Each team can have up to two members. Registration fee is $150 per team.

Last year Ashley’s Angels helped 435 children.

To register or for more information, contact Martha and Glen Dye, 622 Sardis Lake Drive, Batesville, MS 38606 or (662) 563-4348.
    

District Commander Colonel Anthony Vesay implemented the ban, which will remain in affect until the Corps completes development of a national policy on this activity. The ban could become permanent.

"Our first priority is the safety of our visitors," Vesay said. "We constantly monitor activities which could cause injury or death. Our first line of defense is public education, followed by enforcement."

The ban affects the following waters in the Ark-La-Miss:
     – Lakes DeGray, Greeson and Ouachita
          (Arkansas)
     – Bayou Bodcau (Louisiana)
     – Lakes Sardis, Enid, Arkabutla, and Grenada
           (Mississippi)

Kite tubing is a new form of extreme water sport that emerged this year. Reports and news accounts from multiple states cited injuries and at least two deaths resulting from this new activity.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has classified kite tubing as ‘extremely dangerous.’ It has reportedly caused deaths and numerous injuries.

Kite tubes are large inflatables with a solid fabric floor in the bottom designed to be towed by a boat. As the tube is pulled forward from underneath, the front of the tube is lifted into the air. As speed increases, the entire tube is lifted into the air like a kite with the rider on top.

The lack of lateral stability and controls often results in the tube overturning or throwing the rider. Other Corps Districts have banned kite tubing from their lakes, citing the potential for serious injuries caused by uncontrolled flight of these devices.

Persimmon Hill upkeep
The Persimmon Hill Recreation Area, which is located on the south side of Enid Dam, has become one of the most popular campgrounds located at Enid Lake.

The Persimmon Hill Campground contains 72 Class A camping sites, two shower houses, a playground, and a multi-use trail. Constructed back in the early 1970’s the campground amenities have been long overdue for renovations to meet today’s demands of the larger campers, and recreational equipment such as boats, jet skis etc.

Over the past several months the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake has renovated the shower houses and 90 percent of the campsites in the Persimmon Hill Campground.

The Persimmon Hill Multi-Use Trail is a new amenity, which is being constructed at Persimmon Hill. The multi-use trail is a paved trail that is 3, 200 feet in length. The trail provides an excellent and safe place for our visitors to walk, jog, and ride bicycles.

The trail is accessible to the physically challenged. Motorized vehicles are restricted from the trail (exceptions include wheel chairs for people with disabilities). Visitors may access the trail from the campground or the boat ramp area.

The multi-use trail is lighted for those who enjoy evening walks and strolls or those who are trying to beat the heat. Plans are to add an amphitheater, interpretive stops, wildlife feeders, and additional landscaping.

For more information on Kite Tubing and the Persimmon Hill Campground please contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.
 

Northwest Missisippi Community College has announced the hiring of two new football coaches for the 2006 season. They are James Lott and Chris Jirgens.

Lott, who came to Northwest from Central Michigan University, will serve as co-defensive coordinator. Lott will also be the Rangers’ defensive backs coach.

Lott graduated from the University of Texas in 1992 where he lettered in both football and track for the Longhorns. Lott won five NCAA high jump titles during his collegiate career and was an alternate for the 1988 USA Olympic team. Lott was two-year starter on the Texas football team.

Lott signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 1989 and the Green Bay Packers in 1990.

A graduate of Refugio High School in Corpus Christi, Lott earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas and earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Midwestern State University.

Lott is married to the former Feyisetan Meeks of Chicago, Illinois. They have two daughters, Jasmyn and Falyn.

Jirgens is Northwest’s new offensive line coach and will coordinate the Ranger special teams.

Jirgens served six seasons as offensive line coach at Butler County Community College in Kansas from 2000 through 2006. In his six-year stint at Butler, 11 of Jirgens’ offensive linemen were selected All-American and 26 earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors.

Jirgens was a member of the Butler County coaching staff in 2003 when the Grizzlies claimed the NJCAA National Championship with a perfect record of 12-0. Butler County defeated Dixie State College 14-10 in the Dixie Rotary Bowl.

Jirgens’ other coaching experience came at Dodge City Community College in Kansas where he was offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons in 1999 and 2000.

A native of Toronto, Kansas, Jirgens played linebacker at Butler County in 1986-87, before finishing his playing career at Missouri Western State College in 1988-89.

A graduate of Eureka High School, Jirgens earned a journalism degree from Butler County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Kansas State University.

Lott and Jirgens were hired to replace Northwest coaches Tim Nickens and Ed Holly who left the school after one season. Nickens took the head coaching job at Independence High School, while Holly went into private business.

Beginning this season, all Northwest Mississippi Community College Thursday night home football games will begin at 6 p.m. The time change was announced by the school’s administration June 13.