2019 Smithville Lake Pilot

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Smithville

Lake 2019 LAKE PILOT Recreation & Community Guidebook ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Detailed Lake Map Fishing Forecast Events & Attractions Boating Amenities & Rules Trails, Campsites & Shelters Important Numbers And More!

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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INDEX

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

COMMUNITY GUIDE Welcome message from the mayor........................6 Smithville at a glance ............................................7 A thriving lake town with ‘Yankee’ origins..............8 Smithville pilots Missouri EATS ..........................14 Schools have Warrior pride .................................15 See & Do.............................................................16 Calendar of Events ..............................................20 Nearby attractions provide entertainment ............24 Visitor center shows spectrum of lake .................27 Recreation, conservation follows floods ..............28

BOATING Marinas keep boaters moving along....................46 Know your life jackets before boating ..................48 Types of personal flotation devices......................48 Kayaking adventure awaits ..................................49 Boat rental and dock fees ....................................50 Boat ramp locations ............................................50 Be a good sport and manage your wake ..............51 Free vessel checks ..............................................51 Clean the boat, avoid invasive species ................52 Safety key when towing skiers .............................53

FISHING 2019 forecast looks promising for fishing ...........30 Fishing gear for beginning anglers......................34 Have some manners when it comes to fishing ....35 New length and possession regulations in effect for crappie at Smithville Lake .................36 Smithville Bassmasters share fervor for fishing ..38 Don’t get caught without a fishing license ...........40 Test out fishing by checking out fishing poles.....40

RECREATION These golf terms are par for the course ...............54 Golf trivia ............................................................54 Tee up a good time on lake courses ....................55 Take a shot with disc golf ....................................56 Going up: Dambusters take fun to new heights ...56 Lake fun includes trapshooting ...........................57 Soak up sun on sand...........................................58 Protect your family from sun’s harmful rays ........59 Sleep lakeside .....................................................60 Safety tips keep campfires fun .............................61 Try a scenic walk .................................................62 Experience the lake from a different view .............64 Saddle club provides social environment ............64 Fast, flowy ride awaits mountain bikes ................65 Play on: Parks abound ........................................66 Pet rules ..............................................................67 Gather with friends in the shade of a shelter ........68

BOATING There’s no boating without certification ...............42 Stay safe, stay sober when boating......................42 Know the rules for personal watercraft.................43 Buoys ..................................................................43 LAKE MAP Map of Smithville Lake.................................. 44-45

HUNTING Missouri Department of Conservation statewide hunting seasons ..................................70 Get that hunting permit........................................71 Hunting restricted in Honker Cove ......................71 Hunter safety stressed in Show-Me State ............72 Spring turkey hunt begins in April.......................73 MDC goes mobile with 3 free apps .....................74 Shed antlers are legal to own ..............................75 NATURE & CONSERVATION Nature provides entertainment value for all ........... 76 Who was Jerry L. Litton? .....................................77 Theater available to rent ......................................77 Grassland project restores flora, fauna ................78 Don’t move firewood ...........................................79 Mosquitoes don’t have to squelch a good time ...80 Beware of ticks when enjoying the outdoors........81 Clean up after lake fun.........................................81 How to identify poison ivy ...................................82 Outdoor enthusiasts can protect the environment.... 83 SAFETY & PREPAREDNESS Take cover in severe weather ...............................84 Are you ready for the next season? ......................84 Safety an important component of hiking ............85 Emergency & helpful numbers ............................86

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS AUTOMOTIVE Hunt’s Car Care ................................2 Kindred Chevrolet ..........................73 Platte City Airport DODGE/Chrysler/ Jeep/Ram .........................................5 Pro Carwash ..................................33 Worth Harley-Davidson ..................17 Wright Automotive .........................87 BOATS / CAMPERS / RVs Liberty RV ......................................55 Shoreline Boat & RV Repair .............3 Smithville Marine ...........................79 U.S. Boatworks...............................67 CHURCH Emmanuel Bible Church.................74 Family Worship Center...................19 Paradise United Methodist Church ... 72 ENTERTAINMENT / RECREATION American Legion Post 58 ...............72 Clay County Tourism......................37 K.C. Trapshooters Association .......49 Ladoga Ridge Winery .....................25

Paradise Pointe Golf Complex........27 FISHING / HUNTING Atchison Outfitters......................... 43 Burton’s Bait & Tackle ....................83 Triple J Guns ..................................47 GROCERY Cosentino’s Price Chopper .............88 Paradise Locker Meats ...................29 HOME IMPROVEMENT / LAWN & GARDEN Boss Sheds ....................................41 Coulter Excavating ........................ 59 Greene’s Excavating........................76 Jamesport Builders ........................13 Major Lumber ................................68 Morton Buildings ...........................21 Pack’s Neighborhood Hardware......57 Pence Heating & Cooling ...............68 Picture Perfect Lawn Care Services..... 11 Workman Fencing & Construction.... 64 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES ABC-123 Learning Center ..............53

Courier-Tribune ..............................80 Law Office of James P. Deffet..........39 Grants Repair .................................71 Main Line Taxi................................64 Platte Valley Bank...........................57 Smithville Dental ............................65 State Farm - Dennis Brewer............31 REAL ESTATE Hanks Realty ..................................70 Show-Me Real Estate .....................65 Show-Me Real Estate - Tammy Liber.. 69

STORAGE 169 Storage....................................33 MT Boat Storage ............................29 Paradise Boat & RV Storage .............7 RV Storage .....................................63 Waits High & Dry Self Storage .......85 VETERINARIAN Brisbane Veterinary Services..........57 Lakeside Mobile Veterinary Clinic ..51

RESTAURANTS Chop’s BBQ & Catering ..................35 Family Traditions Cafe....................81 KoZak’s Laketown Grill ...................47 Pizza Shoppe..................................77 SHOPPING Cuckoo Charlie’s Clocks ................66 Jeans Flowers & Gifts ....................66 Pony Designs .................................74 Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce..9 The Arc Shoppe..............................70 Trex Mart ........................................75

C OU R I E R T R I BU N E

The 2019 Lake Pilot is published by the Courier-Tribune, a division of NPG Newspapers, Inc. 104 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068.

(816) 454-9660 | MyCourierTribune.com

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Welcome to Smithville!

A message from the mayor

Smithville truly is “Thriving Ahead!”

In April 2018, voters approved several bond-supported projects, which are underway and improve our community immensely.

These include significant enhancements to the downtown streetscape, including new streets, lighting Mayor Damien Boley and Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks. Smithville has a variety of shopping and dining options downtown and along U.S. Highway 169, and we invite you to enjoy them when you visit.

Several key bridges in Smithville have been replaced in the past year, improving access. On the southern part of town, improvements to Amory Road and the bridge there have improved east and west access. The Missouri Department of Transportation replaced the bridge over the Little

Platte River, extending Main Street to Smithville Lake. This portion of road used to be referred to as Highway DD but was renamed Main Street. Ongoing improvements to Second Creek Road make access to Smithville Lake and residential areas safer and easier.

While some major projects have been completed, others are just beginning.

The Main Street Trail will be an 8-footwide multi-use trail on Main Street from Liberty Road to Litton Way to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle travel from downtown Smithville to Smith’s Fork Park at Smithville Lake. A sidewalk is planned along Commercial Street.

This project will build a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on Commercial Street south from Missouri Highway 92 to Shamrock Way and southeast to connect to the existing subdivision sidewalks to safely facilitate pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

These projects are scheduled to be constructed during spring and summer of 2019. ”Thriving Ahead” doesn’t erase our history or community traditions. The city’s Courtyard Park stays busy with

many annual events, some which have a long history, some of which are very new. The events cover a multitude of interests for residents and visitors. The event season generally starts off with Larson’s Cruise for a Cause in May and continues through October with a wide variety of events. Some of the annual events include Hot Summer Nights concerts, outdoor free movie nights, Chamber of Commerce BBQ contest, Octoberfest and an Old Fashioned Street Faire. Check out the Calendar of Events in this publication or contact City Hall at (816) 532-3897 to find dates for these events and any others that may be added.

With Smithville’s proximity to the lake, we have amenities available not always found in a small community: Smith’s Fork Park provides camping and hiking opportunities.

Come visit Smithville! We believe that if you come once, you’ll come back again and again.

Damien Boley, Mayor of Smithville

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Smithville at a glance ❯❯Population: 9,800 ❯❯Median household income: $75,228 ❯❯Median home price: $176,300 ❯❯Homes owned: 79% ❯❯Homes rented: 21% ❯❯Median monthly rent: $883 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Courier-Tribune Photo

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Smithville

A thriving lake town with ‘Yankee’ origins The motto of Smithville is “Thriving Ahead,” and that it does. It has over $10 million in construction slated to begin. It’s been a difficult journey, but at the start of spring the small community will reap the benefits.

Based on the 2010 Census, Smithville’s population was 8,425, reflecting a growth of 50 percent in 10 years. The current population is nearly 10,000, and hundreds of homes are being built within the community, suggesting it

will continue to grow.

Smithville’s location, nestled along Smithville Lake, makes it a destination stop for shopping, day tripping, and for outdoor and water activities.

The city is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 169 and Missouri Highway 92, north of Kansas City. Having this access point provides ease of access for those traveling to or from Smithville.

Smithville is regularly listed as a great place to live, not only due to easy highway

access but also because of its low crime rate and exceptional schools.

Law enforcement jurisdictions in the city and at the lake include the Smithville Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rangers and the Missouri Conservation Department.

Additionally, both the Smithville Area Fire Protection District and Northland Regional Ambulance District

Courier-Tribune Photo

Eventgoers pack the streets of downtown Smithville.

serve as first responders to those living in the community.

Downtown Smithville is a constant attraction to area families and visitors. Named a historic district, the area hosts several community events throughout the year at Courtyard Park. This year, visitors are invited to enjoy new district amenities such as a new streetscape design, added businesses and a memorial to the lives lost on 9/11.

Development One of the most impactful developments completed in 2018 was the construction of a third elementary school

by Smithville School District.

Eagle Heights Elementary School paved the path to a new organization of public education in the community.

Maple, Horizon and Eagle Heights elementary schools all enroll kindergarten through sixth grades. With the opening of Eagle Heights last fall, the local school district moved away from having primary and upper elementary schools and moved sixth-graders out of the middle school. Smithville Middle School serves seventh and eighth grades, while Smithville High School continues to serve ninth through 12th grades.

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Early History Smithville, incorporated 151 years ago, has humble beginnings. The area was first settled by Humphrey “Yankee” Smith, who came in the spring of 1822 and in 1824 built the first flour mill in Clay County on a fork of the Platte River, according to the Smithville Historical Society. The mill, called Smith’s Mill, which later provided the city’s namesake, was located in the 200 block of Bridge Street.

“With something of a Yankee enterprise and shrewdness, Smith located where he did and built his mill in order to catch the patronage of the government Indian agencies Courier-Tribune Photos in the Platte County,” states The 9/11 Memorial Rail is coming out of the darkness reaching toward the sky. It is positioned at an angle so “1855 History of Clay and rain water can wash down and create what looks like a tear created from the mixture of water and rust from the Platte Counties, Missouri.” rail staining a mark on the pavement.

The 1855 history continues, “Also the custom of The 9/11 Memorial Rail is the Director Jack Hendrix said.

Also in 2018, the city the settlers who, he rightly only memorial in the Kansas Different groups have began a streetscape project conjectured, would push out inquired about building City area containing a piece in the Historic Downtown in considerable numbers to commercial and residential of wreckage from the Twin District. There are new the extreme frontier. ... Smith’s spaces near the new Eagle Towers site in New York City. streetlights and city signs, dwelling house, a log cabin, Heights Elementary School, Slated for 2019, Heritage roads have been repaved, was built on the south side sidewalks are Americans With Park in the historic district is he added. of Main Street where Liberty The city is also undergoing Road turns south, and east of Disabilities Act compliant and receiving new equipment and a massive sewer upgrade more parking is being added. a walking trail that will conthe road.” costing more than $7 million. nect the park to Smithville With this facelift, business Katherine Stafford, presiCity Administrator Cynthia Lake. Other park additions owners have begun making dent of the Smithville Historical Wagner said this is the largupdates to their buildings as will include edible foliage to Society, said there are est construction project in Wildflower Park, new dewell. remnants of Native American Smithville history.

New businesses that have velopments for single- and cultures existing in Smithville Hendrix added the ideal multi-family housing including recently joined the comolder than the ancient goal, which will be decades The Ville, The Ranch, Hills munity downtown include Egyptians. from now, is to create an Kennedy’s Family Restaurant of Shannon and others, in In Smithville, visitors will all-gravity sewer system. This come across many historical addition to the beginning and Little Platte Distillery, would remove lift stations stages of construction at billed as Clay County’s first homes like the Patterson from the system, saving the Smithville Marketplace and “small batch, handcrafted,” House, which William Henry breaking ground for a new RV city thousands of dollars ev- Patterson built. The house moonshine distillery. ery year while increasing the features walls of solid brick, storage facility, both along A new monument has capacity. The current project made on site, according to the U.S. Highway 169. been erected downtown as will remove three of 34 lift historical society’s website “I get calls about retail,” a tribute to the lives lost in states. Wood for the house stations.

Smithville Development the 2001 terrorist attacks.

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came from local walnut and cherry trees.

By the time Patterson, a former New Yorker, turned 18, he decided to come west and lived and worked with family in Weston and in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Following the Civil War in 1867, Patterson, a southern sympathizer, returned to Smithville. He purchased Patterson’s Mill in 1868 and built his home 20 years later. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1891, but Patterson built a new mill that endured until 1912 as Eagle Flouring, Grist and Saw Mills.

According to local historians, Frank and Jesse James used to stay in the Patterson House, 210 N. Bridge St. Historian Frank Justus said the Jameses would stay in Katherine Patterson’s room, where there was a good view of the bridge and horses. Justus said Frank always chose this room so if law enforcement was coming he could see them and make a quick getaway.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Frank Justus

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Courier-Tribune Photo

A historical view of the Patterson House on The historic Patterson House is at 210 N. Bridge Bridge Street. The house is one of several tied St. in Smithville. to the city’s earliest days.

The home now houses historical documents and discoveries in addition to a bed-and-breakfast.

Another historical home is the Apollo House, also known as the Apollo Temple, 206 Main St. Built in 1904, this home belonged to Chester M. Evans and his family. It stands topped with a statue of the Greek god Apollo. The statue is a

symbol of the Apollo Lithia Bottling Works that once called the house home.

The business was named by Alice Evans for the Greek god of healing after personally using the Lithia water from Smithville.

Healing natural waters was very common theme with early Clay County residents.

“In the early 1890s, Mrs. Evans had undergone an operation and was advised

by Dr. Griffin of Kansas City to ‘go home

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Waterfowl Refuge at Smithville Lake today.

The lake controls a drainage area of 213 square miles, providing flood protection for Smithville and 8,500 rural acres in the Platte River Basin.

Currently, Smithville Lake is a 7,200-acre lake with more than 175 miles of shoreline.

The lake itself is located just 20 miles from downtown Kansas City and includes two swim beaches, more than 770 campsites, reservable shelters, two full-service marinas including boat rentals, public golf courses, four disc golf courses, 25 miles of walking/biking trails, 11 miles of single-track mountain biking trails, 26 miles of equestrian trails and 2,300 acres of native grassland.

and drink beer or lithia water to avoid further operations.’ ... one day (her husband) C.M. Evans said to her, ‘Let’s try that water in Smith’s well.

It tastes the same as you’ve been buying.’ They tasted and tested the water and found it to be lithia water of excellent quality. Evans bought the property from Erastus Smith and started manufacturing soda pop and bottling lithia water,” states a 1963 article of the Liberty Tribune. The factory closed in 1942.

Flooding While exploring the historic district, visitors may notice a big blue strip of paint marking the flood line of 1965.

Much of Smithville’s history has been forged through flooding due to its proximity to Little Platte River and other waterways.

Records attributed to Justus and the historical society in a book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1965 flood lists major flooding in the city during the years of 1844, 1853, 1877, 1904, 1915, 1929, 1947, 1951, 1964, 1965, 1973 and finally in 1977.

The most harrowing flood on record, which wiped out much of downtown, was the flood of 1965. During the natural disaster, water reached 12-foot levels in the historic district.

“For Smithville, the flood of 1965 was one of those times that would change the course of the community forever,” the book states. Additionally, Little Platte River reached 44.8 feet, 21.5 feet above the flood stage.

City government

Courier-Tribune Photo

This line, marked outside a downtown building in honor of the city’s 150th anniversary, shows the height of the water that ravaged downtown Smithville in the great flood of 1965. Constant issues with flooding prompted the creation of Smithville Lake with construction beginning in 1972.

The flood caused swift water to flow throughout downtown, trapping some people and killing one. About 200 homes were badly damaged, while 46 were destroyed.

Nearly 70 businesses had flood damage as well, not to mention the five churches, the high school, city water supply pumping stations, sanitary lagoon and other properties.

Man-made Lake Plans for a dam had been in the works for some time following years of chronic flooding.

Congress finally authorized the creation of Smithville lake in 1965 as a multipurpose project for flood reduction, water supply, water quality control, recreation and fish and wildlife conservation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still maintains the Honker Cove

Smithville is governed by an elected mayor and six-member Board of Aldermen with two members elected from each of three wards. In April 2018, Smithville Mayor Damien Boley was elected to his first term in office. Serving with him are Aldermen Josh Hurlbert and Melissa Wilson in Ward 1, John Chevalier Jr. and Steve Sarver in Ward 2, and with Marvin Atkins and Jeff Bloemker in Ward 3.

Smithville also hired a new city administrator in 2018, Cynthia Wagner, in addition to a new assistant city administrator, Nickie Lee. The board and mayor generally meet for open meetings the first and third Tuesday of the month at City Hall, 107 W. Main St. To contact City Hall, call (816) 532-3897 or email cityhall@smithvillemo.org.

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Smithville pilots Missouri EATS Metro Creative

Missouri EATS will teach community members the importance of community gardens and processes behind what people eat.

By Sean Roberts sean.roberts@mycouriertribune.com

Several parks throughout Smithville will lead the pilot program for Missouri EATS — Engage-Act-Transform — involving the planting of edible landscaping in parks throughout the city, starting with Wildflower Park.

In partnership with the University of Missouri Extension, this program will teach community members the importance of community gardens and processes behind what people eat.

Wildflower Park is 8 acres of undeveloped land located near Eagle Heights Elementary School within the subdivision near 188th Street along Eagle Parkway.

Smithville Mayor Damien Boley said it is a great location because it is near a lot of family homes and on the way to Eagle Heights Elementary for those seeking a snack while walking along newly installed sidewalks.

“The Missouri EATS program is firing up right now,” Boley said. “(The University of Missouri Extension) reached out to the entire state and said, ‘we want to find three to fi ve cities that want to focus on food sustainability, food education, nutrition, an entire cycle.’”

Boley explained there are classes involving students at Eagle Heights Elementary in addition to the Missouri Extension sponsoring students to come work the community gardens and

tracking data. Also, the city benefi ts, whether it be Chop’s Barbecue teaching students how to can pickles and then serving the fresh product on burgers or businesses selling produce at the Farmers and Makers Market from a community garden they’ve planted.

“The time line on that is a three- to fi ve-year plan,” Boley said. “And it is a pilot program. It’s going to be rough, it isn’t going to be easy, but we are going to work through it and that is one of the reasons they chose Smithville … just Smithville.”

Boley said after working with the Extension, program leaders decided to put all efforts and resources in Smithville rather than dividing the pilot program across communities.

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Schools have Warrior pride Smithville R-II School District Warriors continue to grow and thrive with the community. Recent additions include Eagle Heights Elementary School, which opened in September 2018, plus a plethora of advancements and additions to existing buildings.

In 2018 the district’s Annual Performance Report ranked Smithville with a 99.6 percent, the highest among school districts in the Northland of the Kansas City metro area. The quality of Smithville schools continue to draw people to the community.

The district has an enrollment of about 2,600 in kindergarten through 12th grade and an additional 57 in pre-K programming. Growth is predicted to continue based on building permits for single-family homes being issued by the

city every month.

