| Enid Lake sets Habitat Day for February 4 |
By Doyle Morrow
Enid Lake Park Ranger
Enid Lake’s Annual Habitat Day has been scheduled for Saturday, February 4, with activities beginning at 7 a.m. at the Enid Lake Field Office.
The Habitat Day organizational meeting for all persons interested in participating will be held at the Enid Lake Field Office Thursday night, January 19 at 6:30.
Prior to 1993, when the first Habitat Day was held at Enid Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracted the placement of fish shelters in the lake. Due to budget and manpower constraints, it became necessary for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to look for other means of accomplishing this endeavor.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake met with several fishing clubs and groups of sportsmen, and the "Enid Lake Habitat Volunteer Association" was formed. These volunteers recognized the importance of preserving the fisheries habitat. Since the inception of Habitat Day, they have participated in this event.
As many people are aware, Enid Lake is a flood control project and lake levels are dramatically lower during the winter months. These lower lake levels present an excellent opportunity to build fish shelters which will attract fish.
Due to over 50 years of inundation, much of the bottom of Enid Lake is flat and featureless. These unproductive areas can be changed to productive areas by constructing fish shelters, which provide food and cover for bait fish.
It doesn’t take long for the game fish such as bass, bream and crappie to figure out that these areas are where lunch is being served. Over the years, Habitat Day Volunteers have built various types of structures, including dragging cedar trees into the lake bottom, and building stake beds.
This year, Habitat Day Volunteers will divide into groups. The groups will work on both sides of Long Branch Creek, both sides of Dew Creek and the Wildcat Area.
Plans are to construct approximately 500 cedar tree shelters on the day of the event.
Habitat Day will begin February 4 with volunteers meeting at the Enid Lake Field Office located on the North End of Enid Dam.
The volunteers will register, enjoy sausage and biscuits, juice and coffee, receive safety tips and instructions, and divide into groups to work in designated areas during the Habitat Day Activities.
Volunteers are asked to bring their ATVs to assist in placing Cedar Trees in the proper locations.
After a morning of constructing fish shelters, volunteers will return to Enid Lake’s Maintenance Shop for lunch and a drawing for door prizes.
Everyone interested in maintaining quality fish habitat and fishing now enjoyed at Enid Lake is invited to attend the Enid Lake Habitat Day organizational meeting January 19 at 6:30 p.m., and Enid Lake Habitat Day 2006.
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| Como ladies down Charleston 34-10 |
By Donna Taylor
The Como Middle School Lady Cougars had an impressive 34-10 win Monday night, January 9, at Como against Charleston Middle. They jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter. Charleston could barely score, and only scored their first basket with nine seconds left in the quarter. Como was fierce in their attack. The score was 14-2 in the first quarter.
The Lady Cougars showed much athleticism and went coast to coast on several fast breaks, and each trip netted points. They continued their aggressiveness throughout the game. Audrey Taylor, an eighth grader, was quite agile and played like a player on a mission. She scored, she rebounded and made great passes that helped the team to win by a large margin. Taylor scored 10 points in the game. The halftime score was 21-7.
As the second half began, the little ladies came out swinging again. Brittany Patton made two fast break plays that resulted in scores.
She ended the night with a total of 13 points, the high scorer of the game. Coach Kenneth Bell’s team looked great and took direction well, and had built a 29-7 lead at the end of the third quarter. With a comfortable lead, Bell still had his team playing as if they were behind. He never let up on offense or defense.
The fourth quarter was a breeze for the middle schoolers , as the final score was 34-10.
The breakdown of individual scoring was; Catonya Newsom-5 points, Jeneshia Jackson-2, and Samantha Patterson-4.
Other teammates are; Shavetta Gordon, Shaketta Arnold, Victoria Johnson, Erin Conrad and Tierra Collins. The little ladies will compete in a Round Robin Jan.13-14 at Batesville Junior High. The girls are undefeated with a 6-0 record.
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| Como boys fall to Charleston 35-26 |
| By Donna Taylor
The young men of Como Middle School were not as fortunate as the ladies. They lost to Charleston by a score of 35-26, but the game was not without it’s moments. Little Montrell Toliver, who stands about three feet tall, excited the crowd with a long range shot. Toliver was so small, his jersey kept slipping off of his shoulder. He was truly a delight for those in attendance. Even Charleston fans cheered when he scored the basket. They gave him extra attention because of his size. You could hear shouts of "go little man" from both sides of the court.
Kiwanis Bobo, who plays for the 7th grade and 8th grade team, was also a crowd pleaser. The south paw ignited the gym with his swift moves and long range three-point shots. They played 15 minute running quarters, with the clock running on dead balls.
