www.johnsoncitypress.com Where you can still read Thursday your newspaper, even when the cat July 28, 2011 gets to it first.

Section D UTDOORS O ( Pfau Iimlxiwcring Pcoplc Through the Press

Johnny Molloy

ADVENTURES Donkeys’ tale Rock Creek ■ Prize-winning Mediterranean Miniatures more will keep than a hobby for Mountain States CEO Vonderfecht. keys look their best when they go into the show you cool By AMANDA MARSH arena.” Press Staff Writer That includes a lot of preparation, like making [email protected] ummer heat bringing sure the donkeys are completely clipped 10 days you down? I’ve got the before the show and loading up all the supplies to Affection from a four-legged animal has the bathe them and blacken their hooves before the big Sperfect antidote. Its power to soothe nerves and heighten spirits. When moment. nearby and it doesn’t cost Dennis Vonderfecht comes home to his prize-win- much. Rock Creek “They are very independent minded,” he said. ning Mediterranean Miniature Donkeys, the “Sometimes they want to cooperate in the show Campground will cool you off, stressful hours spent as the president and CEO of get your head right and arena, sometimes not. We happened to have a good Mountain States Health Alliance seem far away. On day of cooperation.” maybe bring back memories the Appalachian Farmstead, handshakes come in of your childhood. Back in the Donkeys at the Appalachian Farmstead travel to the form of nudges from warm noses and instead of three or four shows each summer and are primarily 1930s, the Civilian coffee breaks, salty rod pretzels are distributed Conservation Corps developed shown in halter classes where judges score them among the 29 small donkeys and two mammoth based on how they measure up against the breed the area as a showcase of the donkeys. standard for miniature donkeys. Each donkey has . “No matter how bad of a day you have, you can the chance to place in the individual divisions split What a fine area they had to have that all disappear when you come home and up by age and gender, or he or she can be awarded start with. The national forest get down on your knees and rub those cute little is fraught with tall timberland faces,” Vonderfecht said of his herd, each with a one of the highest honors— a reserve or national and clear mountain streams name unique to its home state. “The foals that we championship prize. that nestle against the back- have now are a lot of fun, but the big donkeys are Vonderfecht came home with two national and bone of the Unaka Mountains. too. They all like attention, they’re just like dogs three reserve championship awards from five of his Of course, the Forest Service really.” most gorgeous donkeys. In the spotted donkey cat- has improved and maintained There are three folds, or baby donkeys, on the egory, Tin Roof Sunday won National Champion the area since the days of the farm right now, with another one set to arrive in Jack, or male. Antonia was named National CCC. But the old-time feel December. The little ones do resemble dogs in both Champion Jennette, or female, while Willa Cather Lee Talbert/Johnson City Press remains, as well as most of size and amount of fur, plus they’re pretty curious took the reserve spotted title. Dennis Vonderfecht holds Lily May Ledford, a new the original infrastructure. and aren’t a bit afraid to nudge a knee or nibble at In the miniature donkey category, Red Dynamo member at the farm. Today, as then, we can camp an ankle for some attention. The foals and the adult received the Reserve Champion Gelding honor and in the cool, shady cove of donkeys, up to 36 inches in height, follow their fear- Rusty Weir placed as a Reserve Champion Jack. Rock Creek. less leader wherever he walks along their 4.5 acre To reward the donkeys for a job well done, or Mother Nature landscaped farm in Jonesborough. maybe just because they’re so cute, Vonderfecht the campground well, with tall Vonderfecht’s been raising miniature donkeys for passes out rod pretzels for the animals to devour. hardwoods looming over a the past eight years and has been showing them They know when it’s time for a treat as they crowd thick understory of moss, professionally for about seven years. Earlier this around him, eagerly awaiting a salty snack. He ferns, rhododendron and month, he loaded his horse trailer with clean-cut describes them as intelligent and comforting, and small trees amid gray boul- donkeys and headed for the Great Celebration Mule as a person who spends a lot of time making deci- ders. Rock Creek and Donkey Show in Shelbyville. Out of nine entries, sions, Vonderfecht really admires the way they Campground has a deep- Vonderfecht and his donkeys took home five top handle situations. woods feel. The farther back prizes and several minor ones. “Donkeys have a