REGION

REGION
NRA Youth Sportsfestset for late July
LOWELLVILLE -- The fifth annual NRA Youth Sportsfest, sponsored by the Mahoning County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, will be July 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lowellville Rod & amp; Gun Club, Quarry Road. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m.
Youths under 18 will be admitted free.
The event introduces youngsters to the fun and excitement of shooting and outdoor activities in a supervised, safe, positive and educational environment, rotated in small groups through all the following: .22 rifle shooting, air rifle shooting, archery, fishing, muzzleloader shooting, wildlife displays, trap shooting and canoeing.
Registration will be limited to the first 110 youths. A camp T-shirt will be given to each youth. A free lunch will be provided.
To register, call: Jim Denney (330) 545-4250 (days) or Dave Kuntz (330) 549-3158 (evenings).
Hooked on Fishing
STRUTHERS -- Mill Creek MetroParks will hold Hooked On Fishing: An Angler's Escape at Yellow Creek Park on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MetroParks police need children to bring their favorite pole and bait to help catch fish. Officers will present games, competitions, prizes and giveaways during.
For more information on this rain or shine event, call (330) 740-7106.
Wings Over Mill Creek
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Audobon Society/Mahoning Valley and Mill Creek MetroParks will present their third annual Wings Over Mill Creek, a celebration of bird migration, today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Newport Wetlands.
Activities and displays will include bird, plant and insect walks; live birds of prey; presentations on birding; eagles; ospreys; native versus invasive plants; and activities for children.
There will be a drawing for a pair of binoculars. Those attending should bring a picnic lunch. In case of inclement weather, tents will be available.
Gun show this weekend
EAST LIVERPOOL -- The Tri-State Coon Hunters Club, Irish Ridge Road, will have a gun show today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Items include guns, knives, archery and fishing equipment.
Admission is $3. No children under 10 will be admitted. Children ages 10-14 admitted free.
Black bear sightings
AKRON -- Black bear sightings in Ohio often increase during the spring and summer months, but Ohioans should not be concerned according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The Division of Wildlife estimates the Buckeye bear population at somewhere around 50 to 60 black bears that live in Ohio year-round. "Tracking, reporting, and summarizing sightings of black bears in Ohio has helped us in determining the numbers of bears in Ohio," says Dan Kramer, wildlife management supervisor for northeast Ohio. "In 2005, we received 105 sightings of black bears but with through researching and summarizing we were able to determine many of those sightings were multiple sightings of the same bears."
May, June, and July is prime time for spotting black bears because it is the time for "yearling dispersal," when the female boots her year-old cubs out of the family unit so she can breed and raise a new litter of cubs. The yearlings then head out to find and establish their own territory.
During 2005, a total of 105 reported sightings of black bears occurred in 25 Ohio counties.
Boating season nears
COLUMBUS -- Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29, marks the traditional start of Ohio's summer boating season and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources encourages boaters to keep safety on the water as their highest priority.
"As participation in recreational boating has more than doubled over the past 30 years, injuries and fatalities have dropped by more than half because of increased safety awareness," said Mike Quinn, acting chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
The ODNR Division of Watercraft reports that in 1973, there were 6.3 million registered boats and 1,754 boating-related fatalities in the United States. In 2004, there were 12.8 million registered boats and 676 boating-related fatalities.
Speed is rarely a factor in boating-related fatalities, say watercraft officials. Falling overboard and drowning because of the failure to wear a life jacket (or wear it properly) is the single biggest culprit in boating fatalities. In 2003, Ohio recorded 19 boating-related fatalities, followed by a record low seven fatalities in 2004 and 12 fatalities in 2005. No boating fatalities had occurred in Ohio through May 15 this year.