During June, we celebrate our Nation’s outdoor heritage, reaffirm our commitment to conservation and recognize the many volunteers who help maintain public areas for outdoor recreation.
Recreation ranges from fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing to
riding recreational vehicles and all terrain vehicles. It is a $250 billion per year industry.
In June, we not only participate in many outdoor activities, but
celebrate with many events such as National Trails Day, National
Boating and Fishing Week, and National Family Recreation Week.
Clean beaches week
Mississippi has a special reason to celebrate. Mississippians are blessed by our state’s diverse fish and wildlife habitats, scenic areas and beautiful public lands managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These resources play a major role in our state’s quality of life. Outdoor recreation provides an opportunity for all of us, and especially our young people, to enjoy the splendor of our Nation’s natural treasures.
Last year, President George W. Bush said, “We have an obligation to protect the Earth, and my Administration is pursuing responsible initiatives to make our air cleaner, our water purer, and our land better protected. In doing so, we are demonstrating the important principle that environmental protection and economic prosperity are both vital parts of being good stewards in the land we call home.
“Through these and other efforts, we will continue to build a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for all Americans.” President Bush also said that outdoor recreation is an excellent way to exercise and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends. This is especially true in the South in combating heart disease.
At this time, I would also like to thank President Bush for his emergency funding request in addressing Hurricane Katrina’s damages to the Gulf Coast’s national wildlife refuges. As part of the president’s funding request, $132.4 million is requested for clean-up and facility repair needs at 61 Gulf Coast refuges. Last year’s hurricanes devastated wildlife refuges in the Gulf states. I applaud President Bush for his comprehensive proposal to repair the damages and address a fundamental need for our national wildlife refuges.
I call on Mississippians to enjoy safe outdoor recreational activities and to get a young person involved. They are the future of our great state.
— James L. Cummins is Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi, a non-profit,
conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.
Features
June 22, 2006
Outdoor notes
June is Great Outdoors month
- Features
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Oil Prices
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices continued their two-week slide on Wednesday after a government report showed demand for crude products dropped even further from the weak levels of a year ago when the recession's grip on the economy was strongest.
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God's Encounter With Man
Retired Pastor Thomas Wood wrote a book about a divine encounter with God. That was back in 1976, and at the time, Wood says he was unable to find a publisher.
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Religion News
You can submit your religion briefs to blockridge@themeridianstar.com. The briefs are published every Saturday, and must be received every Monday by 5 p.m. in order to be published that Saturday. You may also fax briefs to (601) 485-1275.
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We apologize
I had a conversation with a friend the other day. They recounted an experience they had where a driver cut them off, then gave them "hand signals."
- Being missions minded The earthquake in Haiti has turned a lot of people to those in need, but there are some who still feel like Americans should put forth more effort in aiding those in need.
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For Haiti
- Whose mission? The great theologian Paul Hewson once said "I had a mentor that once told me that I should stop praying for God to bless all the things I was involved in and find out what God was doing.
- Religion News
- (10:16 a.m.) Economy December wholesale prices edge up 0.2 percent
- Business Beat
- More Features Headlines
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