ASHEBORO — Labor Day Weekend is a big weekend for outdoor enthusiasts. The weekend marks a traditional to the summer boating and beach season but kicks off the hunting season with Dove hunting.
Saturday is the first day of dove season. The season opens September 4 and runs through October 2. The bag limit for dove hunters is 15 and shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. According to a release from the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission, no migratory game birds may be taken with the use and aid of bait.
The long-weekend will also see Wildlife Resources officers performing sobriety checkpoints on the water as part of the “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign. This is the 11th year of the campaign which is centered on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
There were 188 boating incidents investigated in 2020 in North Carolina with 29 fatalities. Twenty-four of the incidents were alcohol related, including 8 fatalities. Not wearing a life vest was a contributing factor. Of the 29 fatalities, only 11 were wearing personal flotation devices.
The State Highway Patrol, local police and local sheriff’s offices are also part of the Labor Day enforcement and education campaign.
Asheboro native fulfills dream of playing at Grand Ole Opry
ASHEBORO — It was a round-about way, but the destination was what mattered for Trent Callicutt.
He performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
For a musician, Saturday night’s opportunity became a lifetime achievement in Nashville, Tenn.
Trent Callicutt performs on the Grand Ole Opry stage with Dailey & Vincent on August 21, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (Courtesy Photo)
“It was everything I hoped for and more,” Callicutt said. “The Grand Ole Opry is the pinnacle. I was looking around and trying to take it all in.”
The Asheboro native and Southwestern Randolph High School graduate played the banjo for Dailey & Vincent, an American bluegrass music group.
Timing was on Callicutt’s side.
He had connected with Dailey & Vincent, which has released nine albums, about possibly joining that group occasionally. The renowned group has been in need of a banjo player.
Several times Dailey & Vincent and Callicutt tried to connect to strike tunes together, but the schedules didn’t mesh. Those conflicts kept arising, and even a recently-planned gig in Liberty fell through.
Then last week Darrin Vincent reached out about 60 hours before the group was scheduled to take the stage in Nashville. From there, it all worked out.
“I was just floored,” Callicutt said. “I went to never playing with them and then struck the first note for them at the Grand Ole Opry.”
Callicutt praised Vincent, Jamie Dailey and the group’s other musicians for making it a memorable experience.
One of Callicutt’s inspirations in music was developed through his grandfather, A.J. Kendrick, who was a pastor. He has since passed away, but thoughts of him were prominent for Callicutt.
Asheboro’s Trent Callicutt outside the Grand Ole Opry on August 21, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (Courtesy Photo
The younger musician had “a moment of reflection” while in the building in Nashville. “He always dreamed of doing that there,” he said of his grandfather.
Callicutt, 32, has been playing banjo since age 12. His training, in part, came through lessons from Asheboro’s Tim Moon.
Eventually, that led to opportunities to perform with traveling groups that went to Ireland and Canada.
But Nashville had always been on his wish list, hoping to make it to the Grand Ole Opry.
“It was a lifetime dream of mine to play professionally and maybe play the Grand Ole Opry,” he said.
Dailey & Vincent played a three-song slot. It wasn’t exactly what Callicutt had rehearsed as the group made revisions pretty much on the fly.
“Just kind of threw a curveball and we went with it,” he said.
Callicutt, who works at R&H Trucking, his family’s storage trailer rental and leasing business, went to college at Western Carolina. He wasn’t alone on his big night. His wife, Rachel, along with his parents, Everett and Cindy Callicutt, a brother and sister-in-law were among those present.
Afterward, Callicutt was able to provide about a 15-minute tour of the backstage area for his family.
“I was kind of learning (about it) as I went,” he said of the particulars of that area.
Callicutt remains active on the music scene, but his days of performing have become more sporadic than in the past. “I stay as busy as I want to be,” he said.
This latest opportunity is bound to rekindle some of his desire to see where music might take him.
“For me, it was my lifetime dream,” Callicutt said. “Hopefully, it won’t be my last time going. It was a lot of fun.”
