The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 68

Focusing on the communities In Rutherford, Wilson and southeastern Davidson counties. Billiards Bowling On the Go 2G 3G 4G COMMON YV WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1991 'ft -T' If i 1 i i sat' ''-K' CCD I i JJ.PhOpt Staff Couchville Lake's covered pier is a choice fishing spot for many young angler proudly shows part of his catch-of-the-day. He said youngsters visiting Long Hunter State Park. Meanwhile, one he was using chicken liver and nightcrawlers for bait Hiirter treat for Iiamdlicappeid. By WARREN DUZAK sible.

"That was the main reason it was paved so people In a wheelcahlr could use it," he added. The trail Is also available for walkers and runners but closed to bicyclers and skateboarders, Bundy explained. In addition to the 8-foot-wide paved trail, the park's covered fishing dock is available for the handicapped or others wishing to fish or Just look at the park's unique 110-acre Couchville Lake. "It is made up of a series of sink holes and fed by Percy Priest Lake," Bundy explained. Water flucuatlons in Percy Priest are of ten reflected in more dramatic fashion in Couchville Lake, especially in the winter when the big lake is dropped several feet to "winter pool." "In the winter it is a bunch of little ponds and the rest of the lake goes dry," Bundy said.

Although the lake is only about 8-to 10-feet deep on average, some of the those winter ponds are sink holes 35-feet deep that become a winter haven for the lake's fish and a draw for local anglers. "That's when they catch most of the fish," Bundy said. There are plenty of fish to catch. Bass, bream, and crappie offer angling opportun- Communities Writer MOUNT JULIET Long Hunter State Park Is one of the few state parks with excellent facilities for the handicapped, park officials said recently. But the existence of barrier-free facilties here Is something that many handicapped Middle Tennesseans do not know, said Jim Bundy, the park's maintenance manjack-of-all-trades.

"There are quite a few handicapped people that use the park but I think a lot more would if they knew about it," said Bundy. A two-mile trail around the park's Couchville Lake Is paved and handicapped acces ties, but one of the big favorites is catfish. Catfish are stocked by the thousands and often find their way on the ends of the poles of dozens of youngsters who fish off the covered pier. Last year, 6.500 were placed in the lake and this spring 8,000 more were stocked. The park has ended boat and canoe rentals for this year, but the lake is still open year-round for fishermen with their own boats.

There is no boat ramp so you have to be able to walk a boat down to the lake's edge, Bundy said. Gasoline motors are prohibited but electric trolling motors are allowed. But even without a boat you can catch fish from the pier or catch a glimpse of the surrounding green woodlands and the wildlife that lives there, said Steve Hamilton, lO.ofAntloch. "I like It because of the beautiful view and all the fish that are here that you can catch," said Hamilton, a student at Carter Lawrence Elementary School and the son of of Steve and Karen Hamilton. The view all around the lake Is Improving with the blooming of wildlflowers along the the paved trail.

But visitors often do not know what they are looking at, so park officials are putting together 8-lnch by 10-inch color renderings Identifying some of the 120 species of wlldflowers. Nort's: the right bait for fishermen 'Black Fair' origin traced to Gallatin By WARREN DUZAK if a Communities Writer PRIEST LAKE Nort's Market on Murfreesboro Road is often the first stop for anglers heading for Percy Priest Lake. With a full range of fishing tackle, the store also boasts one of the biggest if not the biggest retail bait business in the Midstate area. The store stocks everything from crickets and minnows to crayfish and shad. There are more kinds of fishing worms than you could ever imagine including red wigglers, night crawlers and the mysterious catfish favorite called the "buzzard worm." But the store's main commodity can't be put in a minnow bucket or slipped on a fishing hook, said the store owner, Clif Duckworth.

"Our Job is Information," said Duckworth, who is also a fishing guide. "Our customers buy bait but what they are looking for is information." To that end Duckworth and his employees, Including Mike Wheeler, are ready and willing with fishing information on Percy Priest. The store keeps a board with dally fishing information: what's biting, where to go, and what to use. Nort's wide selection of lures and live baits pales in comparsion, however, to the exotic career of the store's owner. Duckworth, whose father is an English Barrister, emigrated from Great Britian to the United States in 1972 after a more or less successful career holding something quite different that a six-foot graphite rod.

