♥ Bow hunting in Star? To what extent?

As published in the Courier-Tribune on September 11, 2012

By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com

STAR — A request from a town citizen on the issue of bow-hunting within the city limits has Star Commissioners looking into regulations on the practice.

Terry Parsons, a resident of Stuart Street and former town commissioner, asked the board during the public forum of the regular September meeting to investigate the safety issues related to the practice of deer hunting with bow and arrow within the town limits.

At present, there are no ordinances regulating the use of archery equipment in town.

Parsons expressed her concern that when bow hunting is taking place, there are citizens walking throughout the town and children are playing outdoors.

Jon Hancock of Star also spoke during the forum, but is in favor of being able to bow hunt.

“It’s my passion,” he told the board. “I like to be able to hunt without having to take off from work.”

Hancock’s family owns seven acres adjacent to Parsons. Both properties are within the city limits.

“I have personal reasons for hunting,” Hancock said. “I hunt to feed my family and to help people whose gardens are being eaten up by deer.”

Hancock said that he recently saw six deer cross the highway in front of the Quik Chek in Star, which is in the main business area of town.

“People who hunt must take hunter safety classes,” Hancock said. “I think people should be able to hunt on their own private land.”

“Yesterday you were on my land,” Parsons said to Hancock.

“I may have been trespassing, but I wasn’t hunting,” Hancock replied.

The board agreed to put the issue on the agenda for the October meeting. In the meantime, research will be done to regulate bow hunting to the satisfaction of all involved.

In other business, Mayor Susan Eggleston and Commissioners Eddie Bernard, Alice Clemens, Jennifer Fountain, Richard Hinson and Steve Lassiter:

* Approved a proclamation by Eggleston for a Moment of Remembrance on Sept. 11, 2012.

* Voted to mow the property at 419 Temple Terrace, which has been overgrown and abandoned for several months and efforts to contact the owner have not been successful. A tax lien will be placed on the property upon completion. No action will be taken by the town to address a swimming pool filled with stagnant water on the same property.

* Learned that a lease on the community kitchen facility in the former rescue squad building was ready to be signed. The kitchen will be used by the Montgomery County Council on Aging.

* Heard a report from Fountain on the ongoing upgrades at Star Park.

* Heard a report on activities at the Star Heritage Center from Clemens. A series of public workshops are being held at the center. Information may be found on the Star Heritage Center Facebook page.

* Learned that the Montgomery County Airport, located in Star, has set a tentative date of Oct. 20 for a Fly-in event.

* Heard that the annual Star Fire Department barbeque and auction was a success.