 LITTLE
ROCK - The "Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs" program continues to reach
students in Arkansas schools with a comprehensive approach to angling.
HOFNOD promotes fishing, conservation projects and aquatic studies. It
also emphasizes community involvement in schools through local
volunteers and donors.
Faculty sponsors from 24 schools were recognized for outstanding
programs at four events this summer. These activities also included
additional training to enhance the HOFNOD material. Schools filed
reports with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on activities in the
2005-06 academic year.
Educators qualified for the summer events by organizing fishing derbies,
taking field trips, involving students in conservation activities, using
local volunteers and donors, teaching aquatic material and much more,
AGFC HOFNOD program coordinator Gordon Bagby said. "Teachers
participated in an electrofishing exercise at Rick Evans Grandview
Prairie Conservation Education Center in Columbus to learn how
biologists use the technique to manage fish populations. Others toured
Cook’s Lake at Casscoe to experience the bottomland hardwood ecosystem
in the White River National Wildlife Refuge," Bagby said.
 "Visits
to the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery in Centerton and the Greers
Ferry National Fish Hatchery in Heber Springs provided insights on fish
culturing practices. A stop at the Carl Garner Visitor Center in Heber
Springs gave an overview of the dam construction that created Greers
Ferry Lake and tailwater trout fishing in the Little Red River below the
dam. HOFNOD sponsors also learned practical tips on catching catfish at
each event to help improve student success rates at fishing derbies,"
Bagby added. “It is a privilege to work with such dedicated teachers,”
he said
“They sponsor the program for their students and make all of the special
arrangements because they truly care for the kids. Most people don’t see
all of the extra time and energy these teachers spend. The fact that
they make such sacrifices speaks volumes, and I am honored to work with
them,” Bagby explained
Schools and faculty sponsors honored were: Acorn High School (Kathy
Rusert and Chip McDonald), Atkins High School (Jimmy Dye), Batesville 6th-Grade
Campus (Glenita Anderson), Cabot High School (Brenda Early), Central
Junior High School in Springdale (Ron Duncan and Patrick Scott), Conner
Junior High School in McGehee (Carline Pearce), Bob Courtway Middle
School in Conway (Jerry Whitmore), Greenbrier High School (Cindy
Hartman), Hellstern Middle School in Springdale (Bill Spence), Holt
Middle School in Fayetteville (Jeff Courtway), Lakeside Middle School in
Lake Village (Susie Harrison), McNair Middle School in Fayetteville
(Dave Hunt), Mena Middle School (Janice Whorton, Nelda Doyal and Karlene
Hooker), Mineral Springs Elementary (Laurel McCarter), Mountain View
Middle School (Ron Willis and Michelle Turner), Murfreesboro Elementary
(Tracey Corbitt and Amy Westfall), Northside Elementary in Rogers (Linda
Jefferson), Oak Grove Elementary in Paragould (Judy Harmon), Pinkston
Middle School in Mountain Home (Joe Enich and Randy Barnhill), St.
John’s Lutheran School in Stuttgart (Janie Senko and Brenda Stewart),
Sutton Elementary in Ft. Smith (Janet Fretheim), Sylvan Hills Elementary
in Sherwood (Jill Smith and Jo Young), West Fork Middle School (Heather
Hayes) and Westside Elementary in Greenbrier (Linda Atkinson).
Schools interested in using the HOFNOD program can contact program
coordinator Gordon Bagby at 501-812-4686 |
