BOATING

BOATING
Free inspections
Free boat safety inspections for 2002 certificates are being offered by the U.S. Power Squadron as part of the organization's 2002 North American Safe Boating Campaign.
Inspections will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11 in the parking lot of Sand Dollar Marine, 815 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. Certified vessel inspectors from the Mosquito Lake Power Squadron will conduct the inspections.
PENNSYLVANIA
Applications availablefor elk hunt drawing
HARRISBURG - With recent approval of the 2002 elk hunt, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications for a public drawing for one of 70 elk hunting licenses for the fall season. The drawing will be Sept. 28, and the elk season is Nov. 18-23.
The PGC will allow hunters to complete and submit applications on-line through "The Outdoor Shop," (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Regular mail-in forms have been posted via a printable application on the website and applications will be included in the 2002-2003 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, provided to each license buyer.
A $10 non-refundable fee must be submitted with the application. On-line applications must be accompanied by a credit card payment (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express accepted), and must be submitted by Sept. 13. No Game Commission office will accept hand-delivered applications.
Forms submitted through the mail must be accompanied by a check or money order made payable to "Pennsylvania Game Commission," and must be received in the PGC's P.O. box by Aug. 23.
Send mail applications to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Elk License Application, P.O. Box 61890, Harrisburg, Pa. 17106-1890.
Only one application is permitted per person and all application fees are non-refundable
If they are drawn, hunters will be required to purchase the appropriate resident or nonresident general hunting license and attend a mandatory orientation program sponsored by the PGC before being permitted to purchase the elk license. The elk license fees are $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents. The public drawing will be held on Sept. 28. Time and location will be announced later this year.
FISHING
Charity tournament set
The Gander Mountain Open Charity Walleye Tournament will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11 at Mosquito Creek Reservoir. The two-person team tournament will be to benefit the Northeast Ohio Adoption Services and will be organized by the Western Reserve Walleye Association.
There will be a mandatory registration and rules meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at Gander Mountain in Niles (2390 Niles-Cortland Road)
Prizes include a $5,000 payout to win (based on 100-boat field). Information on the event is available at the store or by calling (330) 824-3266.
NOAS is a non-profit agency that places children in adoptive homes.
Trout stocking noticespart of pilot program
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has started a pilot program to make public specific dates and times of in-season adult trout stockings in selected streams.
The pilot program, which started May 1 and will run through May 24, won approval during the spring quarterly Commission meeting April 29 in Harrisburg.
Since 1978, PFBC has announced only the week period that waters receive in-season stockings.
The streams still to be stocked are listed below (For more information, check http://sites.state.pa.us /PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/announce.htm.