions, which is the purpose of the public hearing. You can make your wishes known by writing the department at P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, 23230-1104, or by attending the 9:30 a.m. hearing at 4010 West Broad St.
by CNB