reputation of being stubborn, you go in the cove, the more “This is the best year we’ve ever had there,” he but they really aren’t stubborn animals at all,” he this is evident. The white said. “Every year, like anything else you learn noise of Rock Creek is your more, about what you need to do to have your don-  See DONKEYS, Page 2D constant companion here. Loop A has 10 sites, each with a parking area large enough to accommodate an RV. Loop B has 11 sites, including 3 double sites. Loops A and B both offer electrical hookups and share a modern bathhouse with flush toilets and warm showers. Loop C is located far- thest back in the cove, against a steep hill. It has a very thick understory for maximum pri- vacy. The 13 sites are ideally suited for tent campers. Farther up from Loop C are A gentle tug on the clothing is a way the donkeys show four walk-in tent sites. they want attention. ne of the most intriguing features of ORock Creek ‘No matter how bad of a day Recreation Area is the swim- ming pool. A vestige of the you have, you can have that CCC’s efforts, the pool is a all disappear when you come concrete-and-rock-lined basin home and get down on your of clear stream water lying behind a small dam. A creek knees and rub those cute runs into the head of the pool, little faces.’ which is circled by a walkway. Trout will be swimming with — Dennis Vonderfecht you. The Rock Creek Trail parallels its namesake, Vonderfecht has been raising miniature donkeys for the past eight years and has been passing small waterfalls in a showing them professionally for about seven years. classic, deeply wooded moun- tain stream. A bathhouse with changing rooms, restrooms and showers for each gender is nearby. Come for a swim during your visit; frolicking youngsters will be splashing Florida trip serves to influence mystery bird pick about and having fun. Maybe you should save your ne evening last week, swim until after a scenic hike Janeth and I turned off in the Unaka Mountain OU.S. Interstate Highway Wilderness that borders the 40 at exit 407 and followed the campground. Leave your signs to one of the nicest ball- James vehicle at the campsite and parks in the South to watch the depart directly from the Smokies take on the Brooks campground. The Rattlesnake Ridge Trail climbs east for 3 . They are farm teams for the miles to the Pleasant Garden THE WILD LIFE Overlook at 4,800 feet. And it and Cincinnati is a climb. Reds, respectively. I was consid- ering having the Cubs logo tat- At the base of Unaka dispersal birds that lives and Mountain is Rock Creek Falls. tooed on my chest following reconstructive surgery, but the breeds well to the south of us. I The Rock Creek Trail leads up suspect that is related to its pref- Contributed/Don Carrier way they are playing this year I a gorge. A few creek cross- erence to use Spanish moss for wanted to check out their future Last week’s mystery bird: ings later, the falls’ multiple nesting material. the Bobolink descents appear beneath the prospects before committing to Is the mystery I brought a large clump of forest canopy. Splashing something I would carry to the bird not a mys- Spanish moss back from our water sounds echo off the grave. tery to you? recent trip to Florida and have it Sister. stone cathedral surrounding As the sun set behind the left Email James hanging from a tree at Bear Run, This is the successor to Osamu the falls. This hike is 2.3 miles field bullpen, Janeth pointed to where our recent hot and muggy bin Possum, whose fate was flying creatures over the playing Brooks at Sealed by a recent midnight one way. Other short hikes jbrooks@ weather has it looking as healthy emanate from the camp- field. I said they were not birds, and happy as anything could be event. At present, Al Z. and ground. Take the 0.4-mile but big brown bats. johnsoncitypress. that is naturally gray. Sister treat each other with Hemlock Forest Trail Loop As a devoted birder I keep com with your Hopefully it will attract the mutual respect, if not affection. and learn about this important bird lists everywhere I go, answer. mystery bird so I’ll have another I captured Paul the chipmunk component of the Southern including in to add to my yard list. after donning leather gloves and Appalachian woodlands. Then, Chicago. I have lists for dozens game. It’s a beautiful park and Last week’s mystery bird was In seeking to identify this bird, chasing him into the bathroom, walk the 0.2-mile Trail of the of airports worldwide, birds on we got tickets right behind their a Bobolink, and I’m happy to note its long, pointed wings and accompanied by Eiffel, our Hardwoods Loop for compari- utility wires identified from dugout for only $9 a head. They report that nobody missed it. deeply forked tail, which gives it 20-pound cat. son’s