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Pack and Paddle |
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Good Water, Good Friends: Great Trip!
By Alice Andrews, President, Ozark Society
First, on behalf of the Ozark Society, I want to say thanks again to our hosts for the Spring Meeting at Tyler Bend, the Buffalo River Chapter in Searcy County.
Buffalo River Chapter Co-chairs, Laura and David Timby, and their chapter members put great effort into arranging excellent programs, speakers and refreshments — including those irresistible Ferguson cinnamon rolls!
A productive, well-attended meeting concluded with the exciting announcement that the Ozark Society Foundation would contribute the remaining balance of monies needed to fully fund the $25,000 Neil Compton Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (see article in this issue).
Now, here is a review of this year’s Buffalo River Trip.
Day One — Any Buffalo River Trip of five days is guaranteed to produce a multitude of stories. Highlights of the 2003 edition follow.
Tyler Bend at mile 71.5 from the Boxley Bridge is where we began our sojourn on Tuesday morning, June 10th. An early shower lasted long enough to get all the tents wet. Many of us camped at TB on June 9th in order to get a head start, organizing all the gear and ourselves.
No one thought to bring coffee for Tuesday morning. What a pitiful sight - coffee lovers wandering about, clutching empty mugs. Bless Jack Land and Marian Howard of the Bayou Chapter; for coffee they had and shared! If we could just get our “stuff” loaded into our canoes, we knew we might have time for breakfast at Fergusons! We did. Some of our best outings begin with rain, right?!
Our always-helpful outfitter, Wild Bill, collected car keys for the shuttle while everyone loaded canoes and johnboats, hoping they would float! We lunched and listened while trip leaders Charline Manning and Alice Andrews brief everyone on safety, campsites, cooking and cleaning responsibilities.
Safety options include First Aid kits, a satellite phone, signaling devices and a standby helicopter service for emergency evacuations.
The shimmering river beckoned - to carry us to Buffalo City. We launched our boats, anticipating a great week with old friends and getting acquainted with new ones. Gilbert, at mile 76.9, provided us with an excuse for ice cream and a visit to the old general store (on the National Register of Historic Places). Red Bluff, mile 79.8 was our first night’s campsite, at a long, horseshoe-shaped gravel bar and scenic bluff.
Day Two — How we appreciated EARL! Every day, he was up with the sun, making coffee. At Spring Creek there was adequate water to paddle 200 yards up the lush green, shady creek. Wading past a rocky bench we reached an ice-cold swimming hole while the fishermen tried their luck (no fish for supper). Kimball Bluff (mile 96.6), one of the prettiest campsites on the lower middle river, was home for the night - a wonderful place to unwind, savoring the beauty of bluffs and river. Lightening and thunder awakened us at 3:00 a.m. We secured camp items and personal gear, and then enjoyed listening to the music of echoing thunder and rain from our cozy, dry, tents.
Day Three — Boat motors will be boat motors! Ever helpful, Wild Bill came to our rescue twice at Buffalo Point and Rush. Rush Landing, mile 107.1 was home to a zinc mining community from the 1880s until 1961; the abandoned town is about a mile away. Group A rushed on to challenge Clabber Creek Shoal while Group B waited for a new motor. They would camp 2 miles below Rush. Group A camped at Lonely Hollow Bluff, mile 112.7. The swift water was just right for a cool swim. Water levels were near perfect. The johnboats glided along with only a few rocky hang-ups.
Dutch ovens were soon at the ready! When the coals were white hot, cake batter was poured into the oven, over buttery brown sugar, pineapple and cherries.
Then the coals were carefully arranged (14 coals in a circle under the oven, 18 coals on the lid in a checkerboard pattern). Very soon, the wonderful aroma of Pineapple Upside Down Cake filled the air. 45 minutes later, the cake was served, with no leftovers! Before our tents could call us, we enjoyed tall tales around a cheery, small campfire (constructed by Hannah Organick, 10, the only child on the trip).