With the addition of a third elementary school, the district serves kindergarten through sixth-grade students in the elementary schools, seventh- and eighthgraders at the middle school and ninththrough 12th-graders at the high school.

❯❯ Horizon Elementary School — 695 S. Commercial Ave.; (816) 532-4566 ❯❯ Eagle Heights Elementary School — 18801 Eagle Parkway; (816) 532-5959

Mission Statement

Building on a tradition of excellence, the mission of the Smithville School Schools District, located in a growing lakeside ❯❯ District Office and Early Childhood community, is to educate all students Center — Administrative offices and in a premiere learning environment Pre-K; 655 Commercial Ave.; (816) and to develop students to serve as 532-0406 proactive, compassionate leaders in ❯❯ Smithville High School — 645 S. an interconnected world by providing Commercial Ave.; (816) 532-0405 rigorous and meaningful opportunities for ❯❯ Smithville Middle School — 675 S. each student to reach his or her unique Commercial Ave.; (816) 532-1122 and full potential while being good ❯❯ Maple Elementary School — 600 Maple stewards of our resources and investing in quality staff.

Ave.; (816) 532-0589

Courier-Tribune Photo

Smithville High School recently received an addition expanding the cafeteria and adding new science classrooms.

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See & Do

The Best “Dam” Barbecue Contest at Smithville Lake

Springs at the lake bring savory specials. Every April, this year being hosted April 12 and 13, barbecue enthusiasts join to compete at the Best Dam Barbeque Contest near Smithville Lake Dam at Crow’s Creek Campground, 5612 Crow Creek Road.

The annual event, sponsored

by Temperance Masonic Lodge No. 438, is a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contest.

At stake is $4,000 in cash prizes divided between grand champion, reserve champion and the top five winners of each category. The categories are beef, pork, ribs, chicken and the ancillary competition category of side dish and dessert.

There are at least 25 teams competing in the 2019 championship. For the past two years, Dirt Road BBQ has taken the title.

Those interested in competing for the crown can register a team by visiting www.thebestdambbqcontest.com.

All money generated goes to fund local scholarships.

Nehemiah Fest & Christian Family Day Nehemiah Fest is a threeday festival of camping, fellowship and live Christian music,

Courier-Tribune Photo

Christian rock bands performs at Nehemiah Festival at Smith Fork’s Campground near Smithville Lake. The annual event brings 50 bands to four stages to celebrate Christian unity and fellowship.

bringing 50 bands to four stages along Smithville Lake each summer. Artist submissions will be accepted between April 15 through May 31.

This year’s free festival will be Sept. 13 through 15 at Smith’s Fork Park. Campsites are available for a fee.

The production and site costs for the event are funded through donations, sponsorships vendor fees and camping fees. To apply as a vendor, to

volunteer, to reserve a campsite or to view the line-up, visit nehemiahfest.com.

Nehemiah Fest was first held in 2004 to promote Christian unity in and around Kansas City’s Northland. The annual event features parking shuttles, camping, a disc golf tournament called Nehemiah Fling, a petting zoo, merchandise booths, food and other vendors.

A prequel to the festival is

Christian Family Fun Day, which will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

July 27 in Courtyard Park in the middle of downtown. For additional details, visit www.christianfamilyday.org.

Lilies War: Life and Times of William the Marshal Entertainment from the Middle Ages lands at the Kelsey Short Camp with the War of the Lilies battling it out at Smithville Lake.

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Courier-Tribune Photo

Lilies War Episode XXXIII: Life and Times of William the Marshal will be at Smithville Lake June 7 to 16.

This summer, like many before, will see hundreds of people dressed as knights and merchants, drawing guests back in time to enjoy medieval activities during the Lilies War Episode XXXIII: Life and Times of William the Marshal.

This event, from June 7 to 16, is hosted annually at Kelsey Short Youth Camp, located within the Kelsey Short Outdoor Education campus, found on the east side of Smithville Lake, off Collins Road. Many of the participants hail from the Society for Creative Anachronism and its central U.S. regional group, the Kingdom of Calontir, which

covers Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and northwest Arkansas.

Divided into three large camping areas, Kelsey Short offers plenty of wooded space between each site. Sites are available to youth groups by reservation only. Any youth group wishing to enjoy adventure outdoors surrounded by conservation and wildlife can contact the Clay County Parks Department at (816) 407-3400 for details on reserving an area.

Every year, the Lilies War is packed full of activities such as a week of battles, tournaments, classes, archery,

medieval games, shopping, and nights of singing, dancing and reveling.

For more information on how to become involved visit lilieswar.org or calontir.org.

Matt Mason Memorial Cowboy Up Triathlon.

The Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City was established in 1994 to inspire girls and women through “advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports WIN for KC Triathlon and fitness, while providing and Duathlon & opportunities for participation Matt Mason Memorial and leadership development.

Cowboy Up Triathlon Whether you’re a woman try- WIN is a volunteer, membership-driven organization ing to stay in shape and support other women or you want that operates as a program under the umbrella of Kansas to help and support military heroes while breaking a sweat, City Sports Commission and Foundation,” according to the Smithville Lake offers somegroup’s website. thing for you in the summer The annual event features with the WIN for KC Triathlon running, biking and swimming and Duathlon in addition to the

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with all female competitors.

This year’s WIN for KC event is July 27 at Sailboat Cove, 18416 Collins Road.

Registration to participate is open now. Learn more about the event by visiting sportkc.org.

The Matt Mason Memorial Cowboy Up Triathlon was established to honor, pay tribute to, support and celebrate the lives of military members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

It is named after Clay County resident Matt Mason, who served as a Navy Seal and was killed in August 2011 while on duty in Afghanistan.

“This triathlon is our way to stay close to our dear friend and keep his memory alive while focusing on supporting others like him and their families,” the race website states.

This year’s race kicks off at 7 a.m. Aug. 4 at Smithville’s Crow’s Creek Park, 5612 Crow Creek Road.

Learn more and register online at cowboyuptriathlon.com.

Eagle Days Swooping through the Northland every winter, dozens of eagles often go unnoticed.

To help flock community at-

19

Courier-Tribune Photo

Swimmers in the annual WIN for KC triathlon were forced to walk to shore.

tention to the migration of our national bird, the bald eagle, Smithville Lake hosts Eagle Days every January.

Though the event has been hosted at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in the past, Derek Dorsey of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the corps is seeking locations with a larger capacity as more and more people attend the event every year.

Eagle Days will occur Jan. 4 and 5. Showtimes on Saturday, Dorsey said, are likely to remain the same as years past, having a showing at 9:30 and 11 a.m. in addition to afternoon shows at 12:30 and 2 p.m.

Sunday showtimes will be

Courier-Tribune Photo

Live bald eagles are a staple during Eagle Days. Professionals handle the birds and describe their lifestyle habits. Did you know, sometimes an eagle will dive for a fish that weighs more than it can carry? Professionals will tell you the eagle is likely not to give up and drag the fish to shore while barely hovering above the water.

at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Additionally, there will be a viewing station along the lake to be determined at a later time when the eagles have nested.

Typically, live eagle programs are presented, along with eagle videos and activities, and spotting scopes made available

through the corps and Missouri Conservation Department to help spot them in the wild.

Events are presented through a partnership between the above-mentioned organizations, Clay County Parks and Recreation Department and other public and private conservation partners.

We invite you to join us on Sundays for engaging worship and useful teaching from the word of God!

75114640

98 Stonebridge Lane, Smithville, MO 816-532-4749 Sundays @ 10:30AM Wednesdays @ 7PM Smithville Family Worship Center • www.fwcsmithville.com

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Calendar of Events April 12-13

3 p.m. at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex, 18212 Golf Course Road; tickets can be purchased at partialpayment.org

❯❯ The Best “Dam” Barbecue Contest at Smithville Lake — a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contest with cash prizes going June 2 through to the grand champion, September (Fridays) reserve champion and ❯ ❯ Party on the Patio — The top five winners in each Smithville American Legion category; all day at Crow’s Jim Nelson Post 58, 2607 Creek Campground at Highway 92, hosts live local Smithville Lake, 5612 Crow bands and festivities from Creek Road; hosted by 5 to 9 p.m. on the patio Courier-Tribune Photo Masonic Lodge No. 438; every Friday in June through Chromed out and ornate front ends like the one attached to this 1948 thebestdambbqcontest.com; Lincoln Continental are found at Larson’s Cruise for a Cause, which September (816) 749-3154 raises funds for local children and their families who need assistance

April 27

with medical-related expenses.

June 5, 11, 19 and 26 (Wednesdays)

of downtown, with a free May through October ❯❯ Smithville Chamber family-friendly movie shown ❯❯ Legion Band Concert (Wednesdays) Community Awards — Smithville American at sundown ❯❯ Farmers and Makers Market Banquet at Paradise Legion Band is an all — starting at 4:30 p.m.

Pointe Golf Complex — an volunteer band which May 27 in Smithville’s historic annual banquet honoring plays in correlation with district downtown; weekly ❯❯ Memorial Day Ceremony — community members, the Farmers and Makers May through October; annual event at Smithville chamber members and Market beginning at 7 p.m. farmersandmakers@gmail.com Memorial Cemetery hosted businesses throughout every Wednesday in June by the city and American the city; held at 6 p.m. at Courtyard Park, 115 E. Legion Jim Nelson Post 58; at Paradise Pointe Golf Main St. May 11 every year there is a guest Complex, 18212 Golf Drive; ❯❯ Larson’s Cruise for speaker and honor guard hosted by the Smithville the Cause — car show June 15 Area Chamber of Commerce; fundraiser featuring awards, ❯❯ Movie Night in Courtyard tickets are available at June 1 raffle, auction and music Park — activities begin smithvillechamber.org; (816) benefiting children with ❯❯ Kids Fishing Derby — no at 6 p.m. in the center 532-0946 medical needs, 3 p.m. in fishing license required for of downtown, with a free Smithville’s historic district family-friendly movie shown child participants; from 9 a.m. downtown, the 100 block of at sundown May 4 to noon at Helvey Lake, 17201 East Main St.; Paradesian St.; sponsored by ❯❯ Citywide Garage Sale — www.larsonscause.com Smithville Kiwanis Club 7 a.m. to the closing of July 4 garage doors; sponsored by ❯❯ Partial Payment Golf ❯❯ Nellie’s Mini Parade Smithville Lions Club; (816) May 18 Tournament — charity golf Fourth of July Celebration 873-3663 tournament benefiting ❯❯ Movie Night in Courtyard — 10 a.m. in the historic The Honor Flight Network Park — activities begin district downtown, 100 block of East Main Street at 6 p.m. in the center of Kansas City; 7 a.m. to

660-646-5640 mortonbuildings.com

75114642

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Ben Mosqueda

Smithville Lake celebrates the Fourth of July in style.

❯❯ Fireworks at Smithville Lake — find a place along Smithville Lake at dusk for the firework show of a lifetime. Thousands of dollars worth of explosives color the skies over Smithville Lake every Fourth of July. Prime viewing spots are the swimming area at the south end of Little Platte Park and the Crow’s Creek Campground; sponsored by the city of Smithville and Clay County

July 20 ❯❯ Movie Night in Courtyard Park — activities begin

at Smithville Lake Crow’s music from 6 to 10 p.m. in downtown Smithville; Creek Park, 5612 Crow’s the first four Saturdays in Creek Road; register at August; presented by the cowboyuptriathlon.com Smithville Downtown Historic District and Smithivlle July 27 Sept. 7 Lions Club; an evening of ❯❯ Christian Family Fun Day entertainment, including live ❯❯ 9th Annual B Cause breast — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in cancer event — fundraiser music; (816) 916-8970 Courtyard Park, 100 E. Main for area cancer causes that St.; (816) 645-1982 or www. includes raffles and auction Aug. 4 christianfamilyday.org at Ladoga Ridge Winery, ❯❯ Matt Mason Memorial 100 E. Pope Lane; 11 a.m. ❯❯ WIN for KC Triathlon and Cowboy Up Triathlon — to 8 p.m.; details online at Duathlon — Sailboat Cove, race established to honor, ladogaridgewinery.com 18416 Collins Road; register pay tribute to, support at mysportkc.org and celebrate the lives of military members who have Sept. 13-15 Aug. 3, 10, 18 & 25 made the ultimate sacrifice ❯❯ Nehemiah Festival — free for their country; 7 a.m.

Christian music festival ❯❯ Hot Summer Nights — live at 6 p.m. in the center of downtown, with a free family-friendly movie shown at sundown

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

featuring 50 bands at Smith’s Fork Park, 1601 Route DD; nehemiahfest.com

Sept. 17 ❯❯ Movie Night in Courtyard Park — activities begin at 6 p.m. in the center of downtown, with a free family-friendly movie shown at sundown

Sept. 21 ❯❯ Old Fashioned Street Faire — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Smithville

Sept. 27 ❯❯ Smithville High School Homecoming Parade — starting in the Smithville High School parking lot on Commercial Ave. and making its way to downtown Smithville; details will be made available at smithvilleschooldistrict.net

Sept. 28 ❯❯ Smithville’s Backyard BBQ Bash and Junkville — amateur barbecue contest and vintage and handcrafted maker’s market also including a children’s play area, sponsored by Smithivlle Area Chamber of Commerce, Smithville Kiwanis and Heritage Business District; starts at 9 a.m. in Courtyard Park, 115 E. Main St.

Sept. 29 ❯❯ Smithville Dam 5K Run/ Walk & 1 Mile Dam Fun Run/Walk — annual race event sponsored by Smithville Rotary; 8 a.m.

COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Oct. 26 ❯❯ Haunted Campground — a haunted campground at Smith’s Fork Campground where children can enter for free for a family-friendly walk in the earlier hours, a spooky walkthrough after hours and trick-or-treating for all; donations are accepted to benefit Larson’s Cause; located at 1601 Route DD; on Facebook as “Smithville Haunted Campground”

Nov. 10 ❯❯ Downtown Smithville Wine and Walk — 6 to 10 p.m. in the Heritage Business District

Dec. 7 ❯❯ Candyland Christmas in Downtown Smithville — 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at South Gale School, 112 Church St. ❯❯ Lighted Christmas Parade — starting at dark in the Heritage Business District; sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 58; (816) 805-6080 ❯❯ Mayor’s Tree Lighting Courier-Tribune Photo Ceremony — 7 p.m.

While teams do their best to win the competition around them, this trio downtown; visits with Santa plays a game of life-sized Jenga in Courtyard Park during the Backyard Claus, tree lighting, hot BBQ Bash. cocoa, shopping and more at Smithville Lake Dam, fun and food; on Facebook located off Route DD; as “Smithville Octoberfest” Dec. 13 registration details are ❯❯ Candyland Christmas in online at smithvillerotary.org Oct. 19 Downtown Smithville — 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at South Gale ❯❯ Julia’s Warriors Run for School, 112 Church St. Oct. 4-5 Hope 5K/1 Mile Walk — ❯❯ Octoberfest — from 5 to 8 a.m. starting at Smithville Dec. 14 10 p.m. Oct. 4 and again High School, 645 S. from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. Commercial Ave.; held to ❯❯ Santa at the Firehouse 5; a family-friendly event bring awareness to and — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at with a pancake breakfast, raise funds for the fight the Smithville Area Fire parade, live bands, against breast cancer; Protection District Station 2; 341 Park Drive children’s area, beer garden, juliaswarriorsrunforhope.com

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Nearby attractions provide entertainment for all Smithville and the surrounding area are booming with opportunities to connect with history, have fun and take a family photo or interesting selfie with a beautiful backdrop.

All the following attractions are in the city or within a short drive.

9/11 Memorial Rail Funded and constructed with 100 percent donated funds, supplies and time, the 9/11 Memorial Rail stands in Courtyard Park at the center of Smithville’s historic district.

The Smithville American Legion headed the charge to establish such a memorial. In an effort to educate and remind people about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and the subsequent lives lost, a piece of rail from the site of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center is forever memorialized in Smithville.

Veterans War Memorial This memorial on Main Street across from City Hall honors the community’s service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

South Gale School House Located near Smith Street and Church Street, this historic school building hearkens to a time in education when students of all ages learned their lessons in a one-room school house.

There were no electronics. It was a simpler time. Today, the building is used as an event and meeting space, providing lessons from the past. To arrange

has brand new playground equipment and is working on creating a trail that leads all the way to Smithville Lake, trading train for tread.

Duncan’s Berry Farm This small family blue- and blackberry farm is located at 908 Route F in Smithville.

Visitors can pick and buy berries during the picking season that typically runs from June through July. For more information, including hours of operation, search “Duncan’s Courier-Tribune Photo The old South Gale School House Berry Farm” on Facebook. offers children a glimpse of what school was like a century ago.

a tour, call Frank Justus of the Smithville Historical Society at (816) 678-7368.

Smithville Historical Society This dedicated group brings the community back in time with area walking tours and artifact displays throughout the area, including the Historic Patterson House, located at 210 N. Bridge St., now serving as the organization’s museum.

Society members are available to make presentations to groups. For more information, call Justus at (816) 678-7368.

Little Platte Distillery Brewing, bottling and labeling moonshine, this new addition to downtown Smithville is all the buzz. Open Thursday through Saturday, the distillery at 210 E. Meadow St. welcomes visitors to learn about their product and sample sips of a Dodge classic. For more information, email info@ littleplattedistilling.com.

Ladoga Ridge Winery One of the main suppliers of the annual Winter Walk in downtown Smithville, Ladoga Ridge Winery recently completed a new addition. The vineyard and winery have recognized the heritage of Smithville since opening in 2011.

Its first wine was a cabernet/merlot called Yankee Smith paying homage to the city’s founder Humphrey “Yankee” Smith. The winery regularly hosts parties and Fireside Fridays, this year from September 6 through October 11.

It is family owned and operated at 100 E. Pope Lane. To contact the winery, call (816) 866-4077.

Belvoir Winery Just south of Smithville in Liberty, located at 1325 Odd Fellows Road, is a feature attraction for those looking for wine culture and haunting stories. Also a hotel, the winery has established itself within the former Odd Fellows estate.

For more information, call (816) 200-1811.

Red Caboose in Heritage Park This brightly colored locomotive artifact provides a glimpse back to when the railroads were an integral part of Smithville, delivering all manner of needed goods.

Additionally, Heritage Park

Courier-Tribune Photo

The red caboose in Heritage Park is a replica of the caboose on the last train through Smithville in August 1939.

★

ne ★ Gladstone ribu Dis r-T pa rie t ou

★ ch

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Must be 21

2018

A PLACE WHERE WINE LOVERS CAN “RELAX AND REFLECT” IN AN ADULT ATMOSPHERE.

Visit the gift shop for local business items as well as

t-shirts and a variety of wine related gifts. Enjoy the indoor seating inside the Winery, or you can soak up some sun in the outdoor seating, surrounded by four acres of vineyards.

Wine tastings daily. Try a variety of wines from sweet to

dry, or sip on a delicious fruit wine slushie! Sip on a glass while enjoying a loaf of fresh bread with olive oil, or choose from one of our gourmet cheeses with sausage and crackers.

Hand crafted, award winning wines in small batches!

In Smithville just west of the dam 100 E. Pope Lane, Smithville 816.866.4077 www.ladogaridgewinery.com

Hours: Mon.-Tues. Closed; Wed-Thurs. 11-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11-8 p.m.; Sun. 12-5 p.m.

Closed on Wednesdays through April. Check our website for current hours.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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B&B Cinemas Liberty 12 Also nearby are two B&B theater locations. Deciding to build their headquarters in Liberty, located at 1903 Victory Drive, family-owned B&B Theaters constructed its headquarters atop their latest theater experience featuring luxury seating, a variety of screens and Johnnie’s Jazz Bar.

McCulloch’s Deer Creek Cabin Visitors to the site at 5623 SW 228th St. in Plattsburg can learn about local history and experience what life was like in a log cabin. For more information, call (816) 370-2532.

Mt. Gilead Church and School Located at 15918 Plattsburg Road near Kearney, this church now hosts several community events and serves as a place for gatherings such as weddings.

This historic building gives children a look at what getting an education was like for their ancestors. For more information, call (816) 736-8500.