sake. more than 60 mph and birds seen even waived the $3 parking fee This week’s mystery bird is great maneuverability in pur- He ran over the shower curtain Bicyclists have the 0.8-mile or heard after dark. for the handicap sticker and currently being seen over suing it prey of choice: dragon- and dropped into the tub, where I Rock Creek Bicycle Trail to My only other observation that waved us to a place right outside Granny Ruth’s Garden cemetery flies. cornered him and he bit into the enjoy as well. For any sup- night was that there are no the gate. We were so close I wor- in Bledsoe County, though this So far the only post-breeding glove. He was returned to his home plies you may need, Erwin is a major league prospects yet with ried about the windshield being particular photo was taken in creatures attracted to Bear Run under the bird feeder, where he short drive away. However, it the Smokies, and the tattoo hit by a foul ball. Washington County a couple of are Paul the chipmunk, who was promptly filled his cheeks with feels like civilization is light project is being placed on long- Since then the major league years ago. brought into the house and spilled sunflower seeds. years away at Rock Creek term hold. Cubs won three in a row for the This bird is not native to dropped by one of the cats, and James Brooks can be reached at Campground and the Unaka I do recommend the Smokies first time all season. Life goes Tennessee, but is another of al Zawahiri the possum, who is Wilderness. as a great place to watch a ball- on. those late summer post-breeding about a third the size of our cat [email protected].

Page Design/Don Armstrong TODAY/OUTDOORS Page 2D, Johnson City Press Thursday, July 28, 2011

from bringing in any wood from BRIEFLY quarantined counties unless it bears a U.S. Department of Community groups none too Agriculture pest-free certifica- Handgun permit class ister and compete for prizes. A tion. $100 prize will be given in three The ban applies even to fire- set for Aug. 20 categories: small groups (5-9 par- wood harvested outside the park pleased with TVA sand baskets ELIZABETHTON — Rocky ticipants), medium groups (10-15 in Blount County and intended Top Gun Permit School will hold participants) and large groups for use in Cades Cove, which lies Ferry Plant at Athens, Ala. a Tennessee handgun permit (16-plus participants). within the same county, but THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Brickey said Wednesday the sand baskets were training class Aug. 20 beginning A cleanup celebration party inside the park boundary. installed to meet NRC requirements. He said the at 8:30 a.m. will be held from 3:30-6 p.m. at “Visitors who come to enjoy nation’s largest public utility “determined that at The class will be held at the the Observation Knob Pavilion. camping in the national park CHATTANOOGA — Sand baskets installed at these four locations we needed to put in devices B&K Community Center on the There will be T-shirts, food pre- should be extremely cautious four Tennessee Valley Authority dams to protect pared by Jacobs Creek Job Corps that could manage a probable maximum flood.” Old Bristol Highway in with the source of wood that against the unlikely chance of flooding at its Brickey described such flooding as “very unlikely. Elizabethton. State-certified Culinary Arts students and they use for their campfires to nuclear plants downstream are unnecessary and It would be very historic.” instructor Ken Potter will be numerous door prizes donated by help protect the Park’s great unsightly, a waterfront community group and At the meeting in Lenoir City, TVA representa- instructing the class. local businesses. biodiversity of plants and ani- Cost for the class is $50. For For more information, email others told TVA representatives. tives heard questions about the flood probability mals,” said Park Superintendent State Rep. Jimmy Matlock of Lenoir City said calculations and complaints that the sand baskets more information and to enroll, [email protected] Dale Ditmanson. call 543-6048 or 542-8064. or call 989-4872. Wednesday he planned to contact other lawmakers are unsightly. The utility is accepting public com- Biologists in the Smokies ment until Aug. 26 on its options. have battled other pests for who also have constituents affected by TVA’s deci- Brickey said one idea is to replace the sand bas- Landscaping for wildlife Mountain lion killed in years, among them the hem- sion in 2009 to install the sand baskets — some of Conn. traced to S. Dakota lock wooly adelgid, which them 7 feet tall — at the Fort Loudon, Tellico, kets with permanent concrete walls. workshop set in Abingdon Cherokee and Watts Bar dams. He said the sand Matlock said installing flood protection at the HARTFORD, Conn. — A attacks the hemlock