From Our Readers

THIS MONTH: Gone Fishin’

It’s summertime, and the fish are biting. Whether you take to the seas or prefer the quiet of a river, lake or pond, North Carolina is teeming with fishing spots. Deep sea sportfishing, bass fishing, fly casting — we touch on a little bit of everything in this issue. Also, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have recently started managing resources on the power grid in a new way. Find out how on page 10. —Scott Gates, editor

Silent Nights What has happened to the country’s Whip-poor-will, which is the lonely bird that calls its name?

Calvin M. Freeman

Editor’s Note: We received this response to Calvin’s question from Scott Anderson, bird conservation biologist with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission: “In general and over the long term, yes, populations of Whip-poor-wills are believed to be declining. Unfortunately, our normal source for bird population trends (the Breeding Bird Survey) does a poor job of detecting Eastern Whip-poor-wills, since they are a nocturnal species.” Want to help track these birds and others in the nightjar family? Visit nightjars.org to volunteer!

Speedway Spectators Really enjoyed Anne Puetzer’s article about the Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough (“Taking a Lap Among the Pines,” July, 2021, page 14). It brought back a ton of memories for this old Hillsborough native. I did want to add one tidbit to her fine article. For a decade (1963–1973), Orange High School had the pleasure of playing all their home football games at the speedway. Nothing better than riding the activity bus on Friday night down the back stretch to get ready for a game! Congratulations on a fine publication.

Ted Andrews, a member of Piedmont Electric

Editor’s Note: We also received a call from Michael Davis, Sr., of Roxboro, who had attended the final race at the Occoneechee Speedway in 1968. He remembered that Richard Petty, the winner of that race, was driving a Plymouth Fury. He also shared memories of unscrupulous fans who would climb trees to get a free view of the race; unfortunately for them, if conditions were wet, passing cars would spray mud up into the limbs — splattering the sneaky spectators with red clay.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 53, No. 8

Published monthly by

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Warren Kessler Publications Director Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Karen Olson House Contributing Editor Tara Verna Creative Director Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO Nelle Hotchkiss Senior Vice President & COO

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each memberowned, not-for-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership. Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine? Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year. Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6. Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

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Phone: 919-875-3091 Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Web: carolinacountry.com Email: editor@carolinacountry.com Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage? Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

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