ASHEBORO — Ken Jennings, all-time Jeopardy! champion, will be on stage at the Sunset Theatre Saturday, August 28th at 7pm. Jennings will talk about his experiences appearing on the game show, techniques for winning, and how his life has changed since. Jennings became the stuff of legends when he beat fellow game show champions James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter to be named the “Greatest of All Time” player. He still holds three major Jeopardy! records: longest winning streak, 64 games; highest regular-season winnings, $2,520,700; and highest average number of correct responses per game, 35.9.
ASHEBORO — Summer heat and humidity is upon us and we are all looking for ways to cool off. Your backyard feathered friends are no exception. Chickens are becoming popular as backyard egg producers and pets so owners should be on the lookout for heat stress on members of their flocks as the summer heat reaches its peak.
An experienced chicken keeper knows their flock, their personalities and habits. This type of relationship provides you quick insight into changes in flock disposition that can be an early sign that something is a little off. Disease or other stressors can decrease production, cause unnecessary stress and fatigue, or even mortality. Although all flocks and flock members will behave a little differently under normal circumstances, there are some obvious signs that your birds could be experiencing heat stress. Keep an eye out for these symptoms which could require immediate action: panting/labored breathing, holding wings out and away from the body, pale combs and wattles, decrease in egg production, decrease in energy or enthusiasm, or loose fecal droppings.
If your birds are exhibiting these symptoms, it’s important to take immediate action. And even if they’re not, the following are good precautionary measures to prevent heat stress in your flock.
Be sure that fresh clean water is readily available and kept in a cool shady area. If water consumption is decreased, adding electrolytes can be a good way to boost water intake and reduce dehydration. Electrolytes can be purchased in various forms but are most often found in water soluble powders that mix easily in your water source. Be sure to follow the product’s label when mixing as a highly diluted solution will not provide necessary intake and an over concentrated solution may actually cause birds to drink less.
Keeping your flock cool is also important. If your coop is mobile, relocate it to shady area with good ventilation. If your coop is stationary, look for ways to encourage air movement by opening any and all vents in the structure. If you have an electrical supply nearby, adding a fan can be helpful. We all know the value of a good breeze on a hot summer day.
If your birds are free range or your coop has an outside run, be sure they have access to shady areas. Placing feeders and drinkers in those areas can encourage chickens to spend more time out of direct sunlight. Placing temporary roosts or other forms of enrichment in shady areas also helps encourage birds to stay cool. If natural shade is not available in your run, consider providing temporary shade until the fall when cooler weather returns. Think pop up tent, tarps, shade cloth, etc.
Summertime is also a good time to change out older deep bedding that may be acting as compost and a heat source. New bedding will be less compacted and facilitate the escape of excess body heat. Selecting a coarse bedding – think shavings instead of sawdust – will also allow for more air space and facilitate natural air flow.
If you have exhausted all of the above, and your birds are still exhibiting signs of heat stress, moisture can do the trick. Adding misters in areas that the birds frequent or lightly dampening the ground with a water hose in common areas can encourage evaporative cooling. Some producers may even find it beneficial to add small wading pools with shallow water for the birds to access, but not all feathered friends will be a fan of this feature.
Now that you know the signs of heat stress and what you can do about it, make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure the health and welfare of your feathered friends. If you need additional help with any of your poultry needs, your local extension office and area specialized agents are available to help.
Jonas Asbill is an Area Specialized Agent for Poultry Agriculture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Randolph County Center
New version of documentary to be shown in Asheboro
ASHEBORO — When filmmaker Michael Bronfenbrenner heard a few details about a small-town baseball team from several decades ago, it perked his interest.
From there, it became an obsession to tell the backstories of the 1970 Farmer High School baseball team.
“Oh my gosh, this should be a film,” Bronfenbrenner said of his reaction.
A revised version of the film, Just Plowboys, will be shown at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Theatre in Asheboro.
Woody Younts was the coach of the team that captured the Class A state championship to conclude the final year of the school’s existence.
Bronfenbrenner was living in California when a friend’s wife, who was from Farmer, told him about the 1970 championship. The filmmaker sensed there was much more to the story and was intrigued to find out.
“I kept finding more and more about the story,” he said.
He didn’t stop researching. For many of the players and community members involved, he knows what has taken place in their lives across the past 50 years.
There are so many questions to be answered, many related to a 17-inning game in the championship series against Robersonville.
“That game is legendary in central North Carolina,” Bronfenbrenner said.