trees that ABINGDON, Va. — Join Laura shade streams in the park. baskets installed at a cost of $4 million to $6 mil- nuclear plant sites could be a better option. Polant, Floyd, Va., forester at 10 mountain lion killed on a lion are the product of some misguided agency Dennis Stanczuk, a member of the Tellico Village Connecticut highway last Earlier, the balsam wooly a.m. on Saturday at the Abingdon decision. Homeowners Association Dam Safety Project month had apparently walked adelgid killed many Frazier Senior Center, 300 Senior Drive, fires that once graced “We think it is a reaction to data that was pro- Committee, questioned TVA’s method of deter- for a workshop on planting trees halfway across the country Clingman’s Dome and other vided somewhere out of some agency, probably in mining the flood risk. and shrubs for wildlife. from South Dakota, according “We don’t think the TVA has done a proper risk to Connecticut environmental spots on the mountain ridges. D.C., somebody sitting in a cubicle looking up the Participants will learn how to The forest that became the assessment,” Stanczuk said. provide food and shelter to a officials who said Tuesday that what ifs,” said Matlock, who met with TVA repre- Smokies was decimated in the sentatives Tuesday night along with members of He said it has calculated a probable maximum variety of wildlife species. After the 1,500-mile journey was one flood and instead should use more probable risk of the longest ever recorded 1930s by the American chestnut the Tellico Village Homeowners Association. “We an informal lecture, workshop data. for a land mammal. blight, which is an Asian fungal just believe they have taken an extreme look at a attendees will work with Polant disease. Stanczuk said his group would like to see TVA do to map out plans for planting on The animal originated in the possibility and then reacted.” Black Hills region of South an environmental impact statement before making their own properties. A Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman a decision. The event is free. For more Dakota and was tracked by DNA Buffalo ATV trail said Wednesday that with renewed attention to information, call 276-623-1121 or from its hair and droppings as it “People feel it is a blight on the beauty of the closed until September protecting reactors from flooding, TVA “may be area and that’s why we are all here,” Stanczuk email [email protected]. passed through Minnesota and The Buffalo Mountain ATV able to do something different” than using the Wisconsin in 2009 and 2010, said. “Nobody is debating the responsibility that trail will be closed until Sept. 15 sand baskets, but also may not. NRC spokesman Connecticut Department of TVA has to protect the integrity of the lakes, the Grandfather trails offer following heavy trail mainte- Roger Hannah said the commission, particularly Energy and Environmental power plants and protect downstream from nance to the northern section new opportunities Protection Commissioner Daniel since the March tsunami and nuclear emergency flooding.” between the large narrow rock GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, Esty said at a news conference. in Japan, is “looking at flooding type issues” at all A TVA executive said in describing the sand and Pinnacle Fire Tower. To give N.C. — Now that Grandfather’s Biologists estimate the size of reactor locations. basket project in 2009 that such flooding was this and areas south of narrow backcountry trail system is the mountain lion population at TVA spokesman Travis Brickey said the sand “highly unlikely” and would have to be four or five rock time to heal, the trail is cur- maintained and patrolled by about 100,000 nationwide, mostly baskets were installed as a temporary measure times the size of the worst flood on record in rently closed, officials say. North Carolina State Park living in the western United when the utility was reviewing the possibility of “I would like to thank the users 1857. rangers, the Grandfather States and seldom traveling completing the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in north- Knoxville-based TVA has about 9 million cus- Mountain Stewardship more than 100 miles. It was the in advance for cooperating with the temporary trail closure,” said eastern Alabama. The TVA board is scheduled on tomers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Foundation is funneling its trails first confirmed wild mountain Aug. 18 to consider giving the go-ahead to building Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. staff toward a more educational, lion in Connecticut in more than Terry Bowerman, district ranger. “Help us help you by keeping that reactor. TVA has reactors at Watts Bar, the “Anything that we do we have to keep in mind interpretive role. 100 