Courier-Tribune Photo

New artifacts on display at the Jesse James Farm and Museum include this traveling surgical kit, mortar and pestle that originally belonged to Dr. Reuben Samuel, stepfather to Jesse and Frank James.

tractions by international visitors natural waterfalls in the area. It in the nation. It is where infamous is located just west of Excelsior outlaw Jesse James was born and Springs on Highway 92. grew up with his brother Frank before leaving for the Civil War when Shoal Creek Living he was 16. Contact the museum History Museum by calling (816) 736-8500.

This site is ideal for history buffs. The museum is located Kearney Amphitheater on 80 acres in Hodge Park, in Jesse James Park Jesse James at 700 Barry road in Kansas Bank Museum This outdoor stage draws City. For more information, call (816) 792-2655. headliners known across the The site of the first sucnation. Local and national acts cessful daylight bank robbery perform regularly throughout Platte County Community pulled off by Clay County the warmer months of the year Center North native Jesse James and his in a picturesque setting just crew, took place just south of Located at 3100 Broadway off of Missouri Highway 33 in Smithville in Liberty’s historic St. in nearby Platte City, this area Kearney. Visiting musical styles branch of the YMCA provides district, located at 103 N. Water St. For more information, include bluegrass, blues, recreation and exercise opportupop and rock. For an up-tocall (816) 736-8510. nities for health-conscious indidate schedule, visit kearviduals and families. Amenities neyampitheater.com.

Jesse James Farm offered include: sauna, whirlpool, and Museum indoor pool, teen room, gym and Tryst Falls walking track. For membership The homestead at 21216 Tryst Falls was Clay County’s costs, hours and other details, James Farm Road in Kearney is one of the most visited U.S. atfirst park. It is one of the only call (816) 858-0114.

Platte Falls Conservation Area This 2,366-acre conservation area includes 1,320 acres of bottomland and upland timber, 295 acres of agricultural lands, 515 acres of grasslands and old fields, and 206 acre of wetlands off Settle Station Road in Platte City. The area provides opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, bird watching and archery. For more information, call (816) 858-5718.

Jowler Creek Winery The state’s first “green winery” is located at 16905 Jowler Creek road in Platte City. Jowler Creek manages more than 3,500 grapevines in its 7-acre vineyard and makes nine award-winning wines in various styles. For more details, call (816) 858-5528.

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Choose To Play Two Of KC’s Best B s Golf G lf Courses

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Visitor center shows spectrum of Smithville Lake After U.S. Rep. Jerry L. Litton died in a plane accident, many Missourians sought ways to honor him. Some say if it hadn’t been for the accident, they think Litton would have become president.

Around the time of the Missouri congressman’s death, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was constructing a visitor center at Smithville Lake to serve as an office and a place for public outreach. It seemed natural, Jaime Picken, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Smithville park ranger said, to name the center after Litton.

“He definitely supported agriculture and with that, a bit, comes natural resources,” she said. “I’d say conservation too.”

Visiting the center named in Litton’s honor, one is exposed to a variety of information.

“There’s lots of natural resource exhibits that talk about why the lake was built and some other natural resource missions like shoreline stabilization and food plots,” Picken said.

She continued to list wildlife displays and archaeological finds, water safety advice and information on Litton.

For several months the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center, located at 16311 Missouri Route DD east of the Smithville Lake Dam, has been undergoing security updates and renovations to the office area, closing exhibits at the center. The project is scheduled to wrap up between late March and early

April 2019, Picken said.

“We are getting security upgrades to the office itself and making it more accessible,” Picken said. “I think we are going to be adding a frog sculpture to the front landscaping, I think early summertime. That will be a new, fun addition.”

Regardless of construction, the center provides lake, trail and conservation area maps.

The center also provides tourist information for Clay County and Kansas City, and other questions can be addressed to rangers available on site daily.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Every winter between December and January, the Corps of Engineers partners with the Missouri Department of Conservation to help visitors spot wild bald eagles migrating through Smithville using their scopes along the lake.

Picken said the center also will be continuing the programming started in 2017.

Programs for children include an introduction to honey bees and pollinators, fishing experiences and an introduction to kayaking. The center also offers an astronomical program from May through September.

All programs are free.

“We can answer any type of question, and we’ll try to get an answer even if we don’t have it,” Picken said.

For more information on programming, visit the center website at www.nwk.usace. army.mil/locations/district-lakes/Smithville-Lake.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Recreation, conservation follow floods Smithville Lake has a long history of providing hours of recreational fun for many. The lake’s birth, however, stems from destruction done by yearly floods that plagued Smithville.

Now a 7,190-acre reservoir on the Little Platte branch of Platte River in Clay County providing water to Smithville and Plattsburg, Smithville Lake was created after a devastating summer flood in 1965 that decimated much of the town.

While the plans for a dam had been in the works following years of flooding, Congress finally authorized creation of Smithville Lake as a multipurpose project for flood reduction, water supply, water quality control, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation.

The following is a brief list of important dates and facts about Smithville Lake. ❯❯ Construction began in 1972, with the Smithville Lake Dam completed in October 1977. ❯❯ Impoundment began in 1979 and

reached the multipurpose pool state in the spring of 1982. ❯❯ Smithville Lake controls a drainage area of 213 square miles, providing flood protection for Smithville and 8,500 rural acres in the Platte River Basin. ❯❯ In addition to impounding potential floodwaters, the lake contains 102,000 acre-feet of multipurpose storage for water supply and to improve water quality. ❯❯ The lake has more than 175 miles of shoreline. ❯❯ Amenities include: two swim beaches, more than 770 campsites, two full-service marinas including boat rentals, one sailboat-only marina, two public 18-hole golf courses, four disc golf courses, 25 miles of walking/biking trails scheduled to expand this spring and summer with a city trail initiative connecting Heritage Park to the lake in addition to 11 miles of single-track mountain biking trails and 26 miles of equestrian trails.

Smithville Historical Society

This image depicts the construction of the Smithville Lake Dam in 1965.

Courier-Tribune Photo

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates the Smithville Lake Dam has prevented more than $1.6 billion in damages to the downstream area since it opened in 1982. The corps promotes Dam Safety Awareness Day on May 31.

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FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

2019 forecast looks promising for fishing

By Gary Burton Burton’s Bait & Tackle

Smithville Lake, located 20 miles north of downtown Kansas City, on 169 Highway, is a recreational facility that has something to offer anyone who has a desire to spend a day close to nature.

If you are fishing from a boat or the bank, Smithville offers 7,200 acres of water. There is more than 175 miles of shoreline with 27 public access points for the bank fisherman.

There are also two marinas and five multi-lane boat ramps. Crow’s Creek has a handicapped accessible fishing dock and there is a bank fishing handicap area at access point 18.

Smithville Lake is one of the best recreational facilities in the Kansas City area. The lake is an outstanding fishery with black bass, white bass, crappie, walleye and catfish.

Fishing Report 2019 Eric Dennis, Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries biologist, said, “2019 looks to be a very productive year at Smithville Lake. I truly believe that the habitat work we are doing with brush piles and the continued work the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) is doing with erosion control and rip-rap is paying off in a big way.”

Habitat restoration on Smithville Lake continues with the Friends Improving Smithville Habitat project for 2019. Each March MDC and Corps of Engineers hosts a day-long project during which approximately 75 new brush piles are strategically placed in the lake maximize fish-catching opportunities. Help is always needed and appreciated, so if you would like to be involved, you can contact the

Corps of Engineers office at (816) 532-0174 or Dennis at (816) 271-3100.

There are now more than 250 brush piles in the lake with over a thousand hardwood trees making up those piles. These oaks, locust, cedar and hedge will provide cover for the fish and areas for the fisherman to target them for many years to come. You can pick up a hard copy of the brush pile locations at the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center at the South end of the dam. I have the locations of most brush piles on SD cards that can be downloaded into most GPS graphs. Just stop by Burton’s Bait and Tackle and I will be glad to give them to you.

Crappie Smithville Lake continues to be one of the best crappie lakes in the state. New for 2019 is a change in the creel limits for crappie at Smithville Lake. This new regulation went into effect March 1, 2019. The new regulations states that on Smithville Lake, the daily limit of crappie is 30 but may include not more than 15 fish more than 9 inches in total length.

Black Crappie — Catch rates for black crappie were very high in 2018. Black crappie make up nearly 70 percent of the crappie in Smithville, but only 2 percent of them are over 9 inches. This is the primary reason for the change in the creel limits. Many of the small black crappie are stunted and will never reach the 9-inch legal length. By removing some of these from the lake, there will be more habitat and food for fish that are capable of growing to legal lengths and above.

White Crappie — The white crappie population looks fantastic — 77 percent are over 9 inches, and 44 percent are over 10 inches.

From late April to late May, the fish will move to the shallower water to spawn. Figure two weeks before Mother’s Day to a week after for the best fishing. This is the time of year when

FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

the crappies are most accessible to the bank fisherman. Check out the rip rap along the roads at all of the lake’s bridges. The Army Corps of Engineers cleared the trees along the roads at the bridges and pulled them into the water. There are plenty of limbs still visible above the water and lots more that you can’t see.

These should be productive areas especially during the spawn.

Minnows are the most popular and productive bait for the crappie. They are best fished under a bobber around standing timber or brush near the bank.

You can also catch plenty of fish on a 1/16-ounce jig. Purple and chartreuse are favorite colors, but during the spawn the fish are very aggressive so a variety of colors will work.

After the spawn the fish head back to deeper structure as the water warms. The brush piles (10 feet to 20 feet) that we have been putting in over the past several years are great spots to fish. The rock piles and boulder fields can also be extremely productive. The fish will go a little shallower in the fall to feed up before heading back to the deep structure.

Winter fishing at Smithville can be good also if you can work it in with the hunting. The area of the lake from Route W Bridge to Sailboat Cove is the area that most fisherman target. The brush piles are again the main targets.

The creel limit for crappie on Smithville Lake as of March 1 is 30 fish, of which only 15 may be 9 inches or longer. When fishing with another person, your creel must be kept separate. Two people may not have 30 crappies in one basket or on one stringer.

Both must be on separate stringers or in different baskets.

White Bass 2019 should be another good year for the white bass. The main lake is the most productive area of the lake for the whites.

The Trimble Wildlife Area and the Camp Branch arm up to the second Route W bridge can also be productive.

Spawning will occur in April when the fish move up the Little Platte River arm and some of the larger creeks on the Camp Branch side of the lake. If you are fishing from the bank, fishing the face of the dam or the corners of the bridges in the spring can be your best bet. The Little Platte River just south of Plattsburg is more like a creek but has large numbers of whites during the spring spawning run. MDC constructed a new boat ramp and access area just south of Plattsburg on Route C, which makes the upper parts of the Little Platte River more accessible for the spring white bass run, especially for kayaks, canoes and smaller boats.

After the whites move back to the main lake, the bridges are a favorite place to find them. Easy access from the bank or boat makes this a favorite place to find active fish. There are always bait fish for them to feed on around the bridges, so this works about any time of year. Small shallow to medium diving crankbaits or rooster tails work best for active fish. A small spoon, 1/4 ounces to 3/8 ounces, works well for a vertical presentation and deeper fish.

Mornings and evenings in the summer you can locate whites as they chase schools of baitfish to the surface in a feeding frenzy.

Keep a sharp eye out for surface activity and get to the activity as fast as possible. You can cast

about anything into the fish and get lucky. An Alabama rig fished with three 1/8-ounce jig heads with 2-inch sassy shad bodies is fun, as you can catch three fish at a time. The creel limit for white bass is 15 fish with no length limit. Only four of those fish may be over 18 inches.

Black Bass The largemouth bass population has been on the increase since the FISH habitat restoration program was started in 2011. Increased numbers of shallower brush piles and miles of hinge cutting trees in the upper arms of the lake are all contributing to the highest recruitment in years. Bass catch rates in 2018 continue to climb and are still well above historic

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normal values. In 2018, 91 bass per hour were collected, which is the second highest catch rate ever, following 128 per hour in 2016. Eighty-six percent of the bass collected were over 12 inches, and 54 percent of the bass are over 15 inches (legal keeper). The 2018 percentage of bass over 15 inches is the highest on record.

One of the most elusive fish in the lake, the black bass is still one of the most sought after.

Fish in 7-pound to 8-pound class are not uncommon at tournament weigh-ins, with the average keeper weighing between 2.5 pounds and 3 pounds. A five-fish limit of keeper bass will commonly weigh 15 pounds to 20-plus pounds. All of the standing timber still in the lake makes about any cove you enter

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a potential bass haven.

In the spring, the bass first move up into rocky areas to warm up. Suspending jerk baits or other slow-moving baits are your best bet during this time of year. The rocks around the bridges and the marinas are good early areas to try. As the grass starts to grow on the main lake and gets close to the surface the fish seem to migrate to these areas where they can be caught on senkos, buzz baits or spinnerbaits. The Little Platte and Camp Branch arms of the lake are full of bass-attracting structure that can keep an angler busy all day.

Smithville is still a favorite site for many regional and local bass tournaments. A strict catch-andrelease policy in the tournaments as well as a well-informed public continue to contribute to the success of the bass fishery.

Walleye The MDC walleye stocking program was upgraded in 2017 to an annual stocking program instead of every other year.

Smithville Lake will receive 30 fingerling (1 inch to 2 inches) per acre every year, now about 216,000 fish. 2017 was the first year that walleye had been stocked on an odd numbered year. This should more than double the number of walleye in the lake. This should make walleye a more harvest-oriented fish instead of an incidental fish.

Average fish size will probably decrease, but catch rates should go way up. In 2018, 66 percent of the walleye were over 20 inches long.

Considered the best eating fish in the lake by most, the walleye is one of the more difficult species to catch on a consistent basis. A deep-water fish in most northern

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

lakes, the Smithville walleye are found in 12 feet of water or less during most of the season.

The walleye will move up to the face of the dam to spawn during the last week of March to the first week of April. The new rock points and rip rap shorelines on the main lake could also be spawning areas that may attract walleye.

Lures more than live bait are more productive as these fish are more interested in spawning than eating. Use a floating shallow diving rapala fished close to the bank from dusk to daylight as most of the fish are caught after dark. After the spring spawn, the fish move back to deep water to rest before putting on the feed bag. During May the fish will move up on shallow main lake points and start feeding. Make sure you locate the boulder fields, as these could be potential hot spots.

When the fish have moved onto the main lake points to feed, rattle traps and shad raps work great as you can cover lots of ground. You can also slow down and use a 1/8-ounce or 1/4-ounce jig head tipped with a night crawler or leech. Fish your jigs around the points in 8 feet or so of water for best results.

Catfish The catfish population in the lake continues to remain strong. As the catfish population matures, the size increases and the stories just get better. Channel catfish, blue catfish and flatheads are all abundant and widespread in the lake.

March is a very productive time of the year, as the catfish are feeding on the shad kill from the winter. This is a great time of year for some large fish as well

as full stringers of smaller fish.

Channel cats: Creel limit is 10 fish with no length limit.

Channels are the smallest and most abundant of the catfish species in Smithville Lake. One- to five-pound fish are very common. Because channels are scavengers, they can be caught on about anything. In the spring while the water is still cold, night crawlers, shad sides or livers are the more productive baits.

After the water warms up, the dip and dough baits are the most productive for channels.

For the bank fisherman, the channel cats are probably your best bet for taking home some fresh fish for the table.

Blue cats: Creel limit is five fish with no length limit. The blues are probably the least numerous but potentially the largest of the catfish species.

They can also be taken on a variety of baits, with shad probably being a preference. The main lake areas are probably the preferred areas to look for the big blues and will usually be caught in deeper water than channels and flatheads.

Flatheads: Creel limit is five fish with no length limit.

Flatheads are common and numerous. The population of flatheads continues to grow and mature, even with large numbers being caught and taken out. Being a long-lived fish, the average size keeps creeping up. They prefer live bait as they are more of a predator than the other catfish species. Trot lines and limb lines baited with live bait in the rocky, timbered coves can be very productive.

Rod and reel is the most common method of fishing, but

trot lines and jugs are also legal at Smithville.

Check MDC regulations to make sure you are in compliance with current fishing regulations.

Contrary to popular belief, catfish are active 24 hours a day, not just at night. Fishing is good year around with channels, blues and flatheads just waiting to take your bait. The number of large flathead catfish being taken out of the lake is on the increase with 40-pound to 50-pound fish common.

Fishing in the river areas in the Little Platte arm of the lake are favorites, as is the Old Trimble Wildlife Refuge area. Fishing the face of the dam during the spawn can also be very productive.

Other Species Bluegill can supply some fast action for those young people who get bored easily when the fish are not biting.

They are easily located by fishing the rip rap around the marinas, boat ramps or bridges almost anytime. The lake also has an abundant population of carp, which are great sport but not always considered the best table fare.

When you plan your trip to Smithville Lake, stop by Burtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bait and Tackle or call (816) 532-4659 and we will try to help you locate whatever you need for a fun and relaxing day at Smithville Lake. I will be glad to help you with brush pile locations or the most recent fishing information. For further information, you could also contact Clay County Parks and Recreation at (816) 407-3400 or the Army Corps of Engineers at the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center at (816) 532-0174.

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FISHING

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Fishing gear for beginning anglers Fishing is one of the few rec- ❯❯ Monofilament line — — can be held in the lake (or 8-pound test, light blue, reational activities that doesn’t pond or river) so they stay clear or green is the require a significant outlay of alive until the fisherman has preferred fishing line. Check cash. The following basic items finished fishing and is ready your reel or the instructions will equip you nicely for your to release the fish or take that came with it to deterfirst outings. those fish home mine how much 8-pound❯ ❯ Landing net (optional, test line it will hold. Usually Shopping list unless you’re fishing for a 100-yard spool is large ❯❯ A good all-round rod-andtrout) enough to fill a medium-light reel combination — somereel. ❯ ❯ Bait or lures — Most beginthing that will let you catch ners use worms or minnows. ❯❯ Package of hooks, size 6 fish of all sizes — is first on Ask more experienced fishthe list. Ask the store clerk ❯❯ “Wheel” of split shot in ermen about their favorite for a medium-light rod from assorted sizes baits. Some favorites may 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 feet long ❯❯ Package of three bell sinkinclude cheese, hot dogs, and a matching reel that will ers, 1/2-ounce chicken livers and stink bait, handle lines from 4-pound ❯❯ Small plastic tackle box which is a mix of cheese, test to 12-pound test. (The chicken livers, blood and “pound test” tells how strong ❯❯ Two or three bobbers the line is.) ❯❯ Stringer to keep strung fish flour.

❯❯ Missouri fishing permit — required if you are between 16 and 64 or are a non-resident ❯❯ Trout permit — if your target is trout, except in the state’s four trout parks, where you will need a daily permit

Other useful items ❯❯ Pair of needle-nose pliers ❯❯ Pair of fingernail clippers ❯❯ Cooler or bucket, including ice to keep a catch cool if fishing in the warm months ❯❯ Garden gloves to help grip fish to remove hooks Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

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Tackle boxes and other fishing gear don’t need to be fancy or costly to work well.

FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

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Have some manners when it comes to fishing At Smithville Lake, many anglers fish from boats. However, several do fish from the shoreline too. With that in mind, there is some fishing etiquette anglers should abide by so that everyone enjoying the lake remains in a good mood.

First and foremost, respect your fellow anglers. Know and follow Missouri’s fishing regulations. Don’t wade in front of others and allow space between those fishing on docks and green spaces so backcasting doesn’t tangle lines. Give priority to disabled anglers in areas that are

accessible to them.

Remember, good etiquette includes not throwing rocks or swimming near those fishing.

Fishing requires some patience and little noise. Loud music or yelling will disrupt the experience.

Along with establishing appreciative fishing etiquette, think about the environment.

Missouri fish should be found in Smithville Lake, but invasive species have started infiltrating the waters. Don’t release such fish into the lake. The Missouri Department of Conservation and other approved fisheries

will stock fish as needed.

Report any fish kills, large numbers of dying fish or water pollution to a Conservation Department fisheries biologist, or call the department’s Environmental Health Unit at (573) 815-7900.

One more big rule — don’t litter. Put bait containers, cigarette butts and fishing line, which can harm wildlife, in the trash. Use only designated trails and parking areas. The old Boy Scout rule works in fishing, too: Always leave the bank, river, pond or lake better than the way you found it. No one likes to discover a recently used fishing site strewn with

empty beer cans or abandoned casting line.