Day Four — we relished getting to Big Creek, at mile 117.7, a favorite stop. Deborah McFadden (Group B) would kayak to our camp to communicate any problems, which might require us to wait for them. With no problems on the horizon, we hurried on to explore this broad creek that invites walking and wading upstream to look for wildlife, flowers and rocks.
I led Hannah and her dad, Allen, to the old Cold Springs School, built by the WPA (also on the National Historic Register). Earl caught up with us for the hike up a muddy, slippery bank, through stinging nettle, poison ivy and a world class supply of ticks. However, it is worth the effort to see the fine one-room schoolhouse, a relic of an earlier time, built of sturdy stone and brick. Most of the window glass is still intact. In the meantime, the fishermen had fun catching and releasing some nice bass. Lunch and lemonade behind us, we paddled past Leatherwood Creek, mile 123.5 and within 0.2 mile we were running the shoal at High Burr Bluff, mile 123.7 where we would spend our last night.
This is one of the largest gravel bars on the river, offering a great campsite opposite the magnificent High Burr bluff. Tradition takes over tonight as each group prepares to entertain the other. The “performance” is a closely guarded secret. Spies? Yes!
After grilled steaks, potatoes and salad and before we could devour our fresh blueberry/peach upside-down cake, Group B arrived. Delayed gratification can get ugly, but we courteously delayed dessert. While his troupe hummed “ScatMan,” Dr. Poop, aka “ScatMan” (Richard McFadden), demonstrated the conservative use of TP. Want to know more? Don’t ask.
Next, “Alice’s Ragtag Band,” paraded to the tune of “Saints Go Marching In.” Musical instruments provided by Kay Richardson featured the terrific trumpet of Marian, flashy Pam on the slide flute, and the rest of us did what we could with kazoos, castanets, and pots for drums and lids for cymbals.
The finale was a medley of Patriotic music honoring our military. Lesson #1, if you intend to perform, prepare! Pathetic! Get the picture? Finally, our long awaited dessert was ravaged!
Day Five — Saturday morning, we planned to begin to paddle by 9:00 a.m. One task remained – to present the coveted “Over and Under” Award, going for the second time to John King of Muncie, Indiana. The large rock, strung on a leather cord, was placed around his neck. For connoisseurs of river art, it would also work nicely as a stand-alone object d’art.
Ready for our encounter with the White River, we learned that the generators were shut down at 10 p.m. Friday night. Much relieved, we resumed canoeing, passing Elephant Head Rock, towering above the right bank at mile126.2. Changes noted - the “rock garden” was underwater and scarcely noticed. The large tree snag on the left bank, at the confluence of the Buffalo with the White River, is gone. The White was lower than I have ever seen it.
Some folks paddled upstream to the takeout at Buffalo City and others happily accepted a tow. While gear was being unloaded/reloaded for the trip home, a smorgasbord of leftovers was set out under the shade trees.
All agreed that we had had a wonderful trip - great weather, good water levels and no injuries.
The logistics of a large outing like this work, because of good planning and everyone pitching in to help. Many thanks go to Charline for managing the bountiful supply of good food. Her helpers included her daughter and Ginger Haltom, Carmen Miller and others.
A special thanks goes to our skillful johnboat drivers, David Gruenewald, Bob McKinney and Steve Heye.
They safely delivered our equipment and food daily. Thanks to both Earl Hilliard and Becky Hartman, for managing the t-shirts. Finally, a huge
“Thank You” goes to Bill Steward, who has led all of the previous Buffalo
River Trips. His experiences have paved the way to a safer, more finely tuned operation, which makes the leadership job easier for all who follow him.
After hugs and goodbyes were said, we departed in all directions. My sister, Natalie, (who never camps and rarely has paddled) was my canoe partner. She learned to put up her own tent and enjoyed the trip and “trippees” immensely. So did I!