years. Sequoyah plant at Soddy-Daisy and the Browns the cost benefit to ratepayers,” Brickey said. The merger of the trails and “It is a testament to the adapt- traffic off the trail until mid-Sep- naturalist departments will pro- ability of the species that it can tember. This will allow the trail vide visitors with additional travel so far from its original to harden, making it more sus- ways to experience and learn home in South Dakota to tainable for future users.” about the mountain’s diverse Connecticut,” Esty said. The Buffalo Mountain trail is environment. Interpretive The lean, 140-pound male was the only ATV/UTV trail on rangers will provide guided killed June 11 when it was hit by Cherokee National Forest. It is Donkeys group hikes for those who are a sport utility vehicle at night on located in Unicoi and Washington Counties. you have to do is have a lot of his Nebraska roots. interested in learning general the Wilbur Cross Parkway in the  Continued from Page 1D information about the mountain New Haven suburb of Milford. patience and give them time to “People who have horses or or for more specialized interests Authorities initially believed it Friends of the Smokies said. “They are very much self- assess the situation.” equine in their blood, you either such as birding, geology, flora was a captive animal that plate helps wildlife preservation animals and if they His willingness to devote the have it or you don’t, and in my escaped, but tests showed that it ever get into a situation they’re majority of his free time to visit case I’ve always had it and I’ve and fauna. They will also work KODAK — Drivers who was not neutered or declawed not familiar with, their reaction his buddies William Blunt, Rocky always liked those four-legged closely with local schools to pro- proudly display their distinctive and it had no implanted micro- is to stop, assess it and once Top, Johnny Cash, Moon Pie and animals,” he said. “In this case, vide educational programming purple and orange “Friends of chips, which are commonly used they’re sure its safe, they’ll go Andrew Jackson comes from the donkeys have met that need.” on and off the mountain. the Smokies” license plates help in domestic animals. forward and do whatever. All something internal, found deep in “Interpretive rangers will fre- the Great Smoky Mountains Tests also determined it was quently be on hand near the National Park stay unforgettable, Swinging Bridge to visit with likely the same one that had been officials say. guests and answer questions seen earlier in Greenwich, Conn., License plate owners in about the mountain,” said a New York City suburb 30 miles Tennessee generated more than Gabriel Taylor, chief interpretive away. The death was followed by $103,000 in the second quarter of ranger. “Our goal is to provide a flurry of big cat sightings in 2011 to help preserve and protect visitors with the opportunity to the suburbs of Connecticut, but the Great Smoky Mountains leave the mountain with a more experts dismissed most of them National Park. Funds from A Legacy of Impact meaningful understanding of all as unreliable. Government “Friends of the Smokies” that they saw while here.” experts say no native mountain Tennessee plates help to protect Anyone interested in arranging lions are believed to live in 1911 - East Tennessee State University - 2011 black bears and native brook for a guided hike or other Connecticut. trout, heal eastern hemlock ranger-led excursion can call Genetic testing showed the cat 828-737-0833. had the same genetic structure trees, preserve important of the mountain lion population nesting grounds for migratory Be a part of East Tennessee State University’s milestone celebration South Holston lake, river in South Dakota’s Black Hills birds, educate kids about our nat- region. The U.S. Department of ural world, preserve historic — the 100th anniversary of it’s founding. To commemorate this historic cleanup set for Aug. 13 Agriculture’s Forest Service cabins and buildings and support BRISTOL — Keep Bristol Wildlife Genetics Laboratory in activities of park volunteers. occasion, the Johnson City Press will publish a special edition on Sunday, Beautiful has announced the 19th Missoula, Mont., matched the Since its debut, the specialty annual South Holston Lake & DNA with samples collected plate has raised more than $6.5 October 9, 2011, that will chronicle the history and detail the impact River Cleanup on Aug. 13, begin- from a cat that was tracked in million. of this special institution for the past 100 years. This edition, entitled ning at 8 a.m. Volunteers are Minnesota and Wisconsin from “Over the years since their invited to join in the cleanup at late 2009 through early 2010. creation in 1993, the “Friends of “A Legacy of Impact – East