Friday, June 8, 2007-By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer-The Trout in the Classroom project got a boost Thursday from Gov. Tim Kaine, who waded into the Smith River in Bassett to help local students release trout fingerlings they raised in their school
The project, sponsored nationally by Trout Unlimited, was started in area schools last year by Martinsville orthodontist David Jones. It is designed to teach students about the environment and the importance of keeping rivers and streams clean.
Tyler Byrd, 11, a sixth-grader at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, was impressed that Kaine made time for the event.
“I’m surprised he’s here, especially with him being the governor and all,� Tyler said. “I got to shake his hand and really talk to him. I introduced myself and he asked me how am I doing.
“I really like the fact that he would come down here and do this for us. Mr. Kaine is a really nice guy,� Tyler said.
Kaine was unhurried and patient as he talked to the students.
“Do you think he’ll sign my report card?� asked James Bowman, 13. Like Tyler, he was among 125 students from F-C Middle who participated in the fish release. They were joined by about 75 students from Albert Harris Elementary School.
A bit shy, James, the seventh-grade son of Melissa Nance, finally made his way through a throng of students surrounding Kaine.
Noticing James and the paper in his hands, the governor realized that James wanted him to sign the report card.
“I’ll have to look at it first,� Kaine quipped, adding that he typically only signs report cards for his three children.
With the autographed report card in tow, James was all smiles.
“It’s the feeling of having something else accomplished that I wanted to do,� he said. “I’ll keep it for as long as I can, just like the copy of the Declaration of Independence that I have.�
Lisa Teague did not realize what the day had in store when she volunteered to accompany her daughter’s class on the field trip.
“I thought we were coming to the Bassett Historical Society and going inside,� Teague said, rather than standing in a grassy area behind the facility while small trout were released into the river.
“I wish I had brought a camera,� Teague said as her daughter, Julia Teague, 13, helped release fish alongside Kaine.
“You guys have done a good job with these,� Kaine said as he prepared to release a group of fingerlings.
“This has been a great day,� said David Jones, who helped with the release. In addition to Jones and Kaine, several area officials attended the event.
Among them were Henry County Schools Superintendent Sharon Dodson, county school board Chairman Curtis Millner, school board member James Franklin, Iriswood District Supervisor Paula Burnette, city schools Superintendent Scott Kizner and Robert Wells, president of the Smith River chapter of Trout Unlimited.
After the fish were safely in the river, Jones told Kaine, “I hope you have some idea of what you have done for students� and teachers by attending the event.
Jones said the governor replied by saying that one of the best things about his position is that by attending events such as the trout release, he can bring positive attention to upbeat programs.
Kevin McDaniels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ operations manager for Philpott Lake, said the trout project “is a great opportunity to get all the kids involved with the environment, nature and the cycle of life.� It also “gets them outdoors. It’s wonderful and we appreciate Dr. Jones� for spearheading the project.
Thursday’s release was the last of 10 scheduled at the river this school year. Students from public and private schools in Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania counties and Martinsville have participated.
Source: Martinsville Bulletin, June 8, 2007, page 1
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