Do observe regulations and catch limits. If you’re fishing in a region or waterway that posts particular regulations, pay close attention to them.

Don’t get caught without a fishing license. It may sound like common sense, but every angler 16 years old and older must have a valid fishing license nationwide. And there’s no fishing license that is valid in all 50 states.

Typically, a fishing license costs a fraction of the amount of a potential fine.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

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FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Missouri Depar tment of Conser vation

New regulations for crappie fishing at Smithville Lake are in effect this year. Anglers are able to keep 30 crappie, but no more than 15 over 9 inches long.

New length and possession regulation in effect for crappie at Smithville Lake The Missouri Department of Conservation has implemented a regulation change for crappie fishing at Smithville Lake in Clay County. The new regulation, which took effect March 1, allows anglers to keep a daily limit of 30 crappie, but no more than 15 crappie harvested can be greater than 9 inches in total length.

This change will allow anglers to utilize an overpopulation of stunted black crappie, but it will also protect overharvest of the

larger white crappie.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the change at a February meeting.

Under the old regulation, anglers could keep a daily limit of 15 white and black crappie combined with a minimum length limit for both of 9 inches. The new regulation will have no minimum length limit for either species.

“White crappie tend to grow larger than black crappie,” explained MDC Fisheries

Management Biologist Eric Dennis. “While both black and white crappie count toward the daily limit, 80 percent of the crappie in the lake are black crappie — and they are severely stunted from overpopulation.”

Most black crappie never reached 9 inches and were not harvested by anglers, Dennis said. The new regulation will allow anglers to keep more fish but also boost the average size of black crappie to more desirable lengths.

While there is no length limit for white crappie, biologists encourage anglers to make most of their catch kept under 9 inches to be black crappie.

That will help the fishery for both species.

Crappie are one of Missouri’s most popular sport fish. They require minimal gear, and are considered fun to catch and good to eat.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

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FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Smithville Bassmasters members share fervor for fishing

By Kellie Houx

our forefathers.” For others, the appeal of fishing is that pursuit of what is elusive, yet hopefully Fishing is about much more attainable. than fish. The late President One group that embodies Herbert Hoover called fishing “the these hopes is the Smithville great occasion when we may Bassmasters. The club offers return to the fine simplicity of memberships to anyone 16 and

kellie.houx@mycouriertribune.com

older regardless of experience level. Boaters and non-boaters are paired for each tournament at the club’s monthly meetings.

Many members enjoy growing their skills by fishing alongside some of the best anglers in the state.

In addition to monthly tournaments, the Smithville Bassmasters also hosts an open buddy-style tournament each year to help raise money for U.S. military veterans.

Smithville Bassmasters’ opening tournament was held at Stockton Lake March 23 and 24.

Anglers wishing to join the club are welcome to attend the club’s monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Smithville Missouri Pizza Hut. One of the youngest mem-

bers is Tucker Stute, a Kearney sophomore who is a second-year member with the Smithville Bassmasters along with his father, Ashton.

“I remember when I was maybe 3 years old and my dad took me fishing for the first time,” he said. “I started going fishing by myself around 5 or 6 in the little pond behind the house. I would collect a bucket of fish. It was my favorite thing to do.”

He believes his first reel was on a SpongeBob SquarePants pole.

“I would bring a pole with me wherever we went,” he said. “A couple years ago, I fished in a high school tournament and last year, I knew it would be more serious.”

Tucker says the time he has spent with the Bassmasters has been educational.

Tournament schedule

Contributed Photo

Jin Nguyen holds a bass and his daughter. Nguyen is a member of the Smithville Bassmasters and one of the top fishermen in the group.

The remainder of the 2019 tournament schedule is as follows: March 23-24 – Stockton Lake – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

April 6-7 – Pomme De Terre Lake – 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

May 11 – Smithville Lake – 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 1 – Lake of the Ozarks – 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 2 – Truman Lake – 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 29 – Mozingo Lake – 5:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

July 14 – Truman Lake – 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Aug. 18 – Smithville Lake – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 19-20 – Club Championship – Pomme De Terre Lake – 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sept. 7 – Palmer Memorial Classic – Smithville Lake – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FISHING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Team at last years’s State Championship tournament at Table Rock.

Nguyen said culturally, those of Vietnamese heritage love to fish, and his dad made sure he did. He said he was around 5 when the passion hit.

“Fishing, from an early age, has been my ‘high,’” he explained.

“It’s kept me out of trouble. My parents worked hard and there was not a lot of extras, but fishing meant so much. It was always something to do.”

No matter where he lived in the metropolitan area, Nguyen would find a place to fish. He moved to Smithville in 2004 and by 2006, he joined the Smithville Bassmasters.

“My wife encouraged me to join because I spent a lot of time watching fishing shows or reading

From father to son is the same way Ashton learned. However, he would cast weights in the back yard.

“At Smithville, I would say the challenge is to find the walleye,” he said. “There’s so much more to fishing. There’s a lot to learn with weather patterns, migration, the science …”

Tucker said that is when fishing becomes a sport.

“I want to keep fishing in college,” he said. “I want to make this more than a hobby.

There’s some scholarship money available, so every year, I’m trying for more.”

His future career could land him as a game warden or in natural resources.

Jin Nguyen and Jerry McVey made the MO BASS State

about fishing,” he said.

Smithville Lake, he said, can be stingy when it comes to fishing.

“You have to know what you are doing,” he said. “Bass fishing is good, but it’s also a good lake to learn about patience. You have to mentally prepare for a day. It can be tough.”

Nguyen said he would eventually like to fish at the professional level.

“I’m very competitive, so I enjoy that,” he said. “However, it’s not always about the other fishermen, but about me against the fish.”

At Smithville Lake, he’s caught a 7.5-pound largemouth bass.

However, his record comes with his father as the two pulled an 81-pound catfish out of the Missouri River.

Law Offices of

Contributed Photo

Denny Sheafer displays 8.75-pound and 4.65-pound bass he caught at Smithville Lake.

“You learn from the others,” he said. “It might be how to use certain baits or where to look for the best fishing spots on a lake to even different ways to cast.”

Tucker said he reeled in a 30-pound catfish a few years ago, but at Smithville Lake, his prize fish was an 8-pound bass.

“I’m excited for spring and summer to head out fishing,” he said.

His father grew up in Nebraska and remembers being that kid who fished all day in the summer until the streetlights came on.

“That’s why I enjoy tournaments,” he said. “It’s eight hours on the water; it’s a slice of heaven. That moment when you load the boat in the dark and watch the steam rise from the water.”

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FISHING

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Don’t get caught without a fishing license Everyone who fishes in Missouri must have the appropriate lifetime, annual or daily fishing permit or qualify for an exemption. Any person — without permit or prescribed area daily fishing tag — may fish during Free Fishing Days the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June.

This year’s dates are June 8 and 9. A permit also is not required to fish privately stocked waters. Normal regulations, such as size and daily limits, still apply.

However, user fees and permits may still be required at county, city, or private fishing areas.

Accepting a permit means that anyone fishing agrees to observe all the rules of the wildlife code. Part of the code includes not loaning a permit to anyone else. Other requirements include submitting to an inspection of the permit, picture identification, catch and equipment by an agent of the Conservation

Department and any law enforcement officer.

Additional requirements include carrying the permit while fishing. If you ordered your permit by telephone or online and have not received it by mail, you must carry the permit authorization number and picture identification with you while fishing until your permit arrives.

Purchasing a permit Fishing permits are valid for fish, frogs, mussels, clams, turtles, crayfish and live bait.

The cost of a daily permit is $7 for residents and nonresidents alike. The cost of an annual permit is $12 for residents and $42 for nonresidents.

You can purchase fishing permits by calling (800) 392-4115.

Your permit will be mailed to you.

You can also purchase permits online at https://untfish.mdc. mo.gov/fishing/permits, print them and have them in hand immediately. For other details,

visit https://mdc-web.s3licensing.com/Home.

The MO Fishing app, available for the iPhone and Android smartphones, allows users to purchase and view permits. To log in to MO Fishing, users will need their nine-digit Conservation Number, found on the back of the Heritage Card or on previous permits.

Lost permits can be replaced using any of the methods above.

A replacement permit costs $2 plus any applicable surcharge.

E-permits can be saved on a personal computer and reprinted for free if the original permit is lost or damaged.

As with other permits, e-permits may not be shared, and additional copies of an e-permit do not provide additional valid permits for the buyer or others to use. This information is a summary of wildlife codes. A big one is to allow the inspection of your permit, picture identification, catch,

and equipment by an agent of the Conservation Department More detailed information is available from the Missouri Department of Conservation

Statewide fishing seasons ❯❯ Fishing is allowed year-round for the following species of fish ❯❯ Bass (white, yellow, striped and hybrid) ❯❯ Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) ❯❯ Catfish (blue, channel and flathead) ❯❯ Crappie (black and white) ❯❯ Google-eye (rock bass) ❯❯ Muskellunge ❯❯ Trout ❯❯ Walleye For more information on daily catch limits and length requirements specific to Smithville Lake, go to www.mdc.mo.gov.

Test out fishing by checking out fishing poles, tackle boxes Did you know that Tuesday, June 18 is National Fishing Day, designed as a way to break from the daily routine to find a pond or lake, bait a hook, cast a line and catch a fish?

It’s a recreational pastime for many.

However, what if investing in all the rods, reels, tackle boxes and lures seem like a big investment?

About four years ago, the MidContinent Public Library started loaning fishing poles and tackle

boxes. The library system started with the Blue Springs South and Colbern Road branches. Now three Northland branches — the Antioch branch in Gladstone, the Liberty branch and the Smithville branch — have fishing pole and tackle box checkouts too.

The library system partnered with the Missouri Department of

Conservation’s Rod-andReel Loaner program, which strives to get more Missourians fishing in local waters. Conservation supplies the rods, reels and stocked tackle boxes. The branches take care of the rest, lending the gear to rookie and seasoned anglers alike.

The kits are designed for people of any skill level. Every tackle box has a supply of bobbers,

hooks and weights. There is even information on getting started including detailed instructions for baiting a hook and casting and a guide to fish identification.

There’s even a ruler to measure those catches.

The library branches cannot check out a fishing license, but that can be obtained through the MDC at https://huntfish. mdc.mo.gov/fishing/permits.

However, those checking out the fishing poles and tackle boxes do need a valid library card.

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

FISHING

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BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

There’s no boating without certification If you’ll be operating a boat on Smithville Lake this season, make sure you are certified.

Missouri law states the operator of a boat must be 14 years or older unless accompanied by an adult. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1984, also must carry their boater certification card and a photo ID. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1984, who operates any vessel on a state lake must have on board a boating safety card issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a photo ID, or a Missouri driver’s license or non-driver’s license with a boating safety endorsement.

The boating safety card is obtained by successfully completing a MSHP-approved course. Vessel operators who are required to have a boater education card must carry the card on board the vessel and have it available for inspection by an enforcement officer.

All non-Missouri residents born after Jan. 1, 1984, also

Courier-Tribune Photo

Smithville Lake boasts more than 1.5 million visitors each year.

need to have a Missouri boater education card or another state’s NASBLA-approved card. These operators also must have a photo ID with them at the time they are operating any vessel.

The Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division has an agreement with Boat-Ed to offer a boater education course and

test on the Internet. Boat-Ed charges a $24.50 course fee and gives users the option to purchase boater education cards through the company.

The Water Patrol receives only the $17 fee for the cards. All other charges go to Boat-Ed. The Water Patrol also offers boater education classes. To inquire about times and loca-

tions, call (573) 751-3313.

Any violation of the mandatory education law is a Class B misdemeanor that may result in the issuance of a citation and subsequent fine.

There is no age limit on who can take the course; however, that person should be able to follow the course material and understand its meaning.

Stay safe, stay sober when boating Missouri law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated (BWI) — that is, operating a vessel while intoxicated due to alcohol or any combination of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs.

Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment and slower reaction times.

Alcohol is a major contributor to boating accidents and fatalities.

Missouri law considers it evidence of intoxication if a person has a concentration of alcohol in his or her blood of 0.08% or more, based upon a chemical analysis of breath, blood or saliva.

By operating a vessel on Missouri waters, you have con-

sented to be tested for alcohol or drugs if requested by a law enforcement official. If you refuse to be tested, you will be subject to arrest and punishment.

Those convicted of boating while intoxicated are guilty of a Class B misdemeanor upon a first conviction. In addition, those convicted will be required to complete and pass an approved

boating safety course.

Upon a second conviction, a person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and upon a third or subsequent conviction, a person will be guilty of a Class D felony.

A person boating while intoxicated who causes the death or serious injury of another person will, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony.

BOATING

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Know the rules for personal watercraft Personal watercraft operators must adhere to the legal requirements of all boating laws and those specific to the operation of personal watercraft on Missouri waters.

Missouri State Highway Patrol, or other state, to operate a PWC. It is illegal to operate a personal watercraft while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

PWCs must be operated Requirements specific in a careful and responsible to PWCs manner. Specifically, it is illegal Everyone on board a PWC for PWC operators to: while underway must wear a ❯❯ Weave the PWC through conU.S. Coast Guard–approved gested waterway traffic.

Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device. ❯❯ Jump the wake of another An operator of a PWC motorboat when visibility is equipped with a lanyard-type obstructed. ignition safety switch must ❯❯ Become airborne while attach the lanyard to his or her crossing the wake of another person, clothing or PFD. motorboat and within 100 You must be at least 14 feet of that motorboat. years of age to operate a ❯ ❯ Operate at greater than PWC, unless a supervising “slow, no wake” speed within person at least 16 years of 50 feet of any other vessel, age is also on board the perPWC or person in the water. sonal watercraft. ❯❯ Operate in a manner that If born after Jan. 1, 1984, requires swerving at the last you must have a boating safety possible moment to avoid identification card that is collision.

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators– Also, it is strongly recomapproved and issued by the mended that PWCs be operat-

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You must be at least 14 years of age to operate a personal watercraft, unless a supervising person at least 16 years of age is also on board.

ed only during daylight hours. If navigation lights.

PWCs are exempt from disa PWC is operated at night, the PWC must display the required playing the skier-down flag.

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Buoys ❯❯ Circles: Speed limits, no fishing areas, no anchoring areas, ski-only areas, no skiing areas and no wake zones ❯❯ Diamonds: Warnings of danger and indicate to proceed with caution to avoid rocks, shoals, construction, dams or stumps ❯❯ Crossed diamonds: Off-limit areas for vessels such as

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LARGE SELECTION OF AR-15 RIFLES - KNIVES -OPTICS CALLS - DECOYS - AMMO - MUZZLE LOADERS RELOADING EQUIPMENT & POWDERS -SAUSAGE KITS CASINGS - RANGE FINDERS - SEASONINGS - MARINADES GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

swimming areas, dams and spillways ❯❯ Squares on buoys: Food, supplies and repairs, directions and other information

Atchison Outfitters In the Dillon Tire Building 2000 W. 59 Hwy. • Atchison, Kansas 75114650

(913) 367-6312

F

PLATTE DD Helvey Park

Lib

Smith’s Fork Park

180th St.

F

St. Luke’s Northland Hospital

Heritage Park

H

169

188th St.

Clinton County Line Rd.

KK Little Platte River

164th St. Creek Rd. ond Sec

d

ert yS t.

W

Paradise Pointe Golf Complex

Little Platte Park

Kelsey Short

Camp Branch Group Bauman Park Camp

J

200th St.

204th St.

Paradise

Special regulations apply

HONKER COVE WATERFOWL REFUGE

Sailboat Cove

Camp Branch

Paradise Pointe Marina

Woodhenge

Accessible Fishing Dock

164th St.

Crow’s Creek Park

Camp Branch Marina

160th St.

174th St. Clay County Parks & Recreation Office

Paved Roads

CLINTON 198th St. C L A Y

E

Ectonville

168th St.

156th St.

92 PARK KEY INITIALS

Five Co rners Rd.

Eastern Rd.

Cr

SF — Smith’s Fork Park LP — Little Platte Park CC — Crow’s Creek Park CBM — Camp Branch Marina CBC — Camp Branch Campground PP — Perkins Park LVC — Litton Visitor Center KS — Kelsey Short Group Camp SC — Sailboat Cove

W

188th St.

Gravel Roads

Arley

eek

Wilkerson

George L. Stanton | Special to the Smithville Herald

Handicap Accessible Facility

AMENITIES SF LP CC CBM CBC PP LVC KS SC Picnic Area 164th St. Boat Ramp Marina Sailboat Facilities C Swimming Campgrounds Group Camp Trails Ball Fields Electrical Hookups Sewage Dump Sewage Hookup Water Supply A Showers Restrooms Laundry Facilities Golf Course Trap Range Fishing Dock Courtesy Dock

CLAY COUNTY PARKS

C

COUNTY COUNTY

McKeehan Rd. Neth Rd. 172nd St.

Creek

ch

Bran

Camp

Fightmaster Rd. Francis Rd.

Murphy Rd. Quinn Rd.

County Line Rd. Se c o n

92

Litton Visitor Center and Corps of Engineers Office

NE 144th St.

Short Ln.

e Ow l

Eastern Rd.

Quinn Rd. N Stark Rd.

Collins Rd.

Cr e

WHB Rd.

Long Rd.

H.H. Lake Rd.

Cr e e k

N. Main St.

SMITHVILLE

SOURCES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clay County Parks and Recreation Dept.

Mt. Olivet Rd.

COUNTY CLAY Cree k Fi r s t

COUNTY

W

169

116

0

1

K

268th St.

Y

Re ser v

C

o

Perkins Park

240th St.

tte

116

Pla

Tornado Shelter No Water Skiing Administration Area

(No Hunting)

Wildlife Refuge Area Lake Access Point Hiking Trail Marina Station Picnic Area Sailboat Facilities Swimming Area Trap Range Disc Golf

C

er Riv

Accessible Facilities Boat Ramp Camping Available Equestrian Trail Fishing Dock Golf Course Hazardous Boating Area

Hospital

City/Town Boundary

(No Hunting)

Park Area

(Hunting Allowed)

Public Land

Maple St.

PLATTSBURG

H

KEY

Plotsky Ave.

Town and Country Rd.

224th St.

J

Middle Rd.

MILE

1/2

246th St.

Westbridge

236th St.

228th St. 225th St.

220th St.

Spring Town Rd.

252nd St.

Grayson O

O

PLATTE

208th St.

d. ing R Devl SW Short

nch Bra ir

240th St.

Li n

nB ra

nc h C re ek

223rd St.

214th St.

Hord Rd.

SMITHVILLE LAKE MISSOURI

Z

208th St.

Trimble

Ston y Po int R d.

McCulloch Rd.

County Lake Rd. ek

Smith-Halferty Rd. Shewey Rd.

SW Shaver Harris Rd. Arnold

COUNTY CLINTON

COUNTY

46

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Marinas keep boaters moving along

Courier-Tribune Photo

The lake includes an area for sailboats that includes a sailboat marina called Sailboat Cove.

Camp Branch Marina

trails, trapshooting park and picnic sites.

❯ Marina location: 17201 Paradesian St., Smithville Paradise Pointe Marina ❯ Phone: (816) 407-3420 ❯ Marina location: 2825 NE ❯ Camp Branch Marina has 180th St. The marina is in fishing and pontoon boats Little Platte Park, which is off for rent. It also offers boating Northeast 180th Street near accessories, life jackets, swim Missouri Route F. Take U.S. flags, batteries, fishing tackle, Highway 169 north of Smithbait, ice, snacks, drinks and ville to 180th Street. fuel. Covered overnight boat Phone: (816) 532-5376 ❯ slips are available along with covered boat slips that ❯ Located in Little Platte Park, can be leased in six-month Paradise Pointe Marina store increments. Camp Branch is offers boating accessories, located near the swimming life jackets, swim flags, batbeach, Camp Branch Campteries, fishing tackle, bait, ice, ground, boat ramps, walking fuel, snacks, drinks and other

items. Overnight boat slips are available along with covered boat slips and uncovered boat slips that can be leased in six-month increments. ❯ Paradise Pointe Marina is located near the swimming beach, boat ramps, walking trails, picnic sites, playground, the historic Woodhenge and Akers Cemetery, disc golf courses and Paradise Pointe Golf Complex.