There has been a reunion between the two teams, a gathering that Bronfenbrenner helped set up. Earlier Saturday, there’s a scheduled dedication of the trophy case – something provided by members of the Robersonville team — at the old Farmer school.
Among the other topics addressed in the documentary: Why did third baseman Junior Hunt turn down a chance to join the Cincinnati Reds organization? Why is there a mention of Richard Petty in the film?
Bronfenbrenner, who now lives in Connecticut, said his passion for this story and others that have popped up on his radar in the region have caused him to make many visits to the state.
“I’m almost about to get a house in North Carolina,” he said.
This second release of the documentary is the film festival version. There are alterations and new footage compared to the 2019 edition, something that Bronfenbrenner said makes it an improved flick.
“It’s a much different film than the one before,” he said.
The film is dedicated in memory of Brenda Hunt, who was wife of Junior Hunt and sister to catcher Bear Lanier. Mrs. Hunt died in December.
CHARLOTTE – Bojangles announced an all-new, hand-breaded chicken sandwich this week. The N.C.-based purveyor of fried chicken already had a fried chicken sandwich but had not elevated its menu to compete in the hand-breaded sandwich competition that includes Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Hardee’s and Wendy’s.
The new Bojangles hand-breaded chicken sandwich
“Bojangles knows a thing or two about delicious, perfectly flavored chicken served right, so who better to give fans a chicken sandwich that is sure to please,” said Chef Marshall Scarborough, vice president of menu and culinary innovation for Bojangles. “Our team had a blast perfecting this sandwich, and we can’t wait for you to try it for yourself,”
The new sandwich features a marinated chicken breast, hand-breaded with a crispy buttermilk coating and dusted with Bojangles’ secret mix of bold spices. Standard condiments are mayonnaise and thick-cut dill pickles.
Beginning this week, the Bo’s Chicken Sandwich is available at local locations for $3.99.
ASHEBORO — Downtown Asheboro will be filled with activity this weekend as the summer concert series continues Friday with Departure, a Journey tribute band, at Bicentennial Park. On Saturday, the Zooland Region 30th Annual Antique Car Show kicks off at 9am and a BMX Show will start at 10am on Fayetteville Street. All of the downtown events will feature local vendors.
ASHEBORO — The only grizzly bear at the N.C. Zoo died Friday. Tommo, a bear relocated from Yellowstone National Park, lived at the Zoo for 26 years. The zoo’s staff made the decision to euthanize the 31-year old bear after his quality of life quickly declined. Tommo arrived at the Zoo in 1995 after being identified as a “nuisance bear” — a bear who has lost his fear of humans because they see people as suppliers of food. The grizzly bear habitat at the zoo will remain empty while the staff works with other agencies to offer a home for any orphaned or nuisance bears in the future.
ASHEBORO — The N.C. Zoo announced the names of the six red wolf pups (four females, two males) born on the guest view habitat. The public was invited to vote in an online poll from a list of names provided by the Zoo’s red wolf keepers. The names are based on rivers in the Southeastern U.S. where red wolves used to range. The naming poll had over 6,500 responses. The chosen names are Eno, Harper, Pearl, Warrior, Fisher, Catawba.
The King James Version of the Bible has over 780,000 words. With over 32,000 words, the Book of Jeremiah is the longest, followed by Genesis and Psalms, which also top 30,000 words each. Psalms has the most chapters. Overlooked sometimes are the shortest books of the Bible. There are five books with fewer than 500 words: Third John, Second John, Philemon, Obadiah, and Jude. Over the next five weeks, we will take a look at these succinct books, starting with Third John, which contains less than 300 words and has only 14 verses.
The Third Epistle of John is the third-to-last book of the Bible, with only Jude and Revelation following. This book is a personal letter send from John to a man named Gaius. The letter encourages Gaius, telling him to “follow not that which is evil, but that which is good” and warns him of a man named Diotrephes who John accuses of “prating against us with malicious words.” Ultimately, this short book teaches us that when Christians “walk in truth” there is joy and that unlike Diotrephes, we should welcome everyone to the church.
3 John 11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
“Saint John the Evangelist” by El Greco (circa 1605) is a painting in the Prado Museum, Madrid. (Public Domain)
