By Sherman Shifflett Ferrum Junior College football coach, Hank Norton, often referred to his football players as "Dawgs." For some of the guys on the team, that nickname was well deserved. One time a player was injured during a scrimmage, and coach Norton turned to a manager and directed him to "Drag that 'dawg' off the field." Coach Norton had a pet dog, Chief, and I don't recall a single … [Read more...]

  By Nancy Brewer I’m passionate about many things and two are sunrises and sunsets.  I enjoy them the most on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  As I write this, I feel refreshed and renewed from four great days at the beach with my favorite person.  I rise early to greet the sun.  There are other “early birds” on the beach and some on decks waiting, … [Read more...]

  Jill Smith of Fluvanna County said that she has had a special visitor at her feeder for five days in a row – a Red-headed Woodpecker. That’s like seeing Elvis at the mall five trips in a row. Many confuse Red-headed Woodpeckers with the far more common, Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Red-bellied Woodpeckers indeed have a red head, but only partially. A Red-headed Woodpecker has a fire … [Read more...]

  Last week I wrote about Winter Cardinals and how majestic they were – a vivid cardinal red against the backdrop of white snow. Charles Crenshaw sent me a picture of a white cardinal, another beauty. I have never before seen a white cardinal, or mostly white. Some might think it to be an albino, but the cardinal in the picture is not an albino because albino birds and animals are entirely … [Read more...]

That’s what they are - mean bastards. There is no other way to describe them. I’m talking about those a…holes who leave a voice mail on your cell or land line that there has been a $400 or so charge to Amazon and that if you didn’t authorize it, to call them and give them your real credit card number and information so they can steal from you. They are mean bastards. They are not bilking an … [Read more...]

  “On the wings of a snow white dove He sends his pure, sweet love As a sign from above On the wings of a dove ”   A great song recorded by Ferlin Husky, Dolly Parton and others. Don Taylor of Farmville had a visit from a snow white dove over the holidays. Don said he wasn’t sure if it was a pigeon or albino dove. He tried to get close for a picture, but he said it was … [Read more...]

Despite all of 2020’s problems, it was a good fishing year in NC overall. Some days were tough, but we also had many great days on redfish, flounder, tarpon and false albacore. With the amount of small redfish around this year and combined with the flounder closure, next year should offer even better fishing. We currently have a flounder season in NC now which lasts 6 weeks for recreational … [Read more...]

My friend Beverly Carson called this week to ask my opinion about a freak thing that happened to her. Beverly lives out in the boonies, in the woods. Her house is about ¼ mile from the road and she always puts a cover over her automobile when it sits in. her driveway. But one morning she came out and saw that the top of her cover had been ripped to shreds, Not the hood, just the top, and she knew … [Read more...]

The James Since 1999 we have guided our home water, the James and know it well. Lynchburg is the southern-most stretch west of the fall line. We focus most closely on the stretches within 40 miles of Lynchburg in each direction. If you are looking to fish the James, we can guide you so you can enjoy its beauty as we work to put you on fish. The James is historically well-known for smallmouth … [Read more...]

  Donald Taylor has an interesting bird that comes to his feeder. I think it’s called a deerbird. While most birds fly to feeders, Donald’s visitor just walks right up and helps herself to a few seeds. Sometimes the deerbird comes during the day, sometimes at night. With deerbirds, you never really know. … [Read more...]