Other players scoring included Fred Robinson, with 7 points at the end of regulation. Robinson comes from a basketball family. His father, Fredrick Robinson Sr., was a stand out player for North Panola High in the 80s.
Charleston players were a tad bit bigger than CMS in the height category, which may have given them a slight advantage over the Cougars. Regardless of the final score, CMS put on a good showing and could possibly improve over the season. Their coach, Charles Cummings, said he "had faith in his team." They looked sharp, but made a few mistakes. Cummings said they will get better.
The scorers for CMS besides Robinson were Rick Hunt-9 points, the high scorer of the game, Cortez Hibbler-6, Arthur Webb and Curtis Arnold both finished with 2 points each. Other team members are Darius Loveberry, E.J. Miller, Lasteven Black, Vernon Lewi, Randy House, who also played football for the school, and Marque Phillips.
They too, will participate in the weekend Round Robin at Batesville Junior High, Jan. 13-14. Their record is 1-1.
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Pollard enthusiastic about
2006 Memphis season |
| By Myra Bean
The University of Memphis Tigers are still basking in the warmth of winning the Motor City Bowl in Detroit over Akron 38-31 on December 26. That is until the players return to school January 18 and thus to offseason workouts and conditioning exercises.
 Batesville’s Javar Pollard, 6’0", 203 pounds, will be a senior safety in the 2006 version of the University of Memphis Tigers and is looking forward to the upcoming season.
Pollard spent the majority of the season on the sideline nursing a preseason broken collarbone, though he did not take a medical redshirt. He played in only one game last season and said his shoulder hurt too much to take on any more action.
He was cleared for play three days before the bowl game but he did not see any action.
Pollard said the team will get a ring for winning the bowl game but will not be measured for them until they return for the spring semester.
Pollard is a 2003 graduate of South Panola High School and a former member of the Tiger football team. His 2002 team went 14-1 and lost in the state championship to Wayne County.
In the three years he has been there, Memphis has participated in a bowl game each year and won two.
Pollard said people are always asking him what will Memphis do next year after star running back DeAngelo Williams graduates.
"I think we will come back with a lot of passing," Pollard said.
Two quarterbacks and three receivers went out this year with injuries but are healthy now, according to Pollard.
Pollard was very encouraged about the upcoming team after the 7-5 season the Tigers just went through. Memphis played with many subs throughout the season as 16 players were on the injured list, including eight starters.
"The injured starters came to practice and were a big encouragement to people who had never played before," Pollard said. "Coach (Tommy) West told us we had some trials. He said we didn’t have the best season but we did have a good one.
"He said we could have given up with the injuries but we didn’t and came out and helped the others," Pollard added.
Pollard laid his goals for the upcoming season: lead the team in tackles, help lead the team to the conference championship and another bowl game.
"I don’t want to just get there. I want to win," Pollard declared. ?That would be good."
Pollard said he felt they could have gotten to the championship round without all the injuries.
"Everybody wants to work hard because they know where we could have been," Pollard said. "We could have been a team better than we were. We have a lot of people coming back."
Joe Lee Dunn is the defensive coordinator at Memphis. Pollard said Dunn keeps them on his toes because he never knows if Dunn is in a joking mood or grumpy. He will be joking with one group then start hollering at another.
"He wants us to work hard and laugh while we are doing it," Pollard said.
Pollard is an architectural engineering student who is on schedule to graduate in May 2007. |
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| Baseball coach Robey addresses Rotary |
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Guests at the Tuesday meeting of the Batesville Rotary Club were South Panola head baseball coach Patrick Robey (third from left), and three of his players, (from left) Jameson Rogers, Josh Boren and Barrett Johnson (right).
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| By John Howell Sr.
The South Panola High School baseball team will open a 30-game schedule February 18, fielding six seniors, head baseball coach Patrick Robey said Tuesday at the weekly meeting of the Batesville Rotary Club.
"This is my class; I’ve got to see these guys come up through the ninth grade," said Robey, now in his fourth year with South Panola. He recalled his first visit to the local club at the beginning of his career at the local high school.
"I was asking for donations; we’ve come a long way in four years," he said.
As the result of the sale of advertising signs along the outfield at American Legion Field, the team raised enough money to construct an indoor practice facility.
"Thanks to the community and the people of this town, we were able to do that," he said.
Twenty-six boys from the ninth through the twelfth grade are currently signed up for the 2006 season. One or two more may join the team after basketball, Robey said.
The team has several left-handed pitchers who will be rotating as starters, Robey said, including junior Heath Bolton, senior Kyle Crofford and sophomore Colton Ales, Robey said. Right-handed senior Barrett Johnson will round out the pitching rotation.