For several years, Duckworth made a living playing a bass fiddle By ROBERT RUCKER Communities Writer GALLATIN The Sumner County Colored Fair was a source of community pride. Recognized as the oldest Negro Fair In America, the event served as a vehicle for developing skills and exhibiting talent for residents of Sumner County and Gallatin, Tenn. The annual event began in the early 1860s and continued until the early 1970s. Printed documents of the fair provide evidence of an event which utilized organization skills and public relations skills. The fair organizers developed souvenir booklets for the annual event which was held during the last week of August Posters were used to adverise the activity.

Printed stationery, displaying names of organizers was developed. Printed self-addressed post cards were used as tools to help locate former Sumner County residents and inform them of the event. A typed constitution, developed by the directors of the fair, dated 1928, reads "the governing body of the Fair shall be known as the Sumner County Agricultural Fair Association." The purposes of the Fair, included "to better the condition of our people by encouraging them to be better farmers and businessmen, to encourage education, home improvemnt among our people along all lines that go to make good substanial citizenship." Two interviews were conducted with three Sumner County residents. They shared memories of first-hand experiences with the Fair. Foster Anthony and his wife Doris provided oral accounts of the fair.

They shared histolcal documents. Edward Anthony, Foster's father, was the Sumner County Fair Agricultural Association secretary from from 1928 until 1968. Dr. J. Deotha Malone, Gallatin vice mayor, supervisor of secondary education, and International students director, Sumner County Board of Education, shared personal memories of the fair from her childhood and professional life.

"The Fair served as a homecoming for many." He said people would mostly come from Louisville, Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit Doris Anthony, Foster's wife, said she assisted in keeping the records and tickets. Historical records show that "Colored Fairs" were developed in many other counties throughout the nation but Gallatin, Tenn. is recognized as "The Birthplace of America's First Negro Fair." 1 7 it' A 7 J.T.Philtip$ Staff Nort's Market owner GifT Duckworth sells some equipment to a Pennsylvania fisherman enroute to Percy Priest Lake. Duckworth also shared some tips on where to fish and which bait to use. The market is located at 1608 Murfreesboro Road.

with a band that toured the continent and played cruise ships. Duckworth said the band also provided the music for several stage plays Including Oliver! and Brigad oon. He came to the United States and began working for the Stop-N-Go convenience store chain. In a short time, he had been promoted to store manager. At the end of his 16-year stint with the chain, Duckworth had worked at stores in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

He had also risen to area manager with responsibility for 50 stores. Four years ago when Nort's Mar ket was up for sale he jumped at the chance of owning his own business. In the past four years, Duckworth has done his best to make the market a center for Percy Priest anglers. The market routinely opens at 4 a.m. for fishermen.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY SPORTS Judy Klein Is a customer service rep SADDLE CLUBS Horse ShOW set for Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at James E. Ward Agricultural Center (fairgrounds) in Lebanon. Riders from 34 area saddle clubs will compete for state titles.

Aug. 30 events will begin at 7 p.m. and will include speed racking, flat shod racking and style racking. Saturday's western events will start at 8 a.m. with 18 classes of competition including speed races and flag races.

Events start at 8 a.m. Sunday includes trail class, and Figure 8 flag race. Monday opens at 8 a.m. with barrel rescue and roping. resentative at sovran Bank, 120 East Main Murfreesboro.

The family moved to Murfreesboro five years ago for Judy's husband Mickey to accept a position with Nissan Motor Co. in Smyrna. They have MUSIC City Park had two teams place high In national womens fastpitch Softball tournaments. The Nashville Astros and Meeks Renegades finished first and second respectively In the regular season of the Music City Fastpitch Softball League and rather than compete against each other in post-season play, the teams decided to compete at different levels. The Renegades finished run-nerup In the ASA Class tournament while the Astros placed third in the ASA Class event.

On page 2 ANNUAL HOEDOWN Watertown Business Association members will hold their annual Hoedown from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 7 around the town Square. Craft booths, antiques, food, greased pole contest and games are planned.

Some booth space still available for rent. Little Mr. and Little Miss contests will be held. Live music and entertainment all day, evening dance. Broadway Dinner Train will leave Riverfront Park at 8 a.m.

Call 286-2243 or 444-5842 for booth rental information and 781-0262 for train informjption. i LABOR DAY Barbecue Dinner 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church In Hermitage.

Homemade Ice cream is special feature. Flea market, auction, kids games. Proceeds for new sanctuary roof. Call 889-0106. 7 C.

three children and KLEIN three grandchildren. I.