Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Celebrates 75th Anniversary with a Day Filled with Nature Hikes, Programs, and Games

Seventy-five years ago, the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established, and today serves as a home to some of the United States’ most precious wildlife resources. Set for October 5, 2013, a birthday celebration is planned to commemorate the establishment of the Refuge and to highlight the refuges’ history and success as a natural resource management demonstration project. Hosted by the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association, the 75^th Anniversary Celebration will include guided bird-watching field trips and nature hikes, children’s nature programs, bird banding, arrowhead making, lasershot games, hot air balloon tethered rides, archery, and hay rides.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the celebration will provide festivalgoers with multiple opportunities for natural resource exploration through demonstrations, hands-on activities and field trips onto refuge lands. The Alabama 4H Center will have three presentations of Raptor Trek!, a very popular live bird of prey program featuring free flying owls, hawks, and a bald eagle. Show times are at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. 

Larry and Cheryl Battson, founders of Wildlife Educational Services will present their live wildlife program in three scheduled programs at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. They have worked with Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and their animals have appeared on television programs such as The Tonight Show, Oprah, and the Today Show.

The Teddy Roosevelt Show featuring Joe Wiegand entertains audiences nationwide with his reprisal of President Theodore Roosevelt. As a one-man theater show, Joe’s T.R. shares stories full of adventure, laughter, and inspiration. T.R. will be presenting at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event.  He will also be visiting area schools prior to the Saturday event.

Additional planned activities include a Castingkids Contest presented by Bassmasters of North Alabama; Jakes Take Aim target shooting/firearm safety presented by the National Wild Turkey Federation; and Lasershot Game presented by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Other demonstrations include archery, flint napping, bird banding, hay rides, face painting, hot air balloon rides and a corn maze. Exhibitors including Alabama Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, TVA, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers and Valleys Resource conservation and Development Council, and the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association also will be on hand to share information. All activities and programs are free to the public.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 by Executive Order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an experiment to determine the possibility and feasibility of attracting migratory birds onto a multipurpose impoundment. Soon after, ducks began wintering on the refuge and the project was deemed a success. Today, the refuge hosts over 600,000 visitors annually who come to fish, hunt, and observe wildlife in its natural setting. Covering 35,000 acres, it attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl each year and is home to Alabama’s largest wintering duck population. The Refuge also supports the state’s largest concentration of Sandhill Cranes. For more information on Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, visit www.fws.gov/wheeler. 

The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is located at 3121 Visitor Center Road in Decatur. For more information on the 75^th Anniversary Celebration, visit www.friendsofwheelerrefuge.org. 

Antique Tackle Show Lures in Visitors from Across the Southeast and Beyond

Anything fishing related will be on display and up for grabs when the River City Antique Tackle Show comes to the Garden Plaza Hotel and Suites in Decatur September 27-28, 2013. Now in its 18^th year, the River City Antique Tackle Show attracts collectors from across the southeastern United States and beyond bringing thousands of antique fishing items dating back to the mid 1800s.

The River City Antique Tackle Show is a chance to meet with collectors and buy a variety of vintage fishing tackle including rods, reels, lures, fish scales, old minnow buckets, and tackle boxes. Over 100 collectors mainly from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama are expected, but registrations are confirmed from collectors as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. Lure identification will be provided and free appraisals will be offered on old lures and fishing tackle. In addition to displaying and selling, many collectors will offer stories of their treasures pieces.

The two-day show is sanctioned by the National Fishing Lure Collector’s Club (NFLCC) and attendees must be a member of NFLCC to attend. For those who are not a member, temporary memberships will be available for $5 for families (admission good for both days). Children 12 years and younger are admitted free. Membership applications to join NFLCC will also be available at the door. An annual membership fee is $35 per person and includes access to all NFLCC-sanctioned shows, a membership directory, two annual copies of the NFLCC Magazine, quarterly publications of the NFLCC Gazette, and access to a number of other exclusive club services.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. The Garden Plaza Hotel and Suites is located at 1101 6^th Avenue NE in Decatur.

For more information on the River City Antique Tackle Show, call NFLCC Region 3 Vice President Billy Prince at 256.565.8191.

NFLCC is a non-profit, educational, international organization founded in 1976. The primary objectives of the NFLCC are to foster an awareness of fishing tackle collecting as a hobby and to assist members in the location, identification, and trading of vintage fishing-related equipment. For more information, visit www.nflcc.org.    

Ultimate Frisbee Southeast Regionals Makes First Appearance in the River City

Thirty-six teams from across the southeastern United States will make their way to Decatur for an Ultimate Frisbee competition. Hosted by Huntsville Ultimate Club, USA Ultimate Southeast Regionals will take place September 28-29, 2013, at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex and Point Mallard Park. The USA Ultimate sanctioned event is expected to attract men, women, and co-ed teams from Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama.

This will be the tournament’s first appearance in Decatur. Previous tournaments have been held in Orlando, Fla., Austin, Texas, Little Rock, Ark., and Atlanta, Ga. Tournament hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and games will be played on the fields at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex (2616 Modaus Road SW) and on the Spirit of America fields located in Point Mallard Park (2901 Point Mallard Drive). Registration includes 16 men’s teams, 8 women’s teams, and 12 coed teams. The event is open to the public with free admission.