The Ozark Fire Issue: More Heat than Light?
By John Heuston,
Communications Chairman
Perhaps no issue in the Ozark outdoors has stirred up more heat and less light that the current debate over the use of fire as a manipulative forest management tool on our public lands.
Some experienced naturalists believe fire is a useful tool in our forests. Other equally esteemed naturalists of long experience believe that fire will do more harm than good. Whether prescribed fire in the forest is a passing fad, or a valid tool, it is an issue worth exploring to the fullest.
Considering that the Ozark Society was a major player in the “Wilderness Wars” that created our current Wilderness System on public lands, it was a shock to learn that even the National Park Service was experimenting with fire in our beloved Lower Buffalo Wilderness. Some of us were worried that the heathens might be sacking the temple!
In April, our concerns led to an Ozark Society field trip into the Lower Buffalo Wilderness with NPS officials to see for ourselves. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the trip, but Tony Collins, a fire management specialist with the Park Service, sent me an excellent summary of Ozark Society questions and NPS answers – with photos.
The NPS position is that most of the Ozark Mountain eco-region, including the BNR, has hosted a mosaic of pine and oak savannas and cedar glades for thousands of years. Savannas – defined as open, grassy areas, with widely-spaced, large and usually mature trees – are a hot topic with some naturalists these days. Cedar glades are characterized by open rocky or grassy areas with scattered red cedars and small hardwoods.
Throughout time, periodic fires have burned through the Ozarks and were a natural process that shaped the landscape and greatly influenced forest communities, according to the NPS.
In brief: savannas are good; no savannas is not good. The solution is to reintroduce “prescribed fire” to restore the savannas in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness. The NPS says the area cannot be called a true savanna yet – but it’s getting close.
The NPS also claimed that,“fires that once created openings allowing the sun to reach grasses, wildflowers, and young oak/pine sapling have been missing and the landscape is changing.”
So, this reintroduction of fire process would involve initially burning every two to four years, explains the NPS. They say these closely spaced fire events are necessary to make up for years of past suppression. Then, depending upon results from monitoring, after three to five burns the time between fires would be lengthened to eventually reach seven to fifteen years. The NPS says this has been established through research as the natural return interval.
But, you might ask, and the Ozark Society did, why the NPS picked a federally designated wilderness area where man is supposed to be a “visitor who does not remain,” not a visitor who arrives heavy-laden with fire-starting materials that might, just might, ignite an “out of control” burn and become not only an environmental tragedy, but a public relations disaster for the Park Service?
The NPS answer is that the savannas and glades in the designated wilderness are among the largest remnants of these once prolific Ozark landscapes. The reintroduction of fire will (hopefully) reestablish the natural processes that preserve vegetation structure and composition of savanna and glade communities.
Okay. However one wilderness buff noted that the Lower Buffalo Wilderness was probably chosen for experimentation because “the Park Service doesn’t think anybody goes there much anyway.”
A dissenting voice
When it comes to the Ozark National Forest, nobody guards it more fiercely than the Newton County Wildlife Association. Their naturalist, Kent Bonar, knows this region and its wildlife well.
Bonar doubts the fire program will produce the results the USFS expects, I called Bonar to get his permission to reprint portions of their newsletter, “Call of the Wild.” NCWA Chairman George Imrie also states his concern about fire in the Ozarks.
“The rich, diverse, mixed mesophytic forest that represents the Ozark mountains to most NCWA members is not one in which natural fires are a recurring problem,” Imrie writes. “In fact, lightning strike fires are really rare, and simply don’t produce the 1,000-acre, fire-scarred landscape the USFS is now promoting.
“If fires were a prominent pattern in the past, these forests would be dominated by pines, cedars, and post oak savannas. Whereas the forests of the West are often and repeatedly burned by natural events (dry lightning strikes), the Eastern deciduous forests of the Ozarks have evolved without this type of disturbance.”
