Page 4 - Explore Faulkner County 2020

4VV
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXPLORE FAULKNER COUNTY
MEET
YOUR NEIGHBOR
Kira Livingston
DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
WHAT WERE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF THE VILONIA COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE? As a Vilonia Complete Count Census member, I inform, motivate and build awareness to the Vilonia community about the importance of completing the 2020 census because the success of our community receiving federal money depends on community involvement at every level.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE IN VILONIA TO BE COUNTED IN THE 2020 CENSUS? Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals. Our county and community benefit the most when everyone is counted so we are able to get our fair share of federal funds. These funds help our schools, hospitals, county and city roads, public works and other vital programs that are crucial for the families and individuals who live here.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF YOUR COMMUNITY? It is important for me to be active in my community because I live here,
I am raising my family here, and I want to be proactive so Vilonia can grow and be prosperous for future generations. By being active, I am able to be surrounded by others who are driven, who have a positive view and who are focused on finding proactive solutions to help change the community for the better.
WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE VILONIA? There are many benefits of living in a small community like Vilonia. For example, you have a lower crime rate, a smaller school size, less traffic and my favorite, a strong sense of community. Vilonia is family because
like most families, we not only gather in times of celebration; we also gather and support each other in times of despair. Vilonia continues to show its resilience as we move forward to the future.
SARAH DECLERK/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Lake Bennett is located seven miles from Greenbrier in the center of Woolly Hollow State Park. It stands out from other fishing spots in Faulkner County due to its seculsion and natural beauty.
FISHING FOR FUN Area lakes offer a variety of options for anglers
BY SAM PIERCE / CREATIVE SERVICES WRITER
ere are plenty of places for anglers to wet their hooks in Faulkner County. Some areas, like Lake Conway, are more suitable for the more experienced angler, while others benefit beginners due to their accessibility or low currents.
From catfish to bass, there are a number of options for anglers in the Faulkner County area. Here are just a few of the options available.
LAKE CONWAY
Lake Conway, which is located three miles south of Conway, is the largest recreational lake ever constructed by a state wildlife agency, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website. It is approximately eight miles long, with 52 miles of shoreline for fishing and boating. e lake has large populations of bass, catfish, bream, crappie and bluegill.
Cody Kelley, who owns Best in Bass Guide Service, said Lake Conway is more of a low, swamp-type lake that has a little bit of everything. He said because of how fertile the water is, it hosts a high population of bait fish and has larger fish like catfish and bass.
“Even though it is not as big as Lake Ouachita, it has more fishable water, because it is under 10 feet deep,” Kelley said. “ ere are really endless places to fish.”
He said he has caught flathead catfish in the 30- to 40-pound range, but many are 15 to 20 pounds and there are many 5- to 8-pound bass. He said the lake also has some really nice bream fishing as well.
“I wouldn’t say [the lake] is for beginners,” he said. “Navigating around the lake is a challenge, because there are so many stumps and it is also very easy to become overwhelmed.
“ ere are a lot of spots that look like the perfect habitat, so it is easy to get
overwhelmed, with the sheer amount of targets to cast. It’s not a necessarily a good place for beginners to go learn.”
Matt Schroeder, the district fisheries biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said Lake Conway supports a very healthy catfish population.
“Year after year the naturally productive waters consistently crank out strong year classes (great spawns) of white and black crappie, one of Lake Conway’s most targeted species,” Schroeder said. “Fishing for crappie is great during the late fall months through the spring. Anglers will have to find the bait fish to find the crappie throughout the various seasons.”
LAKE BENNETT
Lake Bennett is a watershed located less than seven miles from Greenbrier. It is located in the center of the 400 acre Woolly Hollow State Park. It has a
STACI VANDAGRIFF/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION