FINS, FEATHERS AND FUR

Cape Girardeau anglers were in the fishing spotlight during the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities Celebrity Invitational Pro-Am Bass Fishing Tournament, held recently at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in West Kentucky.

Jerry Davis, Cape Girardeau area McDonald's owner/operator, said the tournament was a big winner for children who will receive benefits from the proceeds. The event netted more than $8,000 for children's charities.

The top fishing winners in the tournament were the amateur father-and-son team of Bob and Scott Blank, of Cape Girardeau, who were fishing with pro Jim Poole of Kuttawa, a Kentucky Lake guide.

Poole and the Blanks brought in one of only two six-fish limits, a half-dozen keepers weighing a total of 14 pounds, 14 ounces.

Another pair of Cape Girardeau amateur anglers -- Dan Finch and Marvin Woodford -- teamed up with pro Teddy Wynn of Benton, Ky. The trio also reported in with six keepers, weighing a total of 13 pounds, 9 ounces, good for the runner-up position.

Finishing third in the tournament was the father-son team of Dave and Kevin O'Reilly of St. Louis, who teamed up with pro Robert Low of Murray, Ky. Fourth place went to the team of amateurs Ken Haney and Joe Dullinger, of Harrisburg, Ill., and pro angler Lloyd Brummett. Rounding out the top five teams were amateurs Will Kautz and Russell Wagner of Paducah, Ky., and pro Dale Smith of Paducah.

The largest bass caught during the tournament was a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass landed by Bill Brown of West Frankfort, Ill.

The sixth annual Coors Light Silver Buttle Drag Boat Nationals will be held at Wappapello Lake this weekend.

The activity starts Saturday morning and will run through Sunday afternoon.

Racing starts at 9 a.m. both days and will end about 5 p.m. each day.

More than 25,000 people are expected for the two-day races, to be held at the Redman Creek Recreation Area near the spillway.

The Missouri State Water Patrol is implementing a "boating" bumper sticker program. The program is an effort to increase awareness of the rising use of alcohol and drugs on our state waterways.

"Boating, Alcohol, and Drugs are Deadly Combinations" (BAD) is the topic of the program, which is a cooperative effort between the Water Patrol and Concerned Marine Dealers and Citizens for Safe Boating.

In 1993, 20 percent of alcohol and drug related accidents on Missouri waterways were fatal. The sticker program leads up to the theme of National Safe Boating Week, June 5th thru the 11th, "Boat Smart, Boat Safe, Boat Sober".

Bumper stickers are available from local Water Patrol Officers. They will be given to boaters that pass a boat "safety inspection", or ask for a Missouri Watercraft Manual.

The Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri recently announced the names of winners in a poster contest commemorating the 50th birthday of Smokey Bear.

Winners were: Sarah Craven, Mexico, first; David Rush, Archie, second; and Chelsie Savage, Lebanon, third. Honorable mentions went to: Craig Wilson, Hallsville; Lauren Fallert, Ste. Genevieve; and Jared Plassmeyer, Lebanon.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is among nine state agencies honored by Ducks Unlimited (DU) for leadership in waterfowl and wetland conservation.

DU presented its Gold Award to MDC for contributions totalling more than $1 million to Canadian habitat programs. The programs boost production of ducks and geese that migrate through Missouri.

DU Executive Vice President Matthew B. Connolly, Jr., presented the award at the 59th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Anchorage, Ala.

DU is the world's largest non-profit, private, international waterfowl and wetland organization. Since its inception in 1937, DU has raised more than $760 million to conserve more than 6.2 million acres of habitat in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Summer bathers who use the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge near Carbondale in Southern Illinois are going to have a couple fewer beaches to enjoy.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have decided not to open two beaches on Crab Orchard Lake, a move that is expected to save about $36,000 in maintenance costs.

"I've been asked to determine a 12 percent budget cut for the refuge," said refuge manager Rick Berry. "When you make these kinds of cuts, you're going to impact the services you can provide to the public."

The closed beaches are at Carterville and Lookout Point.

Ducks Unlimited will play host to nearly 400 local and regional events nationwide this year, aiming to raise more than $1 million for wetlands conservation through the national shooting program.

The eighth annual Ducks Unlimited Continental Shoot held recently in Atlanta raised nearly $200,000 for wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

Ducks Unlimited, headquartered at Memphis, Tenn. is the world's largest private sector waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization with more than 500,000 members. Since its formation in 1937, DU has raised more than $800 million and conserved more than 7.1 million acres of habitat in North America.

Banquets and auctions are held annual in the several Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri communities, including Cape Girardeau.

Robert Bauer Jr., Freeburg, Ill., established a new Illinois state record when he hauled in a 66-pound flathead catfish from the Kaskaskia River last month.

Bauer's fish was 53.5 inches long and had a 32.5-inch girth. He caught the fish on cut bait.

The fish broke the old record of 64 pounds, caught at Carlyle Lake in 1991.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers bird enthusiasts a packet of publications describing how to attract, feed and provide suitable homes for different species of birds.

The packet includes three brochures: Homes for Birds, Backyard Bird Feeding and Attracting Birds.

The packet is available by sending your name, address and 50 cents to: The Consumer Information Center, Department 370AA, Pueblo, Colo., 81009.