Boat testing, education offered around area as weather warms
As spring grows warmer and the end of the school year approaches, boat education tests, and some boating education courses are being offered across Middle Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1989 (and at least 11 years old) must pass a boat education test before they can operate a boat on Tennessee waters. It costs $10 to take the test.
Boat Safety Exam Permits must be obtained prior to a test. They can be obtained from any business where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
A boating course is not required to take a test, but boating education is taught by many volunteer groups, or can be learned by visiting various boat education websites. For more information, visit tnwildlife.org and click on the TWRA?s boating menu.
Warren County will offer boating safety classes at the Administrative Building on Locust St. on May 18, June 15 and July 6, from 6-8 p.m. each night. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
Another class is held at the Magness Memorial Library, on Mondays and Tuesday?s from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The following are other neighboring counties where boat education tests/courses can be taken.
Coffee County: Manchester Public Library; by appointment only 931-723-5143
Franklin County: Franklin County Library in Winchester; by appointment only ? 931-967-3706
Putnam County: Sheriff?s Dept.; May 16 (optional) Review 6:30 p.m., May 18 Test 6:30 P.m.
Rutherford County: Boating Safety Class, LaVergne Public Library; May 6th, 9:00 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m. $20.00 per student for the class call Mike Majka 615-429-2599 to register
Smyrna Public Library, 400 Enon Springs Rd. W.; by appointment only ? 615-459-4884
Linebaugh Public Library ? Murfreesboro; by appointment only ? 615-893-4131 ext. 119
‘
OFFICIALS HOPEFUL ABOUT BLACK BEAR
?We are hopeful that the black bear captured Sunday and tested Monday, April 17, 2006, is the one we suspected in the attack,? according to Ron Fox, Assistant Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
A second bear was trapped yesterday approximately one and a half miles from the site of the attack. It was a smaller male bear. Wildlife officials? present plans are to hold the bear alive, while forensic evidence of the first bear is examined. No plans are in place to euthanize any more bears at this time.
?We have checked the traps this morning, with no new captures,? according to Les Jones, TWRA area supervisor. ?We are in the process of removing all traps except those in the immediate vicinity of the attack.?
The University of Tennessee Veterinary School, in Knoxville, completed the necropsy late yesterday on the black bear suspected of killing a six year old girl and mauling the girl?s mother and two year old brother last Thursday afternoon near the Chilhowee campground in the Cherokee National Forest.
The examination showed that the bear weighed over 200 pounds and appeared to be in good body condition for a bear coming out of hibernation. Tests for rabies were negative. There was evidence of good fat deposits in the muscle tissue, according to the University of Tennessee Veterinary School findings, under the direction of Dr. Robert Donnell.
The samples gathered are being transported to the appropriate testing facilities for further forensic analysis. Wildlife officials hope that DNA comparisons will identify this bear conclusively as the attacker.
The U.S. Forest Service has temporarily closed the Chilhowee recreation area, the Parksville campground and several roads and trails in the vicinity of the attack. This closure is expected to remain in effect until the forensic analysis is completed and all baiting smells that could attract additional bears are clear of the area.
For further information, and latest updates, please check the TWRA web site at www.tnwildlife.org.