» All-American angler: Samuel Vandagriff of McMinnville, Tenn., was one of the 12 selections announced this week for the Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. The Warren County senior has been president of the school's bass fishing club for four years, and his tournament victories in the past year include the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Rumble on the Hill, held on Center Hill Lake. He has a 4.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and has earned almost $10,000 in college scholarships.
"Samuel also leads off the water in his school, church and community, participating in things like hurricane relief, Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life," Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School state director David Lowrie said in the B.A.S.S. release.
Two other All-Americans are from relatively close: Jacob Woods of Lenoir City High School and Spencer Childers from Pickens High in Georgia. One of the perks of selection is an invitation to compete in a High School All-American tournament in conjunction with the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest next month on Lake Travis.
» Introduction to mountain biking: Friday & May 18, 6-8 p.m., Greenway Farm; instruction presented by Outdoor Chattanooga; appropriate for ages 10-up, $10 per class, advance registration & payment required; mountain bikes available at no extra charge. Email info@outdoor chattanooga or call 643-6888.
» Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Association hikes: Saturday, Chickamauga Battlefield, west side, easy 4.5 miles (meet at 9 a.m. at Food City parking lot in Red Bank or at 9:30 at park visitors center lower parking lot; call Gloria Nelson at 645-9008); Tuesday, Stinging Fork Pocket Wilderness at Spring City, easy to moderate 3-4 miles, can stay on bluff or hike into gorge for waterfall (meet at 9 a.m. at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy; call Trish Appleton at 240-3443); April 28, Cloudland Canyon's Sitton Gulch, moderate 5 miles ($5 parking fee at the park; meet at 9 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank; call Ed or Donna Pyers at 344-9271); May 1, Foster Falls and loop in South Cumberland State Park system, includes 60-foot waterfall (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank; call Appleton); May 5, Savage Gulf south rim, strenuous 10 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Durham Street lot in Soddy-Daisy; call George Bonneau at 842-3619).
» New Cumberland Trail hiking series: Guided hikes, 4-7 miles each, April 27, May 11, June 8 (free); April 27 5-miler starts at 10 a.m. Participants earn credit toward 50-miler award from Cumberland Trail Conference.
» Rapid Learning intro to kayak & skills practice: Wednesdays, May-October, 6-8 p.m., Chester Frost Park, far end of swimming beach by first boat ramp; family-friendly for ages 8-up; first-timers free; equipment provided, reservations not required. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
» Mountain to Town bike adventures: May 4 & 5, 9 a.m.-noon, beginner-friendly Guild Trail to Tennessee Riverwalk in St. Elmo and on into downtown; ages 12-up; shuttle & instruction (& mountain bike, too, if needed) provided by Outdoor Chattanooga; $25; Saturday version includes brief program at Cravens House. Pre-registration required at info@outdoorchattanooga.com or 643-6888.
» Fisherman's Dream bass tournament: May 5, safe daylight to 3 p.m., from Chester Frost Park on Chickamauga Lake; $150 for 2-person boat, plus $10 for big-fish option; registration at Sportsman's Warehouse any time before May 4 meeting at 6 p.m. at the store. For more information contact Brent Brady at bbrady@dixielabels.com or 718-0326.
» Chattanooga Grotto Club meeting: May 7, 7-8:30 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga; free, open to public.