Sailboat Cove Marina ❯ Marina location: 4404 Paradise Road, Smithville ❯ Sailboat Cove Marina is

utilized by sailors, picnickers, sightseers and fishermen.

With the exception of the docks, mooring buoys and dry storage facility, the area is open to the public. The day sail area of Sailboat Cove is designed for launching catamarans, small sailboats and wind surfing. The facility includes picnic tables and grills, as well as access to walking trails nearby. Large sailboats must use the ramp north of the parking lot, which is specially designed for them.

There also is a restroom and shower facility that is open year round.

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Carry out & catering available.

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1018 S. Hwy 169 • Smithville, MO 64089

Patio Seating and Private Dining Room Available For daily specials!

75115750

816-873-3444

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48

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Know your life jackets before boating Missouri law requires boaters to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board and accessible for each occupant of the boat.

Children under the age of 7 are required to wear a life jacket whenever they are on a boat unless they are in the cabin area of a houseboat or cruiser.

All personal watercraft users are required to wear life jackets anytime they are underway. The simple act of choosing to wear a life jacket has made a huge difference for many accident survivors.

“Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket,” states literature from the Safe Boating Week campaign. “Drowning is the reported cause of death in 76 percent of all boating fatalities — and 84.5 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket in 2017.”

This year’s national Safe Boating Week will be May 18-24. The campaign takes place the week before Memorial Day weekend each year. Its goal is to encourage boaters to pay extra attention to boating safety, and to always wear their life jackets.

“The life jacket industry has made great advancements in styles and comfort for recreational boaters,” states a Safe Boating Week press release. “New life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight and stylish than the bulky orange style most boaters

know. There are innovative options, such as inflatable life jackets, allowing mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing, paddling or hunting, and are much cooler in the warmer weather.”

There are self-inflating models available for adults that can be worn as light suspenders or even as small fanny-pack pouch styles that can be worn around the waist. It is key for boaters to be familiar with their life jackets and ensure they fit properly.

The most common error for youth life jackets is allowing children to wear ones that are too big. If a child’s life jacket is too big or not tightened properly, it may not support their head above the water line.

Many child-sized life jackets are available with popular characters to encourage kids to wear them. Of course, the best way to encourage kids to wear a life jacket is for adults to lead by example and wear a life jacket.

When preparing to go out on a vessel, the operator must check that the legally required equipment is on board.

All vessels 16 feet in length or longer must carry one wearable U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation device (life jacket) for each person on board or being towed.

Vessels less than 16 feet in length must carry one wearable or one throwable USCG– approved PFD for each person on board or being towed.

Under federal law, however, a wearable

Types of personal flotation devices TYPE I: Offshore life jackets provide the most buoyancy, are geared for rough or remote waters, and will turn most unconscious persons face up in the water.

TYPE II: Near-shore vests are good for calm waters but may not turn some unconscious wearers face up in the water.

TYPE III: Flotation aids are vests or full-sleeved jackets. They are good for calm waters but will not turn most unconscious wearers face up in the water.

TYPE IV: Throwable devices are cushions and ring buoys, are not designed to be worn.

TYPE V: These special-use devices can be vests, deck suits or hybrids made for specific activities such as windsurfing or water skiing.

Courier-Tribune Photo

Children under the age of 7 are required to wear a life jacket whenever they are on a boat unless they are in the cabin area of a houseboat or cruiser.

PFD is required for each person on board regardless of vessel length.

Children under 7 years of age must wear a USCG–approved PFD at all times while on board any vessel, unless the child is confined in a totally enclosed area of the vessel, such as the cabin area of a houseboat or day cruiser.

One USCG–approved Type IV personal flotation device must be on board vessels 16 feet or longer and readily accessible, in addition to the above requirements.

Each person riding on a personal watercraft must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Besides being USCG–approved, all PFDs must be: ❯❯ In good and serviceable condition. ❯❯ Readily accessible, which means you are able to put the PFD on quickly in an emergency. PFDs may not be stowed in closed or locked compartments. ❯❯ Of the proper size for the intended wearer.

Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.

For more information on safe boating practices, visit safeboatingcampaign.com.

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

49

Kayak adventure awaits Northland Outdoor Adventures works to help area residents enjoy the beauty of Smithville Lake each weekend in season.

The business rents single and tandem kayaks, as well as stand-up paddle boards, near the swim beach at Little Platte Park.

NOA is a seasonal operation, open weekends from the start of May through Labor Day, including Memorial Day and the July 4 holiday.

Rentals are available by the hour or by the day, and group rates are available.

Prices ❯❯ Single person kayak: $15 per hour, $50 for the day ❯❯ Tandem kayak: $20 per hour, $70 for the day ❯❯ Paddle board: $20 per hour, $70 for the day For more information, visit www.kcnoa.com or Contributed Photo Those interested in a new sport can try stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. Both types call (816) 945-2925. of equipment can be rented from Northland Outdoor Adventures.

Prices subject to change.

Kansas City Trapshooters Association Kansas City’s Premier Shotgun Facility

Offering trap, skeet, and five stand sporting clays. We hold Seasonal Leagues, ATA registered Tournaments, Corporate Events, and Fundraisers, as well as regular practice sessions for both new and experienced shooters.

75113904

Smithville Lake 6420 NE 176th Street Smithville, MO 64089 816.532.4427 www.kctraps.com KCTARLH@yahoo.com

50

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Boat rental and dock fees Entrance fees

❯❯ Senior boat — $65/$60 with taxpayer discount, $32.50 beginning Aug. 1 ❯❯ Season senior vehicle/boat combination — $100/$90 with taxpayer discount, $50 beginning Aug. 1 ❯❯ All passes will be a reusable “Hang Tag” with a yearly sticker. ❯❯ Non-motorized boats less than 14 feet and canoes — free

Fees listed below are subject to change. For up-to-date fees and for boat slip availability, call the Clay County Parks Department at (816) 407-3420.

Discounted season passes are available when a current year paid Clay County personal property tax receipt is presented at the Clay County Park Office.

Boat-only season passes are especially useful for campers and slip holders who have their vehicles covered by other Boat slip fees passes. ❯❯ Slips are leased/paid every ❯❯ Daily vehicles — $5 six months. ❯❯ Daily boat — $12 ❯❯ Slip contracts run from ❯❯ Season vehicle — $45/$35 January to June and July to with taxpayer discount December. ❯❯ Boat only — $85/$65 with ❯❯ Clay County advises individtaxpayer discount, $42.50 uals to not purchase a boat beginning Aug. 1 with the understanding the ❯❯ Season vehicle/boat slip is part of the sale. Slips combination — $130/$100 are available for lease only with taxpayer discount, $65 through Camp Branch Marina. beginning Aug. 1 Slips are non-transferable ❯❯ Season senior (62 and and non-assignable by the older) vehicle — $35/$30 with licensee. The licensee must taxpayer discount, $17.50 be the registered owner of beginning Aug. 1 the boat that is to occupy the

Boat ramp locations

Courier-Tribune Photo

Boat slips at Smithville Lake are leased in six-month increments: January to June and July to December.

slip. No boat other than the one assigned to a slip may occupy the slip unless written permission is obtained from the tourism manager. ❯❯ For questions regarding slip rental, contact Camp Branch Marina at (816) 407-3420.

Camp Branch Marina boat rentals ❯❯ Marina location: 17201 Paradesian St. ❯❯ Phone: (816) 407-3420 ❯❯ Boat rental reservations will be taken beginning April 1, and rentals will be available beginning May 1. ❯❯ A deposit is required for each rental on a Visa, Master Card or Discover credit card. Debit

side of Missouri Route W, 1.5 ❯❯ Little Platte boat ramp is off Northeast 180th Street near miles east of U.S. Highway Missouri Route F. It serves 169. the west side of the lake and ❯❯ Sailboat Cove’s smaller is easily accessed from U.S. ramps off Route W on Smithville Lake has five multiHighway 169.

Paradise Road are intendlane launch ramps that make for Camp Branch boat ramp is ed for non-motorized boat ❯ ❯ quick entry to the lake. The ramp located on the east side of launches.

Larger sailboats can locations are: Smithville Lake off of Collins be launched from the cove’s ❯❯ Route W boat multi-lane Road on Paradesian.

The ramp north of the parking lot. ramp is located on the north

and check cards will not be accepted for a deposit. All boats are rented with a full tank of gas and life jackets. ❯❯ Pets are not allowed. ❯❯ Boat rentals are 25 percent off during the week (excluding holidays). ❯❯ There is a two-hour minimum. ❯❯ All boats must be returned by 6 p.m. ❯❯ 18-foot pontoon rental: $290 per day, $185 four hours, $110 two hours ❯❯ 24-foot pontoon rental: $320 per day, $200 four hours, $120 two hours ❯❯ Fishing boat and motor rental: $125 per day, $80 four hours, $60 two hours

Park Office and Camp Branch Marina are also located in this area. Take Highway 169 north to Route W, then south on Collins Road just past the convenience store in Paradise. ❯❯ Crow’s Creek boat ramp is located near Crow’s Creek Campground off Hardesty Road near Missouri Route E.

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

51

Be a good sport and manage your boat wake When visiting Smithville Lake, don’t let your boat wakes turn into a party foul.

As boats continue to grow in number and size, it becomes imperative to practice common courtesy and be mindful of others enjoying the water.

Join with the Missouri State Highway Patrol in promoting wake courtesy to minimize the danger to others using our waterways, damage to docks, and erosion to our shorelines. Operating a

motorboat at “plowing” speed is necessary at times, but should not be the norm.

Please make note of these reminders so you are part of the solution and not part of the problem: ❯❯ Operate your boat at idle speed, or when you are safely able to do so, operate on plane. Do not continuously plow unless absolutely necessary. ❯❯ Boats that cause excessive

Citations are not issued at vessel checks conducted

by Flotilla 30-01 at Smithville Lake.

The inspection results are reviewed with the boat owner along with safety information.

wakes should always operate but these boat owners and in the middle of the lake to operators require heightened allow their boat wake time and awareness of the wake they distance to lose energy. are causing. ❯❯ Plowing within cove locations ❯❯ Remember to be courteous. is discouraged, unless safety If you were in a small boat ator water sport activities require tempting to navigate your boat you to do so. wake, or you owned a dock that has to survive your boat ❯❯ Water sport activities requiring wake, would you be operating excessive boat wakes should in the same manner? be reserved for areas of our lakes where the danger to ❯❯ Treat other boaters and properboaters, damage to docks or ty owners as you would want to significant shoreline erosion is be treated. limited. ❯❯ Causing harm to another ❯❯ Cruiser and houseboat owners person or their property with and operators are a signifian excessive boat wake may cant and important part of subject you to enforcement our boating communities, action or civil liability.

Courier-Tribune Photo

Free vessel checks visual distress signals, horns and fire extinguishers are some of the items that are checked, depending on the type of vessel.

If a deficiency is found, the owner will have the opportunity to correct it.

The Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters, including jet ski and paddle craft operators, take advantage of this service every year.

This is a free service provided by volunteers from Flotilla 08531-01.

For more information, call David Hosea at 816-728-8440.

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Joan M. Hankins, DVM Smithville, MO

75114701

Flotilla 085-31-01 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will conduct vessel safety checks through the spring and summer at Little Platte Park at Smithville Lake.

The checks will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the following Saturdays: April 6, May 4, June 1 and July 6.

A vessel safety check ensures the vessel — recreational boats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes and other paddle craft — and its equipment comply with federal, state and local safety requirements.

Life jackets, navigation lights,

532-WOOF (9663) www.LakesideMobileVet.com

52

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Clean the boat, avoid invasive species Zebra mussels keep being a concern in Smithville Lake, and it seems they are here to stay.

The first discovery of zebra mussels at Smithville Lake in 2010 was quickly exterminated because they were contained to one area. They were in the Camp Branch Marina on a boat slip that came from Lake of the Ozarks.

Two years later, the species was found at Camp Branch Marina.

The zebra mussel is an invasive species not native to Missouri waters, first discovered in the United States in the Great Lakes in 1988, according to literature from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The species is a filter feeder, so it filters out some of the algae and plankton in the water, making it difficult for smaller fish that are also filter feeders to find enough to eat.

Zebra mussels find a home anywhere they can and often clog water intakes and boat motors.

There are two drinking water intakes on the lake. The city of Smithville gets drinking water from the lake, and city of Plattsburg has a treatment facility located in Trimble.

Zebra mussels range from microscopic to 1.5 inches long and often attach to boats. So if someone takes a boat out of Smithville Lake and puts it in another body of water, it’s almost guaranteed there are zebra mussels on it.

Any boat used in Smithville Lake needs to be power washed with water at 104 degrees or dried in the summer heat for about a week.

When zebra mussels grow large enough to be seen, they are striped with a pointed hinge. They are also very Missouri Depar tment of Conser vation sharp.

These zebra mussels have attached themselves to a boat prop on a

Clean, Drain, Dry

With the average female zebra mussel capable of laying 1 million eggs a year, the species can quickly take over a waterway and decimate the native freshwater mussels and other established animal populations.

Boaters, anglers, water skiers, scuba divers, sailors, canoeists and other water recreationists are encouraged to take the following steps to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Missouri.

Clean — Thoroughly wash all equipment that has been in contact with a body of water. If the equipment was used in infested waters, or if you find any attached adult mussels, use a 104-degree water spray during cleaning.

Drain — Eliminate all water from equipment before leaving the area, including live wells and transom wells.

Dry — Make sure your equipment is completely dry before using it in other waters.

watercraft that had been docked in a lake infested with the invasive and destructive mussels. Most zebra mussel infestations are caused by moving boats, docks, fishing gear or related items from a lake with the mussels to another lake.

Don’t forget about the others

Fish from both species can top 50 pounds. Large silver carp can leap 10 feet into the air when Invasive (silver and bighead) startled by boat motors, which carp were imported into the United States to clean algae from can cause serious injuries to passengers in moving boats and tanks in commercial fish farms tear up gear. and sewage treatment plants.

Both silver and bighead carp Due to releases or escapes are plankton feeders and they caused by flooding, they’ve deplete food used by native sport spread in recent decades and fishes such as bass and crappie thrive in many rivers. when they are young. One native They are also becoming a sport fish, the paddlefish, feeds threat to lakes. on plankton through its entire life It is illegal to use the species cycle. as live bait.

BOATING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

53

Safety key when towing skiers 3 inches in height and 8 parasail or any other device inches in width, gives 180 only during daylight hours degrees of vision behind the (sunrise to sunset). operator, and is designed ❯❯ A reasonable distance from as a ski mirror. The Missouri other vessels, people, and State Highway Patrol does property must be mainRequirements not recognize the manufactained so as not to endanger for towing skiers turer’s mirrors on personal life or property. It is illegal Every motorboat or PWC watercraft as being sufficient to cause the person being towing a person on water skis, for this purpose. towed to collide with any a wakeboard or any other de❯❯ Every motorboat or PWC object or person. vice other than a parasail must towing a parasailer must ❯❯ An operator of a motorboat have either: have a person at least 12 on waters of the Mississippi ❯❯ A person on board, in years old on board, in addiRiver, the Missouri River or addition to the operator, tion to the operator, actively Missouri lakes between the observing the towed person observing the parasailer. hours of 11 a.m. and sunset at all times (preferably ❯❯ Persons may be towed must display a skier-down the observer is at least 12 behind a motorboat or PWC flag clearly whenever the years old) or an approved ski mirror that is at least on water skis, a surfboard, towed person(s) is in the Motorboat and personal watercraft operators towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device have additional laws they must follow.

water. The flag should be lowered while the motorboat is engaged in towing but should be displayed again when the towed person enters the water.

In addition, it is strongly recommended that all persons being towed behind a motorboat or PWC on water skis or any other device wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation device.

Ski belts are not U.S. Coast Guard-approved.

It is against Missouri law to operate water skis, wakeboards or other such devices while intoxicated.

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1601 A&B South 169 Hwy., Smithville 75114916

532-4660

54

RECREATION

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

These golf terms are par for the course Golf is a game of sport and ❯❯ Bunker: A hallow comprised skill that can be played at any of sand or grass that serves age. Millions of people in North as an obstacle.

America participate in golf as ❯❯ Carry: The distance a ball a recreational endeavor or a will fly in the air. professional pursuit. ❯❯ Chip: A short approach with a low trajectory.

Storied golf history Chunk: A poor shot caused ❯ ❯ Although golf can be traced by hitting the turf. back to the Netherlands during the Middle Ages, many people ❯❯ Divot: The turf displaced when the club strikes the concur that the modern game ball. of golf — played over 18 holes — is a Scottish invention. ❯❯ Downswing: The swing The popularity of the sport forward from the top of the began to spread throughout backswing. the world from Great Britain. ❯❯ Eagle: A score of two under The first permanent golf club par on a hole. Golf range: in North America was foundA facility where people can ed in 1873 and was named practice golf swings.

Canada’s Royal Montreal Club.

The first 18-hole course in the ❯❯ Grip: The positioning of hands on the club.

United States was The Chicago

❯❯ Hole: A round receptacle on the green that the ball is aimed into. ❯❯ Lie: As it relates to the golf ball, the position when it has come to rest. ❯❯ Links: Specific term for a course built on linksland, which is land reclaimed from the ocean. ❯❯ Mulligan: An extra shot taken on a poor first shot. Par: The score an accomplished player is expected to make on a hole, either a three, four or five. ❯❯ Putt: A shot on the green. ❯❯ Stance: The position of the feet.

Source: Metro Creative

Golf Club.

Golf lingo Understanding the terminology is key to becoming a full-fledged golf fanatic. While golf lingo is extensive, here is a sampling of some of the more popular terms to get novices started, courtesy of the PGA. ❯❯ Approach: A shot hit towards the green. ❯❯ Attack: The relative angle at which the clubhead approaches the ball at impact. ❯❯ Backswing: The motion that involves the club and every element of the body in taking the club away from the ball. ❯❯ Birdie: A score of one under par on a hole.

Metro Creative ❯❯ Bogey: A score of one over Golf terms are as varied as the game itself. Knowing commonly used words par on a hole. and phrases makes for a more intimate understanding of the sport.

Golf trivia Golf is played all over the globe. It is one of the world’s oldest sports, boasting a rich history. Golf is a sport of skill, that can involve not only athletic prowess, but also brain power. Here are some interesting facts about the game. ❯❯ To this date, golf is only one of two games to be played on the moon. The other is a javelin throw. ❯❯ Long before the advent of tees, golfers played off of hand-built sand piles. ❯❯ In 1889, Ab Smith inadvertently coined the phrase “birdie,” when he hit a shot he defined as a “bird of a shot.” ❯❯ Making a hole-in-one during a round of golf is quite a challenge. However, the odds of making two are incredibly low, at one in 64 million. ❯❯ Only around 20 percent of golfers have a handicap below 18. The United States Golf Teachers Federation defines handicap as “a measure of a player’s current ability over an entire round of golf, signified by a number. The lower the number, the better the golfer is.” ❯❯ A regulation golf ball contains 336 dimples.

Source: Metro Creative

RECREATION

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

55

Tee up a good time on lake courses Paradise Pointe Golf Complex, featuring two 18-hole golf courses and a four-hole Academy course, provides enjoyable fairways and greens for first-timers and longtime golf enthusiasts.

Each course offers views of Smithville Lake along with its natural wildlife habitats. The courses, The Posse and The Outlaw, were named in homage to Jesse James, the infamous area native.

Located on the west side of Smithville Lake, Paradise Pointe hosts hundreds of people at various events throughout the year, from corporate gatherings to tournaments and fundraising and charity events.

To get to the complex from U.S. Highway 169, travel east on 180th Street to the Smithville Lake Little Platte Park entrance.

Turn left at the sign to enter the complex parking lot.

