As the month of December gets underway many hunters will retreat from their deer stands and exchange their hunters orange safety vest and rifle for a pair of waders and a shotgun in hopes of harvesting a limit of ducks. As with all hunting activities safety should be top priority to all duck hunters.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake would like to remind all duck hunters to practice water and boating safety while duck hunting during the 2006-2007 waterfowl season.

The first item hunters should prepare for a hunt is a plan sometimes called a float or emergency plan. The plan should include where you will be hunting, how many will be in the party, departing and return times, and communication strategies in case you or a member of your party need to be reached. This plan should be left with a reliable person or persons in case emergencies should arise.

While preparing your boat, hunters should remember and check the capacity plate to ensure that the boat is not overloaded. Overloaded boats operate improperly and can capsize very easily.

Hunters should be sure and have a well lit boat, and always keep the floor free from tripping hazards including guns, waders, decoys, and decoy bags. While loading your boat distribute the weight evenly throughout the boat, and ensure all navigational lights are working properly.

When motoring to your duck blind always wear a life jacket. Never wear waders while operating or riding in a boat. Hunters and dogs should always remain seated in a boat. If one must move stay in the center of the boat, and keep a low center of gravity.

Keep your boat near the shoreline and avoid crossing large areas of open waters especially during severe weather. While operating in shallow water or at night, post an observer who is familiar with the area. This will ensure a safe and pleasant navigation to and from the duck blind.

Other tips duck hunters should keep in mind are to always familiarize yourself with an area if you plan on wading while hunting. Always wade slowly and check the depth of the water and pathway with a stick or something in the directions of travel.

Last but most importantly always wear a life jacket while hunting in or around water. You never know what may be lying beneath the water surface including: stumps, debris, holes, etc.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to remind all duck hunters that duck hunting is permitted on Enid Lake. All rules and regulations set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks must be followed at all times.

Duck hunters wanting to construct a duck blind on Enid Lake may apply for a duck blind permit at the Enid Lake Field Office. Permits are $5.00 per year and are automatically revoked on 1 March. Blinds found not displaying a valid permit by the first day of duck season will be immediately removed or destroyed and efforts will be made to prosecute the builder or user of the blind.

Remember duck hunting can be exciting and thrilling, but it can be very dangerous. With cold temperatures and freezing water, hunters should take every precaution possible to ensure a safe and successful hunt. Remember, a successful hunt is not determined by the amount of game harvested, but is deemed successful after returning home to family and loved ones.

For more information on duck hunting safety tips or duck at Enid Lake please contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.

North Delta has revised its basketball schedule (below) to include the varsity girls team which was organized after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The school had originally decided not to field a team with newly hired coach Phil Douglas, but students finally came forward to participate and push the program forward this year.

Richard Kappenman is the head coach.

The team did not have a good showing its first few games against Marshall on November 27 and lost 42-11. Tuesday, November 28 they lost to Kirk Academy 61-8 and again to Kirk 44-15 on December 4.

JH Girls
The junior high girls continue to put their best foot forward. The seventh grade girls are 7-0. The eighth and ninth grade girls are 6-8. Of those eight losses, six were lost by six or less points.

"We could easily be 12-2 right now," said head coach Phil Douglas. "Marshall Academy, which is the best team in the northern part, beat us by two the first time and four the last time."

The only team they were "blown out" by was Magnolia Heights by 26 points. Marshall has defeated Magnolia Heights two times this season.

Tuesday against Kirk Academy, North Delta lost 24-21. Green Wave starter Madison Greenlee was out, who is one of the leading starters.

Scoring against Kirk for North Delta were Lauren Kimzey, nine points; Linsey Hebert, five points; and Bradi Beard, four points.

"We were tit for tat all the way through," Douglas said. "We made a little run on them in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 9-5.

"Defense has been the strong point in our team, the pressure," Douglas continued. "We have to make improvements in our offense and get more consistent with our scoring.

For the season so far, Kimzey leads in scoring with 5.8 points per game, hitting 42.9 percent from the floor. She also leads in steals with 30.

Also leading in steals are Sara Waldrip with 26 and Samantha Massoth with 23.

Wadrip is the rebound leader with 5.7 per game, followed by Massoth with 3.1 per game.

Varsity Boys
The varsity Green Wave boys have posted a 2-4 record so far this season.