Tennessee State University 1911-2011”, is any of the zones. the Smokies” has empowered Observation Knob will serve as Park tightens restrictions the park to take on a wide range certain to become a keepsake for thousands of our readers as well as ETSU headquarters for the lake of vital projects that we could cleanup, with the Weir Dam on using firewood never have contemplated graduates, students, employees and friends of the university. serving as the headquarters for GATLINBURG — With a without their help,” said Park the river cleanup. Other registra- destructive tree pest moving Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. tion sites include Highway 421 southward, officials in the “From establishing a Black Bear Ramp, Little Oak Ramp, Lake Smokies have tightened firewood Hiking Education Patrol for the View Dock, Washington County restrictions inside the national safety and protection of park Park Ramp, Avens Bridge Ramp, park. visitors, to expanded treatment To be a part of this special keepsake edition, Sportsman’s Dock, Old Alvarado Firewood now cannot be of our hemlock trees and growth Station and The Boardwalk in brought into the Great Smoky of the Parks as Classrooms edu- call 423.929.3111, Bluff City. Bags and gloves will Mountains National Park from cation program, the support of be provided. Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon, the Friends and the proceeds Over the past 18 years, more Grainger or Union counties, from the Tennessee license or contact your Johnson City Press than 18,000 volunteers have par- which lie just north and west of plates, has made this a better ticipated in cleanup and collected the park. park.” Advertising Sales Representative. more than a million pounds of All of the counties have been “Friends of the Smokies” is an debris from the lake, river and quarantined by either state or independent nonprofit organiza- surrounding area. federal forestry officials, who tion that helps to preserve and “Our goal is to not have to have are trying to halt the spread of protect the Great Smoky a cleanup for our waters,” said the emerald ash borer and thou- Mountains National Park. The volunteer Terry Copenhaver, sand cankers disease. The Smokies plate is available from “but since we do, we might as canker disease is fungal and is any Tennessee County Clerk’s well make it a fun time for spread by a small twig beetle. office. To learn more, go online everyone.” The tree species at greatest to www.friendsofthesmokies.org A LEGACY OF IMPACT 1911 LAST CENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY 2011 Cash prizes will be awarded to risk from the borer and the or call 800-845-5665. groups based on the amount of fungus are ash, black walnut and butternut. From staff and A litter collected. Nonprofit organi- SV - 1 zations are encouraged to reg- Park regulations bar campers Associated Press reports � y y�� I State building commission OKs purchase of Cummins Falls to The Tennessean. for a year while the foundation THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cummins Falls is in Jackson raised enough money to buy it County, about 80 miles northeast from him at the same price he paid of Nashville, near Cookeville. for it. COOKEVILLE — The state is Blackburn Fork tumbles over The chance to preserve the falls buying Cummins Falls, incorpo- the falls into a large swimming as public property seemed lost ma rating the highest privately- hole. Travel & Leisure has ranked until recently. ' x owned waterfall in Tennessee into it as one of the 10 best swimming Williams previously met with a the state park system. holes in America. developer who told her he planned The Tennessee Building A state lands fund will be tapped to put 80 riverfront houses on the Commission approved the pur- for $550,000 toward the purchase property. chase on Monday. and federal grants and private “When he said that, I cried right “It’s grand,” said Kathleen donations will make up the rest of in his face,” Williams said. “I Williams, executive director of the $1.4 million purchase price, thought the falls were lost. But the the Tennessee Parks and which includes surveying and Greenways Foundation. “It’s like project went belly up.” other costs of acquisition. The li t buying Niagara Falls.” Robert McCaleb of Cleveland, price of the land itself was $1.2 Tenn., provided an interest-free . The Tennessee Department of million. f � Environment and Conservation loan of $200,000 for the project. A development project planned The foundation continues to plans to make the 211-acre tract a for the tract fell through and Dr. unit of Burgess Falls State Park solicit donations for the project at 1 11 1 4 Glenn Hall of Cookeville bought http://tenngreen.org. and develop trails to it, according it at auction and agreed to hold it