Rates (subject to change) ❯❯ Weekday greens fees for 18 holes: $30, and $19 after 3 p.m. ❯❯ Weekend greens fees for 18 holes: $32, and $19 after 3 p.m. ❯❯ Academy greens fee: $12.50 on weekdays, $13.50 on the weekend ❯❯ The Posse offers a nine-hole green for $14.50 during the week and $18 on the weekend. ❯❯ Junior/Senior fees (only available weekdays): $19 ❯❯ Cart rental: $18 per rider, 18 holes; $9 per rider, 9 holes; $8 per rider, Academy ❯❯ Pull cart rental: $4

❯❯ Club rental: $30 ❯❯ Range balls: Large, $8; small, $4 ❯❯ Annual range passes: $350

Each of Paradise Pointe Golf Complex’s courses offer views of Smithville Lake along with its natural wildlife habitats. The courses, The Posse and The Outlaw, were named in homage to Jesse James, a native to this area.

Amenities ❯❯ The Posse, the original course, has a traditional layout on bluegrass fairways that measures 7,018 yards from the tips with a rolling hill backdrop. It features small greens and a handful of holes on the front nine that make up the Smithville Lake shoreline. ❯❯ The Outlaw has a links-style layout on zoysia fairways that largely expands away from the water, claiming 7,016 yards from the back trees. There is no “turn” after the first nine holes because with the linksstyle layout, players won’t see the clubhouse from the ninth green. A small bar is located in that area for mid-round refreshment. However, it is not always open. Those with Outlaw experience suggest stocking up your bounty from the clubhouse before heading to the first tee. ❯❯ Paradise Pointe, in addition to the Academy course, offers a driving range, putting and chipping greens, and a pro shop rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 in the United States for 10 years in a row. The shop offers a variety of golf supplies and apparel.

Call the pro shop at (816) 532-4100 or visit www.pardisepointegolf.com for more information. Fees are subject to change.

Courier-Tribune Photo

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Take a shot with disc golf Disc golf is another outdoor sport and amenity available to Smithville Lake visitors. Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and shares with regular golf the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes.

Camp Branch Disc Golf Course A par 27, nine-hole disc golf course suitable for newcomers to the sport can be found within the Camp Branch Campground, located off Collins Road at Smithville Lake.

Paradise Pointe Disc Golf Complex Paradise Pointe Disc Golf Complex is a professionally designed recreational facility located within Little Platte Park.

The complex has three courses, Beaver Creek, Black Thorn and Woodhenge, with varying degrees of difficulty.

On sunny days, Dambusters club members gather at their 3.5-acre flying range and facility located south of the Litton Visitor Center on Missouri Highway DD. Dambuster s Radio Control Model Aircraf t Club

All the courses have metal baskets.

Most of the holes feature concrete tee pads marking the start of the next hole, and at the bottom of each basket is a pointer to the next tee pad. ❯❯ Beaver Creek (Par 56) White baskets — Starts left of Shelter No. 1 and shoots down toward the water. ❯❯ Black Thorn (Par 56-60) Blue baskets — Starts from the picnic table area at Shelter No. 2, down toward the cemetery. ❯❯ Woodhenge (Par 62-65) Gold baskets — Starts behind the bathroom on the north side of the parking lot. Plays counterclockwise, Nos. 1 through 9 on the east side and holes 10-18 on the west side of the road.

There is an entrance fee to gain access to the courses. For more information, including course maps and score cards, visit the Clay County website at www.claycountymo.gov/Parks.

Courier-Tribune Photo

A boat travels close to the 15th hole at Woodhenge Disc Golf Course at Smithville Lake. Paradise Pointe Disc Golf Complex is a professionally designed recreational facility located within Little Platte Park. The complex has three courses — Beaver Creek, Black Thorn and Woodhenge — with varying degrees of difficulty.

Going up Dambusters take lake fun to new heights Dambusters Radio Control Model Aircraft Club, which began in 1980 as a place for kids and families to go to fly model airplanes, invite remote-controlled aviation types to Smithville Lake.

On sunny days, club members gather at their 3.5-acre flying range and facility located south of the Litton Visitor Center on Missouri Highway DD. The land the club uses is available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, meaning the area is ADA compliant and insured for injury.

For more club details, see the group’s Facebook page by searching “Smithville DamBusters RC” on the social media site.

Lake fun includes trapshooting

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pants in league competitions and featured shooters from around the Kansas City area. High school age and youth leagues also compete in events at the range.

Other activities available include beginner instruction, fun shoots, fundraising, corporate entertainment and special reservations.

To get to the range from U.S. Highway 169, travel east on Missouri Route W for 3 miles to Paradise. Turn right on Collins Road, and travel 1 mile to the Camp Branch Campground entrance.

Learn more about the Kansas City Trapshooter’s Association by calling (816) 532-4427 or go online to www.kctraps.com.

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Kansas City Trapshooter’s Association’s shotgun-only shooting park consists of 10 trap fields, two skeet fields, one five-stand field and clubhouse located at 6420 NE 176th St., off the lake coast by the Camp Branch Campground entrance.

With roots dating back to 1887, KCTA settled in Smithville during the mid-1980s and hosts a wide range of events for shooters from league-play to annual tournaments with people from all over the country.

Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. seasonally on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Participants can purchase ammunition and loading components in the clubhouse. To get started shooting, just head out to the range.

Leagues are year round, held on Wednesdays, and seasonally on Tuesdays. KCTA hosts Amateur Trapshooting Association registered shoots for those in regional and national competitions.

There are hundreds of partici-

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2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

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Soak up sun on sand Smithville Lake includes two swim beaches Those looking to soak up some sun while having sand under their feet have two options at Smithville Lake.

Camp Branch Park is home to one beach, while the other can be found in Little Platte Park. Both are maintained by the Clay County parks department.

Both beaches are open to the public from 8:30â&#x20AC;Ża.m. to

sunset beginning May 1 and remain open until Sept. 15.

All facilities include amenities such as showers, changing rooms, restrooms and a drinking fountain.

Neither beach has a lifeguard on duty, so familiarize your family with rules of water safety.

Pets, glass containers and alcoholic beverages are prohibited at both sites.

Camp Branch Beach Camp Branch Beach is located on the east side of the lake within Camp Branch Park across the parking lot from the main park office, Camp Branch Marina and Boat Launch.

Not only does a beachgoer have access by vehicle, but this beach can also be accessed by taking the Bonebender Trail from the Camp Branch Campground.

Google Maps

Little Platte Beach Little Platte Beach is located within Little Platte Park on the west side of the lake and is accessible from 180th Street. The Little Platte Trail leads to this beach in addition to vehicular accessibility.

Nearby attractions include: Paradise Pointe Marina, Paradise Pointe Golf Courier-Tribune Photo Beachgoers must swim at their own Complex and the historrisk at Smithville Lake as the swim ic Woodhenge and Akers beaches do not have lifeguards on Cemetery. duty.

Google Maps

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Protect your family from sun’s harmful rays The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage a person’s skin in as little as 15 minutes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer every year. To help prevent cancer and burn risks, the CDC offers the following recommendations.

damage,” states a CDC release online at www.cdc.gov.

Reapplying suncreseen every two hours is key for longstanding protection throughout the day.

Clothing & accessories

Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun’s harmful rays. A wet T-shirt offers less UV Shade & sunscreen protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more You can reduce your risk of protection than lighter colors. skin damage and skin cancer For protection of a person’s by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree or other shelter. face, ears and back of the Center s for Disease Control and Prevention neck, wear a hat with a brim In addition, the CDC recA person can reduce his or her risk of skin damage and skin cancer by all the way around. “A tightly ommends wearing sunscreen seeking shade under an umbrella, tree or other shelter. woven fabric, such as canvas, or protective clothing when works best to protect your skin outside, even in the shade. from UV rays. Avoid straw hats “Put on broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. more UV protection,” the CDC Don’t forget to put a thick layer states. “If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect on all parts of exposed skin. your ears and the back of your Get help for hard-to-reach neck by wearing clothing that places like your back. And covers those areas, using a remember, sunscreen works broad spectrum sunscreen best when combined with with at least SPF 15, or by other options to prevent UV staying in the shade.”

Sunglasses also protect eyes from UV rays and Basements, Septic Installation, reduce the risk of cataracts.

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Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Academy of Dermatology

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Sleep lakeside Courier-Tribune Photo

At Clay County-run campgrounds, there is a limit of six people per campsite with up to two tents, or a tent and a trailer, and no more than three axled units per site.

Located 30 minutes north of Kansas City, Smithville Lake has multiple campsites available to those who want to get away.

With campgrounds operated by both the Clay County parks departments and the city of Smithville, sites for campers of all types are available.

Clay County operates the Crow’s Creek and Camp Branch campsites.

Fees at these sites are as follows: ❯ Unimproved sites: $20 ❯ Electric (30 amp): $25, ❯ Electric and water (50 amp): $35.

In addition, the camping waste disposal fee is $20, and the county offers a special for seniors occupying a site.

Seniors with a three-night reservation in advance receive a fourth night free.

Kelsey Short is $60 per area for a

trailer, and no more than three axled units group of 20 or fewer. Any additional perper site. son over 20 incurs a $3 charge.

Camping fees include one vehicle. All ❯ Pets are welcome — no more than two additional vehicles must purchase day dogs per site. No animals can be tied to passes. Boat passes are not included in a tree or left unattended. Pets need to be camping fees. kept on walking leashes of no longer than To reserve a site or learn about 6 feet or tie-outs no longer than 10 feet. season passes available, go online to Pets are not allowed on the beaches. www.claycountymo.gov/departments/ ❯ Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. public-services/parks/camping . ❯ No parking on the grass. ❯ Breaking of these rules is subject to fines.

Crow’s Creek Crow’s Creek is nestled off Route E, toward the south end of Smithville Lake. Crow’s Creek Smith’s Fork Campground consists of 415 campsites with tent and RV Located at the base of the Smithville Lake sites including electrical hook-ups.

Dam in Smith’s Fork Park, this campground is open April 1 through October.

Camp Branch Camping fees are $30 per night. Check-in is 1 p.m. Gates are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Camp Branch is on the east side of Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Smithville Lake and consists of 362 campReservations may be made during the seasites. Both tent and RV sites are available son by calling (816) 532-1028. To learn more with several including electrical hook-ups. about the site, visit www.smithvillemo.org.

Campground Rules at Camp Branch and Crow’s Creek

Courier-Tribune Photo

Fire rings and picnic tables dot the landscape at Smith’s Fork Campground. Campfires are allowed only in the fire rings, and no campfires are allowed after midnight.

❯ Monday through Saturday, check-in is at 1 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m. On Sunday, check-in is 5 p.m. and check-out is 3 p.m. Holiday hours may occur. ❯ Maximum length of stay is 30 days in a 60-day period. ❯ Campsites run by Clay County accept cash, check or credit card payments. ❯ There is a limit of six people per campsite with up to two tents, or a tent and a

Campground Rules at Smith’s Fork ❯ Parking is allowed only on gravel areas. ❯ Campfires are allowed only in the campfire rings and no fires after midnight. ❯ Do not put trash in campfires. ❯ Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet. ❯ No fireworks, firearms or amplified sound is allowed. ❯ The consumption of alcohol is permitted to those 21 years of age or older.

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Safety tips keep campfires fun There’s nothing quite like enjoying the great outdoors with a roaring fire, gooey s’mores and a night sky full of stars. But that wonderful campfire is also a big responsibility. The National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Forest Service, provide the following tips for keeping everyone safe around the fire.

Staring a fire When starting a fire, use these safety steps to avoid spread or injury. ❯❯ Find a safe location. At Smithville Lake, the county- and city-run campgrounds limit fires to fire rings and grills. Elsewhere, if selecting a location on your own, avoid areas near brush, dry grass or easily ignitable materials. Make a fire ring with a rock enclosure and keep it several feet from any tents you may have up. ❯❯ Keep water close. Make sure you have a source of water, a bucket and shovel nearby at all times. ❯❯ Gather wood from the ground. Never cut whole trees or branches, dead or alive.

Live materials won’t burn, and you’ll be damaging the forest. Dead standing trees often are homes for birds and other wildlife. Small twigs, dry leaves, grass and needles should be used for tinder, while sticks less than an inch around should be used for kindling. Larger pieces of wood should be stacked upwind and used as fire fuel. ❯❯ Collect enough wood to keep your fire going for a while so you don’t have to search in the dark. ❯❯ Start small. Loosely pile a few handfuls of tinder in the center of the fire pit. ❯❯ Add kindling. For a lasting fire, crisscross the kindling over the tinder or use a log cabin technique. For a log cabin technique, surround the tinder pile with kindling, stacking pieces at right angles. Top the cabin with the smallest kindling. ❯❯ Light the fire. Light the fire, adding kindling

Courier-Tribune Photo

Knowing how to safely light, maintain and extinguish a fire is an essential component of safe camping.

and fuel to keep the fire going, but keeping pouring until the hissing sound stops. If the blaze small to control it. Do not use you do not have water, stir dirt or sand into accelerants. Don’t burn dangerous things the embers with a shovel to bury the fire. like aerosol cans, pressurized contain❯❯ Remove embers. With your shovel, scrape ers, glass or aluminum cans. They could any remaining sticks and logs to remove explode, shatter and/or create harmful any embers. Make sure that no embers fumes or dust. Don’t use plastic materials are exposed and still smoldering. as kindling or burn trash because those ❯❯ Keep it cool. Continue adding water, dirt items may produce noxious fumes. or sand and stirring with a shovel until all ❯❯ Keep the fire contained. If part of the ring material is cool. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s is damaged, safely repair the damage not time to leave. before adding additional wood or kindling to the fire. Never leave a fire unattended. ❯❯ Clean up your mess. When all is cool, you can load the ashes into a trash bag for Extinguishing the fire disposal. ❯❯ Burn wood completely. Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible. ❯❯ Add water. Pour lots of water on the fire.

Never leave a fire unattended.

Drown all embers, not just the red ones,

Hot tip

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Try a scenic walk Clay County offers 24 miles of 10-foot wide, paved trails at Smithville Lake for hiking, biking and running.

Trails at Smithville Lake are part of the Mid-America Regional Council’s 911 Regional Public Safety Communications mapping project. The project utilizes GPS grid map coordinates assigned to signs located along Clay County trails to assist first responders in locating trail users during an emergency.

All trails are moderate in difficulty and patrolled regularly by Clay County park rangers.

Backbone Trail The trail is 2.7 miles long and is the primary trail of the Smoke and Davey ensemble. Backbone begins at the Smoke and Davey Trailhead located on the south side of Route W, just east of the W boat ramp and Courier-Tribune Photo bridge. The trail initially follows an old road cut south for one mile to the lake’s edge on At the Smoke & Davey trailhead, near the Kelsey Short Youth Camp area at Smithville Lake, a sign the north side of Sailboat Cove before curv- describes how to call in emergencies. The system uses GPS location. ing east for 2.7 miles around the cove and ending by the Sailboat Cove parking lot.

Whispering Pine and Copperhead Ridge.

Bonebender Trail System ❯❯ Whispering Pine is 1.4 miles long and Both the Bonebender Trail and the Smoke and Davey Trail System winds through hardwood forests of oak and Campground Trail make up this system, hickory.

Named after two Clay County parks totaling 8.9 miles of adventure. staff members, the Smoke and Davey Trail ❯❯ Cooperhead Ridge Trail is 0.7 miles long. ❯❯ Bonebender Trail is 6 miles long and is System is comprised of three trails totaling The common venomous copperhead snake accessible from the Sailboat Cove parking nearly 5 miles in length. The trails making may be the namesake of the trail, but it is lot to the north, from within the Camp up this walk by the lake are Backbone, unlikely you will encounter one in the park.

Branch Campground and from the main park office and Camp Branch swim beach to the south. ❯❯ Campground Trail is 2.9 miles in length and, as is implied by the name, follows ❯❯Motorized vehicles and horses are not allowed on the trails. along the lake shoreline around the Camp Branch campground. Though this trail ❯❯Do not litter on land or water. is connected to the Bonebender Trail, ❯❯Do not damage or remove any plants or trees. accessibility exists only withing the Camp Branch Campground. ❯❯Firearms are not allowed on the trails.

Trail Rules

❯❯Do not build a fire on the trails. ❯❯Do not camp on the trails. ❯❯Do not leave animal waste on the trails.

Crow’s Creek Trail System The Crow’s Creek Trail System connects the Anita B. Gorman Trail and the Cabin Fever Trail in 8.9 miles worth of exploration.

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Courier-Tribune Photo

Cabin Fever Trail hugs the shoreline of the Crow’s Creek arm of Smithville Lake and is easily accessible from the Crow’s Creek Campground to the north.

❯❯ Anita B. Gorman Trail is 1.9 miles long and is accessible from Collins Road to the north and from Crow’s Creek boat ramp area to the south. The trail was re-named after former Missouri Department of Conservation Commissioner Anita B. Gorman 11 years ago for her active involvement with the Smithville Grassland Revitalization Project and her support of wildlife habitat restoration. ❯❯ Cabin Fever Trail is 7 miles in length and named perfectly for those who just need to get out of the house. The trail is accessible from the Crow’s Creek boat ramp area to the north and from Access 25 at the west end of 160th Street. Cabin Fever Trail hugs the shoreline of the Crow’s Creek portion of Smithville Lake and is easily accessible from the Crow’s Creek Campground to the north.

To avoid bothering or being bothered by native creatures of the land, it is suggested to stick to the trails and not to wander into wooded areas.

Sources: Clay County Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Experience the lake from a different view Horse enthusiasts enjoy bringing their horses to Smithville Lake to take advantage of 26 miles of equestrian trails near the south and southeast shores.

Paths run from the Crow’s Creek Campground Trailhead to Arley, Missouri. A rider can travel with their horse through forested areas, open meadows and creek crossings.

Bountiful trailer parking is available at Crow’s Nest and Jack Rabbit Bend.

Orange indicators mark the shoreline trail for those on horseback. There are also post markers that help determine where a rider is and if an emergency occurs, where to find them.

One advisory riders need to observe is that the trails east of Collins Road are located within public hunting areas and should be used with caution during the hunting seasons.

Rules ❯❯ No camping along trail or at access areas. ❯❯ No open fires. ❯❯ Please keep horses out of

Saddle Club provides social environment for horse enthusiasts

Courier-Tribune File Photo

There is ample parking for horseback riders at Jack Rabbit Bend near Crow’s Creek Park campground at Smithville Lake. Kearney Saddle Club maintains the equestrian trails.

crop fields. ❯❯ Follow safe riding practices. ❯❯ Be alert to hazardous crossings and low limbs. ❯❯ Horses shall not enter lake. ❯❯ Show consideration to other riders on trail. ❯❯ Ride horses only on designated trails. ❯❯ To prevent trail damage, avoid riding when trails are wet.

❯❯ Help keep our trails clean.

Do not litter.

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The Kearney Saddle Club is a way for horse lovers to take advantage of Smithville Lake’s equestrian trails in a social environment with people with similar interests.

The group has an arrangement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain 26 miles along the southern and eastern side of the lake.

The club is made up of more than 200 members and was established over 60 years ago. Members meet every month during the winter, spring and autumn seasons.

Activities include having an assortment of guest speakers, arena riding and equine clinics. Anyone can attend a meeting.

To request information, visit kearneysaddleclub.ning.com.

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Fast, flowy ride awaits mountain bikes For those looking for alternative exercise such as mountain biking, Smithville Lake is home to 11 miles of bike-specific trails.

Earth Riders Mountain Bike Club hosts social rides on the variety of mountain bike trails available.

“Built and maintained in cooperation with Clay County Parks, this natural surface trail loops through the woods on either side of a paved trail. Beautiful views as the trail overlooks a length of Smithville Lake shoreline; wildlife sightings in both woods and adjacent meadowlands,” the club website explains.

Restrooms can be found at the Smoke & Davey and Sailboat Cove Trailhead. There are two parking options. Free parking is at the Smoke & Davey Trailhead off of Missouri Route W. Parking can also be found at Sailboat Cove Trailhead. When guards are Courier-Tribune Photo on duty, parking is $5.

Mountain bike trails are located off of Smoke and Davey trail.

The trails are free to use, and ERMBC describes them as fast trailhead, you can go west into Lakeside Speedway and and flowy. All ERMBC events are free.

Neale’s Trail, east into T-N-T, or south on the County walking trail.

For more information on events or trail conditions, visit earthriders.com or find the club on Twitter: @KCTrailStatus.

Source: Earth Riders Mountain Bike Club ❯❯ Trail location from the parking lot: Go south on the paved trail to

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Play on

Parks abound in the city of Smithville, at the lake

In addition to Smithville Lake, the adjacent city of Smithville is home to a variety of outdoor opportunities including parks and ballfields. For information on city parks, call (816) 532-8130.