In the opinion of the NCWA, the main reason the USFS wants to burn our forests is that they want to control the tree species composition.
“Same as always, all that has changed is the tool used for this de facto conversion. With increased burning, conditions will favor those species that are more or less adapted to repeated fires.”
Will this create a healthier forest? In contrast, Imrie and Bonar believe that with repeated burning a less diverse forest will result. Quite possibly not only will existing topsoil be lost, but the process by which the forest soil is produced will be diminished.
Emrie writes: “We, as responsible humans, should continue to suppress man-made fires; to use fire as a tool to degrade and create uniformity in a forest rich in native diversity, is poor forest stewardship. It has been suggested that the USFS should conduct small controlled burns. With experimental attempts at recreating a natural fire, we could see what the results are before the USFS makes blanket prescriptions for repeated forest burns. Once burned, these charred areas become susceptible to larger and hotter fires next time.
“Although fire may not help control the borers, it will harm the natural predators that use decaying wood as a breeding ground.”
In an article entitled “Where Tree Bats Winter,” naturalist Bonar noted that “Red bats are the most common tree bat, but others (hoary, silver-haired, and evening bats) over-winter in the ground below leaf litter too. Bats from northern states and Canada winter in the South, where the forest service has recently started large-scale burning projects in all forests within the region. Species that aren’t rare may soon be! Leaf litter is already known to shelter many animals, especially in the winter. Decaying leaves prevent or reduce erosion and desiccation from drying, and gradually become topsoil.”
“It protects soil moisture, needed by both plants and animals and provides cover for others,” Bonar believes. “Most native woods herbs (ginseng, goldenseal, cohosh, alumroot, bloodroot, wild ginger, etc) require a winter-cover of heavy leaf mulch to keep from freezing, and this holds true for many animals, including bats.”
“Some of the forest’s most important resources are not just lumber,” Bonar concludes.
Indeed, the issue of using fire in the forests, regardless of your intentions, is a hot topic in more ways that one and it isn’t going to die down anytime soon.
The Uneasy Chair
By John Heuston,
Communications Chairman
There are plenty of conservation issues to be uneasy about these days, but first let’s start off this summer edition on a lighter note.
Happy Birthday Harold Hedges!
Paul Noland informed me that in early March a group of friends got together at the Ferguson’s in Boxley Valley to celebrate Harold’s 90th birthday. Maybe somebody had enough foresight to take a photo of this historic event so we can run it in the fall issue – hint, hint!
But, there was to be no retreat to the easy chairs for Margaret and Harold Hedges! In May they returned to that wild, lonely, beautiful, and potentially dangerous stretch of the Upper Buffalo River above Boxley Valley that they named the “Hailstone” after being the first people to successfully canoe it almost 40 years ago. Harold is now 90 and Margaret is 85.
The Hedges were invited to return to the Hailstone by their old friend, Mike Mills of the Buffalo Outdoor Center at Ponca. Mike and his companions had planned a rafting journey down this rugged 16-mile stretch of the Buffalo— where the river drops from 40 feet to nearly 70 feet per mile!
Buddy Gough, outdoor writer for the Northwest Arkansas edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, who does a thorough job of covering the Ozark outdoors, was on the float and he wrote a great article about the trip for the May 29 issue of the newspaper. Ken Smith of Fayetteville forwarded a copy of it to me.
The Hedges were leaders of the famous Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club of Kansas City (OWWC) before there was an Ozark Society. They moved to Newton County and not only were instrumental in saving the Buffalo River from becoming just another man-made reservoir among many, they literally introduced a lot of us to that magnificent obsession that we call canoeing. We wish them both many more Happy Birthdays in the Buffalo River Country!
The Good Doc Was Right!
Back in 1972, Ozark Society founder Dr. Neil Compton warned members that even though we’d won the 10-year “Battle of the Buffalo” and spared this magnificent river from “dam-nation,” there would always be people who sought to exploit America’s first “National River” with one screwball scheme or another.
