SHORELINES

10 Shor e l i n e S | 2016 Vol :1 Planners at Smith Lake can look to Landrem and Beaty for inspiration as they launch their first scholarship awards this year. The late LaVerne Matheson, a transplant from Florida who championed Smith Lake water conservation, sparked the notion of scholarships and, in his memory, the award is titled the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. LaVerne Matheson Scholarship. "We've spent close to a year finalizing the wording and the requirements," says Jim Eason, president of Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy. A late April deadline is set for applicants from Winston County schools, home-schooled students and West Point High School in Cullman County (included in the Rock Creek Watershed, the geographic area of eligibility). One scholarship of $1,000 is the first-year award. As Smith Lake's effort begins, Lake Mitchell's grows. Beaty proudly reports the expansion this year to two students receiving $2,000 each, a positive result of accelerated fund- raising. Especially poker. "I'd never heard of a poker run but it turned out to be a blast," she says. Last summer, 48 participants paid $25 each for a map to eight Lake Mitchell docks and boathouses. "They'd draw a card at each stop and then come back at a specific time to submit their best five-card hand for the grand prize (half the proceeds)," she continues. "We also sold Lake Mitchell calendars with photo scenes submitted by people around the lake. With $15 each for the calendars, the poker run and additional money from donations and memorials, we've made enough to cover the scholarships." Lake Mitchell's second annual Poker Run, expanding from one deck to two (104 possible hands), is scheduled for June 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The scholarship funds at Weiss and Smith lakes come largely from membership fees and donations from people committed to the importance of the waters. "I feel like every citizen should give back to his community," Landrem says. "I tell people I'm not a biologist, I'm not a scientist, I'm not any kind of 'ist' – I'm just a person that loves and enjoys the water. I see my grandchildren enjoying fishing and boating, and I want to see the lake water as clean and abundant as possible for them." Lake Mitchell's Beaty echoes the thought. "The original board who started our scholarship wanted to be good neighbors to the people with whom we share this lake," she says. "These students are our future and it makes you feel really good to meet them and realize there is hope for the environment." – CAROL ANNE ROBERTS "I FEEL LIKE EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD GIVE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY. I TELL PEOPLE I'M NOT A BIOLOGIST, I'M NOT A SCIENTIST, I'M NOT ANY KIND OF 'IST' – I'M JUST A PERSON THAT LOVES AND ENJOYS THE WATER. I SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN ENJOYING FISHING AND BOATING, AND I WANT TO SEE THE L AKE WATER AS CLEAN AND ABUNDANT AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM." – CAROL L ANDREM, SCHOL ARSHIP CHAIR OF THE WEISS L AKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

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