Smith’s Fork Park ❯❯ Located at 1601 Missouri Route DD on the west side of Smithville Lake Dam, this park is over 250 acres of land leased to the city by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ❯❯ Amenities include a lighted baseball field, two unlighted baseball fields, six soccer fields, a lighted football field, two shelters with electricity, two restrooms, two concession stands, a skate park, a self-supplied driving range, a full-service campground and fishing from the Smithville Lake Dam spillway. ❯❯ Camping is limited to 14 days per session. Those camping must vacate for at least a week before returning to camp.

This helps provide time for crews to conduct repairs and mow sites in between campers. ❯❯ The campground is open seasonally from April 15 to Oct. 15. For reservations, call (816) 532-1028

Courier-Tribune Photo

The playground at Smith’s Fork Park features a climbing wall and multiple slides.

Lake Remote Park and Nature Area

licensed fishers stocked with catfish, bass, crappie and blue gill.

❯❯ This park provides 3.95 miles of improved trails in a 40-acre landscape.

The trails feature three kinds of surfaces: Heritage Park ag-lime, maintained 10-foot cut and ❯❯ Located at 320 E. Main St., east of single track. downtown Smithville, this park features two lighted baseball fields, one practice ❯❯ The park and nature area is part of baseball field, four soccer fields, two Smith’s Fork Park. shelters, a playground, picnic tables, ❯❯ Within a four-mile radius, there is a a half-mile paved walking trail and renatural lake with free public fishing for

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strooms. The park is currently Emerald Ridge Park receiving a renovation to in❯❯ Located at 15108 Kelly Drive. clude improved, all-inclusive ❯❯ Smaller fun for the family, playground equipment. this park features a play❯❯ Parking can be found on the ground and large green west side of the park, across space for picnics or outdoor the creek. games.

Courtyard Park ❯❯ This park can be found in the center of Smithville’s Downtown Historic District at 100 E. Main St. ❯❯ Amenities featured are a 9/11 memorial; the Ali Kemp Memorial Stage, where concerts and plays have been hosted in the past; electricity, perimeter electrical boxes, shade trees, public restrooms, picnic tables and park benches.

Helvey Park ❯❯ This outdoor adventure land can be found at 1 Helvey Drive, just west of Dam Road. ❯❯ Helvey Park provides about 15 acres of parkland, including a 10-acre stocked lake, picnic tables and large shade trees one might read under. ❯❯ A state fishing permit is required to fish at Helvey Park.

AMANDA LUBINSKI/Staf f Photo

One of the many events and performances that grace Smithville’s Courtyard Park and Ali Kemp Memorial Stage off Main Street each year is the Smithville American Legion Community Band.

Remembrance Park ❯❯ Located at the corner of North Bridge Street and Main Street in Smithville. ❯❯ This park is home to a

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Pet rules ❯❯ Pets must be restrained at all times by a leash no longer than 6 feet or tie-outs no longer than 10 feet, unless they are on a boat. ❯❯ No more than two dogs are allowed per campsite. ❯❯ No dog runs, perimeters or invisible fences are allowed. ❯❯ Animals cannot be tied to trees. ❯❯ No animal should be left unattended. ❯❯ Owners will be subject to citations for any damage done to trees or campsites by their animals. ❯❯ Loose dogs and owners not cleaning up after their dogs will be subject to citations. ❯❯ Pets are not allowed on

beautiful gazebo and veteran’s memorial that was donated in 2007 by the then-Mayor Charles Hitchborn and his wife.

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A leash is must-have gear when visiting Smithville Lake with canine companions.

beaches. ❯❯ If an animal is making excessive noise, such as barking, or acting overly aggressive, the owner and animal will be asked to leave the area.

Source: Clay County Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites

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RECREATION

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Gather with friends in the shade of a shelter Smithville Lake offers nearly 200 individual picnic sites featuring tables and grills to those looking to enjoy a meal out in the open.

Shelters are available for year-round reservation in Little Platte Park (on the west side of the lake near Paradise Pointe Golf Complex), near Sailboat Cove (on the east side of the lake near Paradise) and in Crow’s Creek Park (on the southeast side of the lake near 164th Street and Collins Road).

Crow’s Creek boat ramp has handicap amenities including the parking lot for the boat ramp dock and picnic shelter. Brick shower houses are also handicap accessible.

All picnic sites and shelters are available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis, unless reservations have been made in advance through the Clay County Department of Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites by calling (816) 407-3400 or emailing parks@claycountymo.gov.

Vehicles and boats must have entrance passes to get to the shelters in the Little Platte, Crow’s Creek and Sailboat Cove areas at Smithville Lake. Season passes are available for cars for $45.

Shelter fees are:

Sailboat Cove (Danny Goeckel Memorial Shelter) Shelter — $85 ❯❯ Shelter 0 – Complete with a gazebo, 75 yards from the lake, this shelter has 10-12 picnic tables, one extra-large

Contributed Photo

The shelter at Sailboat Cove is often used for weddings and receptions. It features electricity, grills and picnic tables.

grill, electricity, stage, water hydrant and restroom with flush toilets.

Little Platte — $60 ❯❯ Shelter 1 – Only 75 yards from the lake with 6-8 picnic tables, this shelter has one large grill, a water hydrant and a restroom with flush toilets. ❯❯ Shelter 2 – For the whole family, this

shelter is 50 yards from the lake and is complete with swings, boat access, one large grill, a water hydrant and a restroom with flush toilets.

Crow’s Creek Park — $60 ❯❯ Shelter 3 – This location does not provide a view of Smithville Lake, but provides a camping feel with 6-8 picnic tables, 4 small grills, a water

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hydrant and pit toilets. ❯❯ Shelter 4 – This site is 150 yards from Smithville Lake, has 6-8 picnic tables, 4 small grills, a water hydrant and pit toilets. ❯❯ Shelter 5 – 100 yards from the lake, this shelter has excellent boat access, 6-8 picnic tables, one large grill, a water hydrant and restroom with flush toilets. ❯❯ Shelter 6 – This shelter has 6-8 picnic tables, one large grill, a water hydrant, restroom with flush toilets and is 175 yards from the lake. ❯❯ Shelter 7 – Only 75 yards from the tables, a water hydrant and restroom lake, this shelter has good boat acwith flush toilets. cess, 6-8 picnic tables, 4 small grills, a water hydrant and restroom with ❯❯ Shelter 9 – Great for boats, this site flush toilets. is only 30 yards from Smithville lake and has 6-8 picnic tables, one large ❯❯ Shelter 8 – With one large grill, this grill, a water hydrant and restroom shelter is 100 yards from Smithville with flush toilets.

Lake and is complete with 6-8 picnic

69

Shelter No. 1 at Little Platte Park has a grill, picnic tables and is about 75 feet from the lake.

Contributed Photo

Pavillion at Crow’s Creek ❯❯ Complete building with stalls removed, $500.

Rates are subject to change. For special events, apply for a special use/event permit.

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HUNTING

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Missouri Department of Conservation statewide hunting seasons Specific animals and birds can be legally hunted and harvested in Missouri only when they are in season.

Hunters are advised to know the limit of any animal they hunt.

Most hunting in the state is regulated to the hours of one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. ❯❯ GOOSE — limited to snow geese, blue geese and Ross’s geese — Feb. 7 to April 30 ❯❯ TURKEY — Youth — April 7 to April 8 ❯❯ TURKEY — Spring — April 15 to May 5 ❯❯ TURKEY — Fall Firearms — Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 ❯❯ TURKEY — Archery — Sept.

15 to Nov. 15; Nov. 27 to Jan. 15, 2020 ❯❯ DEER — Archery — Sept.

15 to Nov. 9; Nov. 27 to Jan. 15, 2020 ❯❯ DEER — Firearms-Main — Oct. 1 to Oct. 31

Jan. 15, 2020 ❯❯ PHEASANT — Youth — Oct. 26 to Oct. 27 ❯❯ QUAIL — Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, 2019 ❯❯ QUAIL — Youth — Oct. 26 to Oct. 27 ❯❯ RABBIT — Oct. 1 to Feb. 15, 2019 ❯❯ SQUIRREL — May 26 to Feb. 15, 2019 For more information on hunting and trapping seasons and limits, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.

Additionally, the CourierMetro Creative Tribune publishes a free Groundhogs can be hunted in Missouri from early may to mid-December “Smithville Lake Fall ❯❯ DEER — Firearms-Novem- ❯❯ DEER — Firearms-Youth — Outdoor Activities Guide” each September. Look for Nov. 2 to Nov. 3; Nov. 29 ber portion —Nov. 16 to this seasonal publication to Dec. 1 Nov. 26 around the Smithville com❯❯ DEER — Firearms-Alterna- ❯❯ PHEASANT — Youth — Oct. munity or stop by the news26 to Oct. 27 tive methods — Dec. 28 to paper office at 104 N. Main Jan. 7, 2020 ❯❯ GROUNDHOG — May 6 to St. in downtown Liberty, the Dec. 15 ❯❯ DEER — Firearms-AntlerClay County seat. less — Dec. 6 to Dec. 8 ❯❯ PHEASANT — Nov. 1 to

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71

Get that hunting permit; keep paper copy as well According to state regulations, everyone who hunts or traps in Missouri must have an appropriate hunting or trapping permit or qualify for an exemption. The cost of hunting permits varies by season plus the animal being hunted.

Per Conservation Agent Sam Whisler, no significant changes have been made to permitting rules, but agents do expect all hunters to have a paper copy of their hunting permit if an agent comes upon them.

You can purchase hunting permits by calling (800) 392-4115, and your permit will be mailed to you. You can also purchase permits online at huntfish.mdc. mo.gov/hunting-trapping/permits, print them and have them in hand immediately.

The MO Hunting app, available for the iPhone and Android smartphones, allows users to purchase

and view permits. To log in to MO Hunting, users will need their nine-digit Conservation Number, found on the back of the Heritage Card or on previous permits.

Deer and fall turkey permits will be available starting July 1.

Special permits for commercial hunting and fishing, collectors, taxidermists,and others are also available.

Proof of hunter education certification If you plan to purchase a Missouri firearms permit or you are acting as an adult mentor, you must first complete an approved hunter-education certification program and provide proof of completion.

For deer season, all youth are required to have the proper permits. If a youth hunter is 15 or younger, they don’t need the hunter education permit for small

game but still need to be in the presence of a permitted adult.

Hunting deer for those 18 and older requires being a hunter education-certified adult. If a youth is 15 and younger, they can hunt as long as they are in possession of a permit to hunt deer.

Browse the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website, mdc.mo.gov, for more information on hunter education requirements and about proof of certification.

All hunters, unless exempt, must carry their hunter-education card or a permit with their hunter-education number on it while hunting with a firearm. The Missouri Conservation Heritage

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Wildlife sightings, including beavers, are common in the cove, but hunting is limited.

On the county-owned portion of the land, no hunting is permitted. For the rest of the refuge, hunting is restricted. Regulations are enforced by the Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Honker Cove can be found on the map in the middle of this publication, designated by diagonal lines.

For more information on the waterfowl refuge, contact the Jerry L. Litton Visitors Center at (816) 532-0174.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

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Hunting restricted in Honker Cove The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers preserves a waterfowl refuge in the center of the lake that encompasses 200 acres of land and water.

Land on the surrounding sides of Honker Cove Wildlife Refuge is owned by the corps with a portion owned by Clay County.

Some of the land is available for agricultural lease to farmers.

Five percent of all the agriculture leased land is required to be reserved for standing crop.

Honker Cove provides habitat for fish. Commonly found fish are large-mouth bass, crappie, catfish, sun fish, carp and others.

Card with a hunter-education number on it is also acceptable.

To help introduce adults to hunting, the department allows hunters age 16 and older who are not hunter-education certified to hunt with firearms in the presence of a properly licensed adult (age 18 and older) mentor.

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Hunter safety stressed in Show-Me State Hunter education is designed to help prevent hunting and shooting accidents, and to improve compliance with hunting laws.

Hunter education has reduced hunting accidents and deaths by more than 70 percent since it became mandatory in 1987, according to statistics from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Missouri’s hunter education course is required for any hunter born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, but anyone age 11 or older can take the twopart course. Students must complete and pass both the knowledge and skills sessions to earn the certificate.

The knowledge session can be completed online for a fee, through a self-study guide or in a classroom session.

Applicants must register for the skills session, where they will take an exam. To register, go to www.mdc.gov.

The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends that youth begin hunting with an adult mentor to become familiar with hunting and terminolo-

gy before taking the course.

Youth 10 years of age or younger may hunt during a firearms hunting season if they are in the immediate presence of an adult mentor who possesses the proper permit. However, anyone 11 or older is eligible to take the course and exam.

If you can prove you completed an approved hunter education course in another state, you are not required to take Missouri’s Hunter Education Course.

❯❯ You are 16 or older and have purchased an Apprentice Hunter Authorization and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor 18 years of age or older. ❯❯ You are the landowner or lessee hunting on land you own or upon which you reside.

While hunters can carry their certification on an electronic device, it is still recommended to have a paper copy handy.

Hunter-education exemptions

❯❯ Hunter responsibility and ethics ❯❯ How firearms work and firearm safety ❯❯ Wildlife identification, game care, survival and first-aid skills ❯❯ Firearm-handling skills and hunting techniques ❯❯ Awareness about wildlife conservation and management ❯❯ Rules and information unique to Missouri

If you plan to hunt during a Missouri firearms season or you are acting as an adult mentor, you must first complete an approved hunter-education certification program and provide proof of completion UNLESS: ❯❯ You are 15 years or younger and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor 18 years of age or older. ❯❯ You were born before Jan. 1, 1967.

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When hunter orange is required, you must wear both a hunter orange hat and a hunter orange shirt, vest or coat. Camouflage orange does not meet this requirement.

❯❯ You received a disability exemption from Missouri Department of Conservation’s Protection Division.

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73

Spring turkey hunt begins in April The 2019 spring turkey hunting season in Missouri runs from April 15 to May 5, from a half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day. Each hunter is allowed to take a total of two male turkeys or turkeys with a visible beard, but only one during the first week.

Hunters may not take two turkeys on the same day.

The youth session is April 6 and 7. Hunters ages 6 to 15 on opening day may hunt from a half hour before sunrise to sunset.

If you harvest a turkey, you must notch your permit immediately and log your harvest in Telecheck either online, by phone or using the MO Hunting app by 10 a.m. on the day the bird is

clearly and slowly. You can call 1-800-314-6828 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

You can transport unchecked game within the state as long as you stay with your harvested game; if you leave your turkey, you must attach your tag to the turkey’s leg.

For additional information and regulations related to this year’s Missouri Depar tment of Conser vation spring turkey hunting season, go The Department of Conserva- to the Missouri Department of tion advises hunters never follow Conservation website at the sound of a gobbling turkey or www.mdc.mo.gov. attempt to sneak up on turkeys.

They should call turkeys to them.

taken. No in-person checking stations are available.

If you use the phone, speak

Identifying gobblers and hens ❯❯ Gobbler: large black body, mainly red head, long beard,

spurs of 3/4 inch or more ❯❯ Hen: brown body, mainly blue head, usually no beard, no spurs Bearded hens produce young and should not be killed, although any turkey with a visible beard is legal to harvest.

It is illegal to shoot hens without beards in the spring.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

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HUNTING

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

MDC goes mobile with 3 free apps The Missouri Department of Conservation has brought together the best of Mother Nature and technology with three applications for smartphones and tablets: Find MO Fish, MO Hunting and the newly released MO Outdoors.

All three mobile apps are free and available for iPhone and Android devices.

maps for offline navigation.

This app allows you to narrow down your search by selecting what activity you are interested in and searching within that category.

For example, if you are interested in finding a place to hunt, you can just select “hunting” to find areas where hunting is permitted. Once you find an area, you can select it to review specific details for that area.

on how to obtain a fishing permit. Restrooms locations are also listed within the app.

MO Hunting

Missouri hunters, anglers and trappers are able to purchase, view and store annual hunting, fishing and trapping permits, as well as view permits purchased during the Find MO Fish previous year.

Users will have the locaThis application also tions of public boat ramps at allow hunters to notch their the major lakes, rivers and permits and Telecheck their streams of Missouri at their harvests directly from their fingertips. deer or turkey permits within The map also shows the the app. In order to log in to exact location of underwater MO Hunting, users will need fish structures the Missouri their Conservation Number.

Department of Conservation This nine-digit number can has established over the be found on the back of years. With the geo-location their Heritage Card, next to feature, users can guide their the barcode. For more help boats right up to a favorite locating their Conservation fish-attracting structure and Number, users can call (573) 751-4115 during regcast a line.

Weekly fishing reports are ular business hours and ask updated every Thursday from for the permits office.

MO Hunting also has seathe start of April to the end son dates for reference and of September. sunrise and sunset times.

There is also information

Personal responsibility

MO Outdoors MO Outdoors is the newest addition to the MDC collection. This app allows users to find conservation areas, MDC offices and nature centers nearby.

It also lists what activities are permitted on those areas and can be used to download

These electronic apps are a great tool for Missouri resource users. However, it is every user’s responsibility to understand the rules and regulations before going out.

Although it isn’t required, Conservation Agent Sam Whisler suggested having paper copies of permits because phone batteries die.

This is especially important for deer and turkey hunters, as these game must be notched upon harvest. If a phone goes dead, having a backup is the right idea.

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75

Shed antlers are legal to own sumed for their minerals and protein by rodents or rabbits.

Some will still be around in good shape when morel mushroom hunting, squirrel hunting or spring turkey hunting occur in April.

Scientists and biologists explain that a decrease in testosterone following the mating season, or rut, is the trigger that causes a layer of cells at the base of the deer’s antlers to begin reabsorbing calcium. Once that layer of cells deteriorates, the weight of the antlers will cause them to drop off. The deer’s health and nourishment are also factors, with healthy, well-fed bucks holding their antlers longer.

It is typical for the two antlers to drop at different times, but occasionally a matching pair is found at a single location.

Collected antlers have varied uses, from home décor to knife handles to novelty items. Deer hunters may use a pair of sheds to rattle up a buck when hunting.

The possibility of finding shed deer antlers is just one more reason to explore outdoor Missouri this winter.

Sheds can be hunted and legally possessed with no permit required.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation

From late December through midFebruary is prime time for Missouri bucks to shed their antlers.

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Poets have written verses about the antlers of animals, including deer, attempting to capture their majesty.

Antlers are temporary for the animals that grow them, and some searchers enjoy hunting for the bony sculptures that for months ride atop a buck. It’s a tangible connection to the wild outdoors. Some say that areas where deer will jump a fence or other barrier are good places to find shed antlers.

Folks who put out feed for deer will sometimes place the food near overhead obstacles in hopes of dislodging a loose antler.

From late December through mid-February is prime time for Missouri bucks to shed their antlers, and exploring around Smithville Lake may turn up an old antler. However, antler hunters at the lake need to be mindful of where they are searching.

“Antlers that have been shed can be kept,” said Conservation Agent Sam Whisler. “At Smithville Lake, shed hunting is allowed on the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) owned property.

The Clay County Parks owned property does not allow anything to be taken off of it.”

If not picked up by someone, the shed antlers or “sheds” will be on the ground until they are gradually con-

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NATURE & CONSERVATION

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Nature provides entertainment value for all

Contributed photo

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a waterfowl refuge at Smithville Lake, Honker Cove, drawing thousands of birds through the area.

history. It is also home to an exhibit on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its dedication to conservation and preservation of the lake.

After a stop at the center, named for late Missouri Congressman Jerry Litton and located at 16311 County Road DD, it is time to explore all nature at the lake has to offer.

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A trip to Smithville Lake doesn’t have to just be about boating and swimming. There’s plenty to do on land, too.

These are just a few of the options for lake visitors.

Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center: For many, the entryway for a trip to the lake is a stop at the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center.

The center offers a variety of materials related to the lake and the region, and its

NATURE & CONSERVATION

2019 SMITHVILLE LAKE PILOT

Center, which provides opportunities to learn about the environment of the lake, as well as Missouri wildflowers and wildlife.