The most recent such endeavor was highlighted in an article by Julie Stewart in the June 1 issue of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The headline was ominous… “River Property is town’s to use, lawyer claims.”
It seems that joy reigns supreme among the old Bear Creek Dam supporters because a Marshall attorney and Searcy County District Judge named Jerry D. Patterson has found a new way to bedevil their favorite whipping boy, the National Park Service.
Patterson claims to have found documents indicating that the city of Marshall “…owns a piece of the Buffalo National River – which could enable the city to take water from the river to supplement local water supplies.”
This scary news generated articles in the Marshall Mountain Wave, Harrison Daily Times, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
According to Stewart’s article, Patterson said the city “appears to own” about 3 acres in the Lane Bend area of the Buffalo National River between Gilbert and the U.S. Highway 65 bridge, plus easements from the river to Marshall.
The property reportedly was acquired in the late l960s, before the creation of the Buffalo National River by Congress in 1972. It was to be used to expand the municipal water system. However, the project was later abandoned because of “unexpected cost overruns.”
Patterson apparently believes the pumping project can be revived.
Ivan Miller, superintendent of the Buffalo National River, is not so sure about that. He is as puzzled by this development as are local BNR supporters, and there are plenty of people in the region who don’t want to see the Buffalo National River damaged or compromised in any way , for both environmental and economic reasons.
“We don’t know any more about this situation that what we’ve read in the newspapers,” Miller said. “We haven’t found any information in our files that would verify Patterson’s claims.”
Besides, Miller pointed out: “It’s not just a matter of pumping water out of the river. There are a lot of other laws that do apply.”
The sad and frustrating thing about this proposal is that even if the citizens of Marshall could somehow legally acquire some water from the Buffalo without damaging the river, such a short-term “fix” will not solve Searcy County’s long-term water supply problems.
The leadership of the city of Harrison in Boone County knew better than to rely on a small and vulnerable pond in the hills like the proposed 92.5-acre Bear Creek Reservoir. No short-term 50-year solutions for them!
Harrison pipes in its water from, believe it or not, Beaver Lake! This giant federal reservoir on the Upper White River is located just below the Missouri line near Rogers and is a long, long, pipeline away from Boone County and Harrison!
Many citizens of Searcy County believe they could better ensure a long-term water supply, and their economic future, by ignoring the frog pond fanciers and tapping into the water supply allocation currently available from giant Greers Ferry Reservoir. Had they not been detoured by the fantasy of Bear Creek Dam, they might already have a long-term water supply on the way or finished by now!
Would it cost more? Sure, about a paltry 6 percent more than Bear Creek Dam. However, I’m told federal funds are available to help fund such water projects and they wouldn’t have to fight this water supply battle all over again 50 years from now.
One can only wonder about what tributary of the Buffalo National River they would want to dam up next time!
Conservation Corner
By Michael Farar,
Conservation Chairman
Observations on the natural: the earthly Space Ship revolves. Its occupants (Homo sapiens) continue to exist. Strife and excess abound. The air, the ether, still remains, albeit a bit more polluted. Species disappear daily, sometimes without being noticed. Doomsayer’s countdown the time remaining.
Boy, is this frightening or have we forgotten to enjoy our time on Earth? By we, I mean us Americans and other nationalities – more specifically, the environmentalists that care for our planet and our great State of Arkansas on a grand and minor scale – the people who are not interested in money or gain, but in the well being of all Life. We wear a green badge placed squarely over our hearts, indicating our concern for everything we have come to know and love.
Continuing on this place of thought: may I point out something that should be of the utmost importance and foremost in all our minds – Global Warming!
Global warming is the trend that will mean the downfall of human life (if other human devices don’t do it first) With more of a canopy of haze and toxins in our outer atmosphere, temperatures will keep increasing and thus insure the melting of vast reaches of our polar icecaps and cause changes in weather patterns and subsequent alterations in farming practices and water supplies.