Last year’s record was 15-15. That was the best record at South Panola in seven years," the coach said. The team lost "six or seven" of last year’s starters, he added, but "we had a lot of guys that didn’t start that played a lot," who are back this season.
The 30-game schedule conforms to Mississippi High School Activities Association rules that limit those games to 20 dates.
"You have to double up on games and get in tournaments," the coach said, noting that the rules also limit games played between Monday and Thursday to one per week.
Most baseball players play only the one sport and spend their school athletic period in strength conditioning, he said.
Coach Robey also addressed the conditioning he deems needed to address the spiritual needs of his students praising the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization for its support and interest in young people.
"If you want to support South Panola athletics, get involved with FCA," Robey said. "It’s a great organization."
The baseball coach described the FCA-sponsored "Fifth Quarter" programs that follow each home football game with food and a guest speaker.
"It’s basically an outreach," he added.
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| ‘Bigger than big’ matchup between SP and OB set for tonight |
| By Myra Bean
"What’s bigger than big?" asked South Panola boys head basketball coach Charlie Howard.
Howard said that is how much tonight’s rematch with his team and Olive Branch means.
South Panola (11-5 overall, 1-1 district) and Olive Branch (14-4 overall, 1-1 district) tangled with each other December 15 and the Tigers escaped with a one point win, 64-63.
However, the Olive Branch Quistors were playing hurt that night with the leading scorer going out in the second half with a twisted ankle and one of the other players not playing at all.
"They will come in loaded for bear," Howard said. "They will be much better than they were."
Olive Branch will be in town tonight looking for a brawl. They defeated the North Panola boys Tuesday night 54-43.
South Panola got a good start in its return to regular schedule action with a 53-48 win over Grenada Tuesday night.
This district game between the Tigers and the Quistors will be a battle for seating in the tournament. According to Howard, Horn Lake seems to be the team to beat this year.
If South Panola defeats Olive Branch, they can avoid facing Horn Lake in the division tournament coming up at the end of the season.
"A game Friday night would give us a chance to go two up in the division," Howard said.
However, the Tigers still have to play the two district games against Southaven (0-14 overall, 0-1 district) on January 17 and 31. A rematch with Horn Lake will take place January 24.
Olive Branch tangled with Southaven last Saturday and won 66-49.
Against Grenada Tuesday night, the Tigers had a real battle on their hands. The Tigers defeated Grenada early in November 52-49 after retaking the lead. Tuesday’s score was pretty close to the score of that first game.
The first quarter was close but South Panola ended it with the 13-11 lead. With a good second quarter, the Tigers were up 29-20 at the half.
In the third quarter, Grenada turned up the heat and outscored South Panola 15-10 to cut the lead to four, Tigers 39-35 going into the final quarter.
It was neck and neck throughout the final quarter as Grenada again outscored South Panola but the Tigers held on for the five point win.
Justin Vaughn led all scorers with 14 points for the Tigers. Other Tiger scorers include Jarred Pope, 10 points; Rodney Gray and Anthony Nelson, 8 points each; Rod Moore, 5 points; Shawn Daniels and Larico Treadwell, 4 points each.
Lady Tigers
The Lady Tigers are still sliding downhill after a tough 52-42 loss to Grenada Tuesday night.
After winning three straight before the holidays, the Lady Tigers have now lost their last five games to go 8-10 overall, 1-1 district.
Tonight’s game against Olive Branch (15-3 overall, 2-0 division) is just as important in order for the Lady Tigers to have a chance to move up in the district. They lost to the Lady Quistors right before the holidays 47-25.
Olive Branch defeated the North Panola Lady Cougars 57-26 Tuesday night.
Unlike the Charger men, the Lady Chargers of Southaven (9-5 overall, 0-1 district) were on a six-game win streak before a loss to Olive Branch last Saturday night 53-45.
The Lady Chargers fell to the undefeated No. 5 Clarion-Ledger ranked Rosa Fort Lady Lions (20-0) Tuesday night 54-23.
Against Grenada Tuesday night, South Panola was close on those Lady Chargers’ heels after the first quarter which ended Grenada ahead 16-11.
In the second quarter, Grenada only outscored South Panola by one, 13-12 for a 29-23 halftime lead.
Both teams struggled for points in the third quarter with Grenada outscoring South Panola 9-6 for a 38-29 lead.
Grenada scored 14 to the Lady Tigers’ 13 points in the fourth quarter for the win.
Vetorra Cole was the leading Lady Tiger scorer with 11 points, followed by Kimberly Sanford with 10.
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