The center is available by appointment. To schedule a visit, call the Clay County Parks office at (816) 4073400.

Trails: The lake also offers multiple hiking and biking trails that provide a chance to take in the majesty of Missouri nature, including wildlife fauna and landscapes. Read more about the various trails at the lake on pages 62-63.

Waterfowl refuge: The Corps of Engineers preserves a waterfowl refuge in the center of the lake. Land on the surrounding sides is owned by the corps with a portion owned by Clay County. Some of the land

77

Who was Jerry L. Litton?

Many Missourians have stated, had it not been for his untimely death, Jerry Lon Litton would have been president of the United States.

Litton was a Democratic U.S. Representative for Missouri. He died in 1976 with his wife and two children while traveling on a small plane en route to a victory party after winning Missouri’s state Democratic priis available for agricultural lease to farmers. Five percent of all the agriculture leased land is required to be reserved for standing crop.

Honker Cove Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for fish. Commonly found fish are large-mouth bass, crappie, catfish, sun fish, carp and others.

mary for U.S. Senate.

Litton was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 1972. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, and his television show, “Dialogue with Litton,” was broadcast statewide.

Litton was active in promoting agriculture and worked toward conservation.

On the county-owned portion of the land, no hunting is permitted. For the rest of the refuge, hunting is restricted. Regulations are enforced by the Corps of Engineers and the Missouri

Theater available for rent In addition to a plethora of exhibits and Smithville Lake history, the Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center has a community theater that is available to rent for free to bird groups, conservation presentations or any other small group seeking a gathering place in Smithville.

The center seats 50 people and is equipped with media hookups for video and sound. The theater is available during the same hours as the center is open to the public.

“If there is some kind of special event and it’s needed another time, we may be able to help coordinate that,” Jaime Picken of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. “It’s another feature we have available that maybe not a lot of people know about.”

For more details on theater rental, call the center at (816) 532-0174.

75114804

Department of Conservation.

For more information on the waterfowl refuge, contact the Jerry L. Litton Visitors Center at (816) 532-0174.

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NATURE & CONSERVATION

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Grassland project restores flora, fauna When it comes to pure nature, it doesn’t get better than what is happening in Bauman Park at Smithville Lake.

For more than a decade, the Smithville Grassland Revitalization Project has sought to recreate and preserve plants and habitats covering nearly 2,300 acres in four ways: ❯❯ Recreate a grassland plant and wildlife community from pastureland; ❯❯ Recreate a savanna and dry

woodland plant and wildlife community from degraded savanna and woodland areas; ❯❯ Improve habitat for concerned wildlife species such as the Indiana bat, Northern Bobwhite, Henslow’s sparrow and honeybee; and ❯❯ Create a positive public outlook on conservation awareness of critical terrestrial plant communities, threatened and endangered

wildlife species, and wildlife habitat management practices.

The Bauman Park project is expected to benefit almost three dozen savanna, grassland and open-country bird species.

Additional benefits include soil enrichment, erosion control, invasive plant species control, sequestering of carbon, enhancement of wildlife habitat, reduction of departmental labor and material

costs, and added aesthetic value to the parks.

The revitalization has been funded and supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative, George Clark Missouri State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and WIN for KC. For more information or to become involved, call (816) 407-3409.

Courier-Tribune File Photo

The Smithville Grassland Revitalization Project was created to restore 2,300 acres of grassland and savannas around Smithville Lake.

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79

Don’t move firewood The Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri State Parks urge all travelers to buy firewood at their destination and burn it all before they leave the park they visit.

Movement of all hardwood firewood out of the state of Missouri is restricted due to a statewide and federal emerald ash borer quarantine to prevent the spread of invasive forest pest species. It is also illegal to transport hardwood firewood from any area infested with thousand cankers disease into the state of Missouri. The

quarantine impacts Clay County, including Smithville Lake.

Other firewood pests found in Missouri are the Asian longhorned beetle, which can devastate acres of hardwood trees if not reported immediately, and the gypsy moth, introduced to the U.S. from Europe. There is risk of the European wood wasp (Sirex Woodwasp) being more common in Missouri if we aren’t careful. The wasp is known to kill 80 percent of pine trees in areas that are exposed to the insect.

Tree-killing insects and diseases can hitchhike in firewood,

moving much farther with you in a single weekend than they could in years on their own, states the Missouri Depart of Conservation’s website, nature. mdc.mo.gov. Once in a new location, these invasive pests can start infestations that kill trees, destroy forests, and become costly to manage.

“Help slow the spread of invasive forest pests. Get firewood near where you camp and burn it all before you leave your campsite,” the site states.

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The best way to avoid spreading firewood pests is to buy wood Sources: Missouri Department of where you burn it and refrain Conservation and Unites States from transporting wood from one Department of Agriculture location to another.

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Mosquitoes don’t have to squelch a good time When enjoying the outdoors, there are many pests that can put a damper on that experience.

One of those is the everpresent mosquito.

Since the small, flying insects breed near water — especially standing water — their presence in lakeside environs can sometimes be significant.

Mosquitoes are parasitic creatures that take blood from human and animal hosts in order to obtain the protein they need to produce eggs and reproduce.

Because of this necessity, only the female insects “bite.”

But, since they do not discriminate between hosts, mosquitoes can also harbor a host of diseases that might affect — or infect — humans.

Some of these conditions include malaria, yellow fever, Chikungunya, West Nile virus, dengue fever, filariasis, Zika virus and other arboviruses.

Surprisingly, worldwide, mosquitoes kill more people than any other animal.

Because the majority of

To avoid mosquitoes ❯ Stay away from where they thrive. Avoid standing water in campground areas. ❯ Wear long sleeves and pants. ❯ Wear light-colored clothing.

Metro Creative

Mosquitoes are parasitic creatures that take blood from human and animal hosts in order to obtain the protein they need to produce eggs and reproduce.

Smithville Lake visitors enjoy nature in the summer, and because of the water on the lake — and that naturally

collects nearby and on trails, golf courses and near campgrounds — mosquitoes can become an issue.

There are various ways to avoid, repel and control the pests, and lake patrons should make that as much of a priority as sunscreen.

Many retail products are available for temporary repellent relief, including sprays including the chemical DEET. Consumers sometimes

balk a the use of chemicalbased repellents and opt for homemade options.

Essential oils that have proven effective include citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, tea tree, peppermint, cypress, rose geranium, bergamot and lemon.

Another choice many swear by but has not been definitively proven is hanging a dryer sheet from your cap to repel pests.

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Be aware of ticks when enjoying the outdoors When the weather warms, hiking trails look even more inviting and even a patch of grass can be a welcoming respite.

Lots of fun can be had outside, but caution is needed.

While this time of year is prime for outdoor frolicking, it’s also a time when tick populations explode. Ticks are small crawling bugs in the arachnid (spider) family. There are hundreds of different kinds of ticks in the world.

The creature subsists on meals of blood from a host animal. Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can cause serious disease in humans and other animals, states LymeDisease.org. Ticks feed and mate mostly on deer, but rodents, birds, lizards and just about any other animal can be a host to these nondiscriminatory bugs. Animals

preventing tick bites remains the single-best way to stay ahead of Lyme disease and other illnesses. Understanding tick habitats and behavior can make it easier to avoid them.

Where to find ticks Ticks will congregate anywhere the animals they feed upon live. Primarily they are located in wooded and grassy areas.

Adults will climb up on tall Contributed Photo grass waiting for an animal Protective clothing is the first line to pass by so they can climb of defense against ticks like this aboard. Nymphs and larvae adult deer tick. will live in layers of decomposing leaves under trees. carry the diseases, which are then passed through the tick to others. Disease-spreading ticks can be extremely hard to detect because of their diminutive size, especially when they are in the larva or nymph stages. Therefore,

Clean up after lake fun In order to keep Smithville Lake enjoyable to all, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri Department of Conservation and local law enforcement encourage visitors to help them watch for illegal dumping at the lake.

They also encourage visitors to assist in providing the license plate numbers and descriptions of anyone seen dumping illegally.

Reports can be made to: ❯❯ Corps of Engineers: (816) 532-0174 ❯❯ Clay County Parks: (816) 407-3400 ❯❯ Clay County Sheriff: (816) 407-3700 ❯❯ Smithville Police Text-A-Tip: Text “64089,” followed by the information about the incident, to CRIMES (274637) Fines for illegal dumping at the lake can run into hundreds of dollars and are strictly enforced and imposed.

Moisture is a friend to ticks, which are less active in sunny, dry areas.

On the go When enjoying the great outdoors, avoid tall grasses and stay on trails. Wear tall socks or pants during hikes to prevent ticks from latching on.

A thorough inspection of the body is advisable each time people return indoors. Check hidden areas, such as behind the knees, under the arms and in other skin-fold areas, for ticks.

Source: Metro Creative

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How to identify poison ivy Poison ivy is an unwelcome guest on many private properties and public lands. Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the presence of poison ivy until it’s too late and they’ve already fallen victim to the uncomfortable, itchy red rash that is the plant’s hallmark.

According to Poison-Ivy. org, a website providing information about poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, the rash from poison ivy may first appear as just a slight itchy spot. But that spot will gradually get worse and can even cover your entire body with giant red sores if left untreated or if it goes undetected for too long. That only highlights the importance of learning to recognize poison ivy on a property and taking the appropriate measures to prevent anyone from coming Metro Creative into contact with it.

Learning to identify poison ivy plants can help people avoid the rash.

A poison ivy rash can be very uncomfortable. then right. That means that the East Coast to the Midwest. ❯❯ Poison ivy leaves will appear differently the stem/branch of leaves Is all poison ivy depending on the season.

What are some closest to the root of the the same?

In spring, eastern poison telltale signs of the plant will always lean left.

Many people may be ivy leaves will appear poison ivy plant?

Subsequent stems/branches surprised to learn that all red. As spring turns into of leaves can lean right. ❯❯ Eastern poison ivy is the poison ivy plants are not one summer, the leaves will Stems/branches of poison most widespread poison ivy and the same. Poison-Ivy.org gradually appear more ivy leaves are never side by notes that there are different plant, and these are some of green. Come fall, the green types of poison ivy in different side. its characteristics. leaves will look as if they places. ❯❯ Poison ivy plants never have ❯❯ Poison ivy plants always were brushed with red, Eastern poison ivy grows thorns. have leaves of three. No with some leaves featuring on the ground, climbs and poison ivy plants have more patches or spots of red. ❯ ❯ The edges of poison ivy sometimes appears as a than three leaves. leaves are never sawshrub. And despite its name, Source: Metro Creative eastern poison ivy grows from ❯❯ Poison ivy always grow left, toothed or scalloped.

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How outdoor enthusiasts can protect the environment Recreational activities can be made even more enjoyable by incorporating the great outdoors into the proceedings. Fresh air and sunshine can increase energy levels, and many people find their mood is boosted simply by spending time in nature.

People who routinely spend time in the great outdoors also can serve as environmental stewards. When camping, hiking or enjoying other activities outside, outdoor enthusiasts should make an effort to impact the surrounding environment as little as possible. Outdoor enthusiasts can do a number of things to protect the environment while basking in the great outdoors.

Keep groups small The smaller the group, the lower the likelihood of producing waste and the less wildlife may be disturbed.

Large groups can be noisy, even when they’re trying to be quiet and respectful. This may startle animals away from their homes. Small groups also can be contained more easily, which means camp size will impact the least amount of habitat possible.

and hikers can bring along an extra bag for garbage, preferably one that can be sealed to reduce the chances of attracting wildlife.

Dispose of trash upon leaving the park or nature preserve.

Stick to the beaten path

The primary goal of a trail system is to provide enjoyment of natural environments with little impact on surrounding areas. If hikers or campers start venturing off the trail in large numbers, the human impact to ecosystems increases.

Carry in and carry out This may result in soil erosion, Nature enthusiasts should disruption to wildlife, widening dispose of trash properly when of trails, muddiness, contamispending time outdoors. Campers nation of bodies of water, and

much more, according to hiking resource The Hiking Life.

The impact of one individual may be minimal, but that impact increases dramatically with each person who veers off course.

Be aware of youngsters Young animals in nesting grounds can be cute to observe, but overprotective parents may be nearby.

Impeding on a nest may spark aggression in parents, while some parents may abandon their young if they have been touched by humans.

Source: Metro Creative

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Take cover in severe weather When there are threats of storms in the forecast, the safest course of action for boaters and other lake visitors is to stay off the water.

Unfortunately, sometimes weather strikes while boaters are already on the water.

“Thunderstorms can be a mariner’s worst nightmare,” The National Safe Boating Council and National Weather Service state on the NWS website, weather.gov/ safety/safeboating-thunderstorms . “They can develop quickly and create

dangerous wind and wave conditions. Thunderstorms can bring shifting and gusty winds, lightning, waterspouts, and torrential downpours which can turn a day’s pleasure into a nightmare of distress.”

In this situation, a boater’s priority should be getting to shore. Once boaters reach land, everyone should seek shelter in buildings or vehicles if possible. Tornado shelters are located next to Camp Branch and Paradise Pointe marinas.

All thunderstorms are dangerous to boaters, swimmers, fishermen and sunbathers because of lightning.

“If your boat has a cabin, stay inside and avoid touching metal or electrical devices,” NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommend, nws.noaa.gov. If the boat does not have a cabin, stay as low as possible in the boat.

Boaters are particularly at risk of being struck by lightning because they are often

the tallest objects in a large open space. A direct hit can damage or destroy vessels, overload navigational and electronic equipment and electrocute passengers.

The vast majority of lightning injuries and deaths on boats occur on small boats with no cabin.

“Ultimately, boating safety begins ashore with planning and training,” NWS states.

“Keep in mind that thunderstorms are usually brief so waiting it out is better than riding it out.”

Are you ready for the next season?

As outdoor enthusiasts know, there are important preparations to make for extreme weather conditions.

However, having gear that easily transitions between seasons means you will always be organized and equipped to hit the road for an adventure whenever the mood strikes.

Are you an all-season adventurer? Here are some things to keep in mind: ❯❯ Getting there: If you’re going to be taking a lengthy road trip to your destination, it’s time to ensure your vehicle is equipped to handle the conditions you expect to encounter, as well as the

distance of your journey. readings and a thermo Before hitting the road, sensor for temperature. check the condition of Water-resistant up to your tires, brakes, wipers, 100 meters and offering lights, oil and coolant, and exceptional viewability in pack the car with plenty of the dark, its Tough Solar food and water.

Power feature allows its battery to be charged ❯❯ Wearable tech: Whether automatically by both you’re cold-weather natural and artificial light. camping or white-water rafting, all-condition ❯❯ The right tent: For maximum comfort and wearable tech can help minimal bulk, many experts you make the most of the recommend campers experience. One example select a tent designed offering such seasonal for spring, summer and versatility is the Casio fall. This will offer you Pro Trek PRG650Y-1, rain resistance and better which has Triple Sensor ventilation in warmer Technology — a magnetic weather. In the event you sensor for compass are camping in snowfall, readings, pressure sensor the use of an extra cover for altitude/barometric

can protect your tent from accumulation. ❯ ❯ First aid: The change of seasons is a great reminder to review your first aid kit and restock anything in short supply, particularly items you may not have needed as much in previous months. As the mercury rises, check on your store of such items as sting and bite relief creams and aloe.

As you prepare for your upcoming adventures, take stock of your gear to ensure you are well equipped for the months ahead.

Source: StatePoint

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Safety an important component of hiking Hiking is a popular and accessible outdoor activity. According to the American Hiking Society, since the National Trail System was established under President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, the mileage of trails on federal lands has increased almost three-fold, from 88,000 to more than 193,000 in 2015. During that same time period, mileage of trails on state lands has increased from 15,000 to 42,500. And all those trails aren’t going to waste, as the Outdoor Industry Association notes that more than 34 million people went hiking in 2013.

Hiking is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors, but veteran and novice hikers must emphasize safety when traversing the trails. ❯❯ Bring adequate supplies. Even hikers going on relatively brief hikes should pack supplies so they’re safe. Pack supplies such as a compass, a map of the trails you’ll be traversing, some basic first aid materials (band-aids, gauze, an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, etc.), extra water, and extra food. Such supplies may be precautionary, but they’re potentially invaluable if hikers get lost or suffer an injury during their hikes. ❯❯ Hike only in daylight hours. Hiking during the day allows hikers to take

❯❯ Let loved ones know your plans. All hikers, but especially those hiking alone, should let loved ones know they’re going hiking and exactly where they plan to hike. This can make it easier for park rangers or rescue teams to find you if you get lost. In addition to letting others know your plans, leave a note in the glove compartment of your vehicle explaining where you plan to hike. ❯❯ Know the forecast. Weather can change at the drop of a hat, so before heading out, hikers should check the local forecast and make any necessary adjustments to stay safe. Be sure to include a rain jacket, sunscreen, ballcap, and warm clothing among your supplies Metro Creative A compass should be among your supplies when to account for unexpected inclement you set off on a hike. weather. Shorten hiking excursions if storms are in the forecast. in nature at its sun-soaked best while ❯❯ Stay within your abilities. Some people reducing their risk of getting lost. In admay consider hiking a leisure activity, dition, park rangers and employees may but many trails can be physically chalnot be working or accessible overnight. lenging. Hikers should stay within their And depending on where hikers are capabilities and steer clear of trails they hiking, trails may be home to nocturnal do not feel like they can traverse safely. animals that may be startled by and Stop by the park’s visitor’s center prior aggressive toward men, women and to beginning a hike so you can get a list of trails and identify which ones are children walking through their domains. best suited to your abilities.

When hiking, be sure to turn back at a time of day that ensures you can return Source: Metro Creative to your vehicle in daylight.

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Emergency & helpful numbers Health care

Civic Offices

Northland Regional Ambulance District....911 or 816-858-4450 Poison Control...................................................800-222-1222 Saint Luke’s North Hospital-Smithville Campus, a half-mile north of Missouri Highway 92 on U.S. Highway 169.........................................816-532-3700 Saint Luke’s North Behavioral Access Center..... 816-532-7220

Smithville City Hall.............................................816-532-3897 Smithville Animal Shelter...................................816-532-0577 Smithville Parks Department.............................816-532-8130 Smithville R-II School District............................816-532-0406 Smithville Street Department............................816-532-2080 Smithville Water Department.............................816-532-0577 Clay County Administration Building..................816-407-3620

Law enforcement Clay County Sheriff’s Office............................... 816-407-3750 Clinton County Sheriff’s Office........................... 816-539-2156 Platte County Sheriff’s Office.............................816-858-3521 Smithville Police Department.............................816-532-0500 Smithville Area Fire Protection District...............816-532-4902 Missouri State Highway Patrol.......................... 816-622-0800 Missouri State Water Patrol (24 Hours)..............573-751-5071 or 1-800-525-5555 or 55 on a cell phone for emergencies U.S. Army Corps of Engineers............................ 816-532-0174 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Operations....................................... 816-407-3750 Clay County Park Rangers..................................816-407-3400 Clay County WeTip crime reporting.................... 800-78-CRIME Missouri Department of Conservation Kansas City Regional Office.............................. 816-622-0900 Hunting and Fishing Permits..............................800-392-4115

Lake Offices Clay County Park Office.....................................816-407-3400 Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center............................... 816-532-0174 KCTA Trapshooting Association..........................816-532-4427 Marina-Camp Branch......................................... 816-407-3420 Marina-Paradise Pointe..................................... 816-532-5376 Paradise Pointe Golf Complex............................ 816-532-4100

Utilities Water/Sewer/Trash/Recycling, Smithville City Hall.............................................816-532-3897 Telephone-AT&T.................................................844-723-0252 Telephone/Cable/Internet-Spectrum................ 816-358-8833 Telephone-Vonage.............................................888-218-9015 Electricity-KCP&L............................................... 888-471-5275 Electricity-Platte-Clay Electric Coop...................816-628-3121 Spire Natural Gas-Missouri Gas Energy............. 816-756-5252 Internet-KC Coyote............................................816-370-2546 Internet-AT&T.....................................................844-723-0252 Internet-HughesNet.......................................... 888-659-5325 Internet-Direct TV.............................................. 877-916-5137 Internet-Dish Network........................................ 877-647-7793 Solar Energy-SunPower Corp.............................800-786-7693

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