Our air pollution is mainly caused by emissions from industrial factories, vehicles used in commerce, as well as private and public transportation. Ask the man or woman in the street about the air they breathe and whether it’s polluted and what causes it. There is a general consensus.
After Sept. 11, 2001, when airline flights were curtailed worldwide, it was noted that atmospheric temperatures actually decreased – showing the adverse effect of aircraft exhaust. Our government not only refuses to acknowledge the problem but also is taking no adequate action to limit emissions. They are relaxing standards for industry, and insisting that drilling for oil in wilderness areas will solve our “energy dependence.”
Does anyone see that by improving fuel economy and utilizing technology on smoke stacks and other sources that we can realize cleaner air and “energy independence” without harming some of this Earth’s last remaining unspoiled territory?
This is the main tide we have to turn; otherwise, the waters will rise!
Plan Now For Blanchard Springs!
The fall meeting of the Ozark Society will be held the weekend of Sept. 20-21 at one of the most beautiful places in the Ozark National Forest, the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area on North Sylamore Creek in Stone County northwest of Mountain View.
The Pulaski Chapter will host the meeting, and Chairman Pete Ireland and his members are planning an interesting program, with an emphasis on enjoying the numerous outdoor recreational opportunities available in the Blanchard Springs area.
Blanchard Springs Caverns, one of the most beautiful cave systems in the United States, is nearby and the new section of the Sylamore Trail is close at hand. The White River, with its spectacular bluffs and world famous trout fishing, is just a short drive away.
Incidentally, former Ozark Society President Steve Wilson, who grew up at Batesville, was one of the original explorers of Blanchard Springs Caverns, with pioneer spelunkers Hugh Shell and Hail Bryant. Now retired, Steve and his wife, Jo, live at Norfork on the White River.
The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area is in the Sylamore Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest and is located 7 miles north of Mountain View. Take Highway 9 through Mountain View and down the steep mountain north of town to State Highway 14 at Allison, near the White River Bridge. Turn west on Highway 14 and go 6 miles to Forest Service Road 1110. Follow this road for 3 miles to Blanchard Springs. The road is negotiable by camping trailer rigs.
Here is what you need to know NOW!
Arkansas Director Duane Woltjen of Fayetteville informs us that he has paid the fees for our use of the large pavilion at Blanchard Springs for all day Saturday and on Sunday morning (Sept. 20-21).
The pavilion is located in the center of the picnic or day use area. It is the largest of the two pavilions and is located near the center of the lawn area. It has electricity and lights and there are numerous picnic tables in fixed locations under the roof.
The pavilion has no sidewalls, so he suggests we have some tarps handy for windbreakers should the weather be windy.
We also have use of Group Site # 2 for camping from Friday night Sept. 19 through Sunday night Sept. 21. Duane says this is a wooded site along North Sylamore Creek at the low-water bridge where you cross over to the individual campsites. We have this site for the same dates, and we have exclusive use of it so we won’t have to share it.
There is parking in the camp for about 10 vehicles of ordinary size – not large motor homes or travel trailers. Excess vehicles can be parked nearby at the day use areas for $3 per day, or for free if they exhibit a Parking Pass. Duane has obtained 50 parking passes. The day use areas are crowded at this time of year, and parking fees are enforced, so be forewarned!
Individual campsites cannot be reserved. They are in two groups. The first group is about 14 sites just across Sylamore Creek from Group Site 2. The second group is about a 1/4 mile up the Sylamore and across a wet crossing low-water bridge. It has about 16 sites, one or two suitable for trailers. No hookups are available at any site. There are hot showers in both groups.