The boys lost to Kirk Tuesday 66-50. Leading scorers for the Green Wave were Brandon White, 14 points, followed by Evan West with 12 points.

Head coach Herman Coats said these two are leading the team in scoring so far in this young season. On defense Coats said Taylor Herron has been leading the Green Waves.

The Green Wave will be back in action today to host Marvell beginning at 3 p.m. with the seventh grade girls and boys. All teams will play.

Monday, the teams will travel to Tunica to take on Tunica Institute of Learning in district play beginning at 4 p.m. with the junior high games.

The South Panola Tiger basketball team is 4-4 on the season after dropping a 47-41 decision to Horn Lake Tuesday night.

Junior guard Antonio Allen has been averaging 24 points per game and has been carrying the team pointwise, according to head coach Charlie Howard.
Tuesday, Allen was the leading scorer with 16 points against the Eagles. His highest score this season was 29 points in the J.Z. George Tournament before the holidays.

It was a back and forth game between the two district teams, but Horn Lake finally dominated in the third quarter.

Horn Lake led 16-12 after the first quarter, but the Tigers outscored them 13-7 in the second quarter to take a 25-23 halftime lead.

The third quarter was all Horn Lake as they outscored the Tigers 15-8 for a 38-35 lead going into the fourth quarter. It was still anybody’s game. The two teams did not score much in the fourth quarter, but kept each other on edge. Horn Lake edged the Tigers 9-8 in the fourth quarter.

Also scoring for the Tigers were Regan Bailey, 11 points; Michael Broadnax, six points; Nick Johnson, five points; and Brandon Martin, three points.

In the Southaven Tournament held last week, South Panola defeated Greenville 51-41 on November 27. Allen scored 22 points and Bailey scored 19.
On November 30 in the tournament, South Panola defeated Senatobia 55-42. Allen was the only Tiger in double figures and he scored 27 points.

On December 2 in the tournament, South Panola met Independence and won in a 51-25 blow out. Allen was below his average with 19 points, followed by Bailey with 14 points.

The Tigers will be at Charleston tonight for non-district action.

They return home for two games next week. Tuesday, December 12 they will host Senatobia in non-district action at 6 p.m. Thursday, they will host Olive Branch in four big district games beginning at 4 p.m.

This will be the last game before the Christmas holiday break.

Any one of five South Panola Lady Tigers has the hot hand for scoring on any given night.

Scoring in double figures for the Lady Tigers so far this season are Skylar Barnes, Sabrina Townsend, Tenisha Mitchell, Kim Sanford and Vetorra Cole.

The Lady Tigers, 6-4 overall, 1-0 district) participated in the Southaven Tournament last week and won one of three games.

They lost to Greenville 41-38 on November 27. Leading scorer was Skylar Barnes with 16 points, followed by Sabrina Townsend with eight.

On November 30 in the tournament, the Lady Tigers lost to Senatobia 50-30. Townsend led the Lady Tigers scoring 13 points.

In the December 2 game against Independence, South Panola won 41-31. Townsend led with 19 points.

Tuesday, December 5, the Lady Tigers handily won their first district game against Horn Lake 67-44.

The Lady Tigers led 22-3 at the end of the first quarter. Horn Lake got back in the game in the second quarter and both teams scored 18 points for a 40-21 Lady Tiger lead at halftime.

Horn Lake held the Lady Tigers to eight points in the third quarter, while scoring 17 to cut the lead to 10 going into the fourth quarter, 48-38 Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers finished out strong in the fourth quarter scoring 18 points and holding Horn Lake to six.

Barnes was the game high scorer with 22 points. Other Lady Tigers scorers include Townsend, 13 points; Sanford, 12 points; and Mitchell, 10 points.

The Lady Tigers will be back in action tonight at Charleston for non-district action beginning at 6 p.m.

They will be home Tuesday and Thursday for the last games before the holiday season.

Tuesday, they will host Senatobia beginning at 6 p.m. and Thursday, Olive Branch in district action beginning at 4 p.m.

Short Sleeve for Youth Med and Youth Large,
Adult Small, Medium, Large and X-Large – $14

Short Sleeve for XX-Large and XXX-Large – $15

Long Sleeve for YM, YL, AS, AM, AL AXL – $15

Long Sleeve for Adult XXL and AXXXL – $16

To order go to South Panola High School.