Parents who once enjoyed the adventure of canoing down the Little Tennessee River are now carrying on the 35-year tradition, sharing that adventure with their children.

The concept of an annual river float was begun by Dr. Lloyd Swift in 1976 in an effort to bring more aquatic programs to the local Boy Scouts. Over the years the program has grown to now include several towns in the region, including Franklin and Highlands, Hayesville, Clyde, Cherokee, and Waynesville. In this region alone, more than 700 kids are involved in scouts.

Little Tennessee Watershed Association needs volunteers to help with their 2011 Fish Biomonitoring Program.

Volunteers need to be 12 years old or older and reasonably fit.

Sampling occurs three to four days per week from May to August.

You can choose the day(s) you are able to help out.

The Macon County chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) is now selling tickets to its annual sponsor dinner banquet, set for May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at The Shriners Club Building at 833 Bethel Church Road, Franklin.

“This year will be our fifth annual banquet in Macon County. This year is a challenge for all due to the economy, but the Macon County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited feels that everyone will have a good time and get your money’s worth if you come out and help support our wildlife habitat conservation efforts through Ducks Unlimited,” said Macon County Chapter President Jack Morgan.

The event will feature a large assortment of auction items with raffles for art prints, wildlife sculptures, home furnishings, firearms etc. doorprizes, just too much to be able to mention everything. The menu is oysters and pork BBQ with the usual sides, drinks included.

The North Carolina state parks system has been named one of four finalists for the 2011 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced today.

As a finalist, North Carolina advances to the next round of consideration along with state parks systems in Florida, Missouri and Michigan, with a winner to be announced in October.

The National Gold Medal Award, which is administered by the National Recreation and Parks Association, is the most prestigious award a parks and recreation agency can receive and recognizes service excellence. The Gold Medal Award honors communities and states in the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and agency recognition. Each agency is judged on its ability to address the needs of those it serves through the collective energies of visitors, staff and elected officials.