If you don’t plan to camp, there are ample motel and bed and breakfast accommodations at nearby Mountain View or Calico Rock. The Anglers White River Resort (1-870-585-2226) is located north of Mountain
View at Allison where Highways 5-9-14 meet near the White River Bridge. A short distance north of Allison on Hwy 5 is Jacks Resort and Jo Jo’s Restaurant (l-870) 585-2211). Fifty-six on Highway 14 is home to Cody’s Restaurant, and there are motel accommodations at Fifty-six.
Duane offered these suggestions for leisure activities we can do after the business session: hike the Sylamore Trail, or the Ozark Highlands Trail, mountain bike on Green Mountain, or go fishing in North Sylamore Creek, home of the wariest smallmouth bass in the Ozarks!
We owe Duane a vote of thanks for making all these important arrangements for us. As this is being written, Duane and Judy are by now on their planned 5-week trip to the Lake Superior area, which should make for a great program when they return!
Certainly, if you’ve never toured Blanchard Springs Caverns, then it should be at the top of your list of things to do. The Visitor Information Center for the caverns opens at 9 a.m. and the last tour is at 4:15 p.m. We may line up a group cave trip.
Should you need to contact the Sylamore Ranger District, the telephone number is (l-870) 269-3228.
Neil Compton Scholarship Now Fully Funded!
One of the Ozark Society’s goals, full funding for the $25,000 Neil Compton Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Neil’s alma mater) has now been achieved, thanks to the Ozark Society Foundation.
For our newer members, the late Dr. Neil Compton of Bentonville founded the Ozark Society in 1962 and led a campaign to save the Buffalo River from proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineer dams at Gilbert, and possibly Lone Rock as well. He led a grueling 10-year conservation struggle that resulted in the Buffalo River being designated by Congress in 1972 as America’s first “National River,” a unique new category in the National Park System.
The foundation, chaired by veteran Ozark Society member Tom Foti, announced at the Spring Meeting at Tyler Bend that the Foundation would donate enough money to match the $12,500 already raised by various Ozark Society chapters and private donations, fully funding the scholarship. However, additional donations are anticipated, and welcome, so that this scholarship will continue to grow through the years.
Dr. Compton’s daughter, Ellen Compton, said the Compton family was very pleased with the donation and eager to see the day when the scholarship will be awarded to a deserving undergraduate or graduate student in the field of environmental sciences.
“We’re now working out the details with the UA administration and looking forward to the day when we can award our first scholarship, probably next year,” she said.
Financial Chairman Bob Ritchie advises that additional donations to the Neil Compton Scholarship Fund are welcomed so the fund can continue to grow through the years. Checks should be made out to the Ozark Society Foundation, earmarked for the Neil Compton Scholarship Fund, and mailed to: P.O. Box 2914, Little Rock, AR 72203.
New Paddlers Among Us!
Bill and Dana Steward have two new paddling partners!
John William Steward was born to John and Becky Steward at 1 p.m. on 6-23-03. His relatives and friends will know him as Jack.
Stella Fowler Heon was born to Laura (Steward) and John Heon at 10 p.m. on 7-24-03. We have been advised that the parents are doing fine. Jack, Stella and the grandparents are also doing very fine. Both grandchildren have proven to be well above average in all respects and will no doubt be leading canoe trips as soon as grandpa Steward can talk thim into it.
Ozark Society members David and Laura Timby of Chimes, leaders of the Buffalo River Chapter in Searcy County, and Garner Jones of Greenwood, one of the founders of Save Our Streams, were honored at the Arkansas Wildlife Federation’s 2003 award’s banquet held at Little Rock in May. The Timbys were named “Conservation Educators of the Year” for their work in environmental education, including an active outings program for young people in Searcy County called “Youth Outdoors Unlimited” (Y.O.U.) Garner Jones was presented with the Federation’s highest award, Conservationist of the Year, for his work in stream preservation, especially his efforts to focus public attention on silt pollution in Crooked Creek from “in-stream” gravel mining practices that destroy fisheries habitat.
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