While this is the Southeast Regionals first appearance in Decatur, the Jack Allen Recreation Complex has hosted other Ultimate Frisbee competitions. In July, approximately thirty teams were in Decatur for the annual Huckfest, a two-day tournament also hosted by the Huntsville Ultimate Club. The tournament filled 61 room nights and generated an economic impact of over $32,000 for the city of Decatur.

For more information on Southeast Regionals, visit www.huntsvilleultimate.com/wordpress/south_east_regionals_2013/. 

About Ultimate Frisbee

Referred to as “ultimate”, the sport is played by two seven-player squads with a plastic disc with the object of the game to score by catching a pass in the opponent’s end zone. A player is not allowed to run while in possession of the disc, but can pivot and pass to any of the other receivers on the field. Ultimate is a transition game in which players move quickly from offense to defense on turnovers that occur with a dropped pass, an interception, a pass out of bounds, or when a player is caught holding the disc for more than ten seconds. Ultimate is governed by Spirit of the Game™, a tradition of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the players rather than referees. Ultimate is played in more than 80 countries by an estimated 7 million of men and women, girls and boys. For more information, visit www.usaultimate.org.

Decatur's Jeremy Reed Selected for Northern Star Award

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) has honored Mr. Jeremy Reed with its 2013 Northern Star Award. The award is among 10 that comprise the PEAK Awards that will be presented on Thursday, September 19, 2013 during the AMLA Annual Meeting at the Huntsville Marriott in Huntsville, Ala.  

Representing the highest achievement in North Alabama tourism, the PEAK Awards honor individuals and organizations that have had a major impact on tourism in North Alabama. History tells us that tourism really began by the navigation of the stars. The Northern Star Award is presented to an individual, such as a ranger, guide, and a front line employee, who has gone “above and beyond” expectations.

As the Front Office Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott in Decatur, Jeremy Reed takes every opportunity to share Decatur’s story with visitors. He is often found bragging on all the city of Decatur has to offer, from restaurants and attractions to its rich history and role in the South. Not only is he on the frontline sharing the city’s story, but he also makes an effort to talk with elected officials on the importance of tourism and the impact it has on the city and the Courtyard by Marriott.

“The PEAK Awards recognize the best of North Alabama’s tourism and travel industry, and this year’s nominees and winners have all done an exemplary job in delivering an exceptional visitor experience,” said Tami Reist, President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. “It is important we take the time to celebrate the achievements of our local tourism leaders, attractions, festivals, and front-line workers who all work tirelessly to make North Alabama a must visit destination.”

 

The full list of awards and winners is as follows:

● Organization of the Year – EarlyWorks Family of Museums

● Event of the Year – Boom Days Heritage Celebration

● Attraction of the Year – Spring Valley Beach Water Park

● Good Neighbor Award – Cullman City Parks and Recreation

● Northern Star Award – Jeremy Reed, Courtyard by Marriott

● Young Professional of the Year Award – Kayla Worthy, DeKalb Tourism

● Tourism Professional of the Year – Judy Ryals, Huntsville/Madison County CVB

● Lasting Impression Award – Tom Hendrix, Florence, Ala. and Tigers for Tomorrow

● Chairman’s Cup – Gloria and Jamie Cooper, ZTV-11

● President’s Award – Beverly Stallings, Fort Payne, Ala.

 

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)

AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.NorthAlabama.org. 

 

Backyard Chefs and Sportsmen Battle It Out at the Annual Wild Game Cook-off in Decatur

Hosted by the Morgan County Chapter of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the annual Wild Game Cook-off returns to Ingalls Harbor for the 18^th year. Set for October 1, 2013, backyard chefs and sportsmen are invited to show off their wild game cooking skills as festivalgoers enjoy an evening of friendly competition and an opportunity to taste some culinary treats.

The event typically attracts over 40 teams who prepare creative entrees using turkey, quail, wild pig, venison, duck, and fish. For those interested in what wild game tastes like, competing teams will provide free samples.

The competition contains three divisions – Fish, Fowl, and Game. First, second, and third place awards will be given to the teams with the tastiest treats in each division in addition to awards for the Best Overall Winner, Best Presentation, and People’s Choice. There is no entry fee to compete.

Along with the cook-off and samplings, the event also offers music, silent auction, raffle prizes, and door prizes for children and adults. This year’s raffle prizes include a shotgun, deer rifle, ladies jewelry, a utility trailers and more, and door prizes include a youth gun, Summit Tree Stand, a 12 ga. Remington 3’ 870 Express, a hard gun case and more.  All activities take place at Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson Street NW. Gate opens at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $35 per couple/person and children under 15 years old are admitted free. The ticket price includes a one-year membership in the Alabama wildlife Federation, a subscription to the Alabama Wildlife magazine, and free samples from those competing at the cook-off. All proceeds from the event will benefit AWF, the oldest and largest non-profit conservation organization in Alabama.

For more information or to register, please call David Thomas at 256.606.4161, Jill Stone at 256.318.4422, or Sam Glover at 256.318.0157.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation was established by sportsmen in 1935 to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity. To learn more about the AWF, call 800-822-WILD or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.