Team registration for TU Chili Cook-Off starts Sept. 1
I have had a lot of folks asking about the Trout Unlimited Chili CookOff recently, so here are some answers to some questions.
The cook-off will be held Oct. 14 at Ridge Ferry Park. As usual, the gates will open to the public Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. and admission is $5 per person, with children 5 years old or younger allowed in for free.
This year as in the past two years there is a free parking area north of the railroad tracks and the parking area adjacent to the cooking area will cost $5 per car.
We are still having the Friday night festivities for teams, team guests, sponsors, sponsor guests and TU personnel. In order to be in the park on Friday night after 8 p.m. all those in the park must be wearing the official TU Chili Cook-Off arm band. There are no exceptions to this rule and anyone not wearing the official armband will be required to leave the park.
Team registration will begin Sept. 1 and will be done online at http:// coosavalley.tu.org/. The fee has been increased to $50 per recipe entered.
A few years ago we eliminated headaches for teams by having online registration. This process has been so well received that we have decided to add an additional headache cure for the teams. This year we will allow team leaders to purchase additional armbands for their guests when they register online.
Teams get four armbands with each recipe entered. The only time a team can purchase additional armbands online is when the team leader reserves their cook site or sites.
Only at that time can the team leader get additional armbands for $11 each by specifying the number of additional armbands needed, paying online with a credit card and entering their full mailing address.
We must have the mailing address as that is how we will get the additional armbands to the team leader.
We will not sell additional armbands to anyone outside of the registration in advance of Oct. 13 except to our sponsors. Additional armbands will be available for $10 each on Friday at the registration tent or at the TU cabin.
Only the team leader or designated alternate may purchase additional armbands at the park. We hope that this process will make life easier on team leaders as well as folks at the TU entry tent. Please note that the cutoff date to pay for additional armbands online is Oct. 1. This is to allow time for the mail to get to the team leader.
Online registration will continue through Oct. 12, but anyone registering their teams after Oct. 1 must buy any additional armbands needed at the registration tent or the TU cabin.
TU continues work at Johns Creek
This past weekend at least 15 folks joined with U.S. Forest Service personnel to put a large structure in Johns Creek. We even had a brand new member get wet and help. This is the last structure to be added this year on Johns Creek, and at least two more will be planned for 2018.
The forest service had a back hoe and bucket tractor which made the job very easy for everyone but the operator. We laid a 35-foot log across the creek and supported it with rocks to make a dam to create oxygenated water going over the dam. There will be eight more structures built on the creek over the next three or four years. Tim Looney prepared a barbecue pork butt lunch for all who attended. As for the campers that we woke up at 8 a.m., we appreciate your understanding.
Several TU volunteers collected trash along the road and in the campsites. It seems like we collect less each time we do a cleanup, and this is due to the people that camp on Johns Mountain. We appreciate the public’s efforts in keeping this section of Johns Creek a premier camping area in Northwest Georgia.
Thanks to the volunteers and the USFS for the help in making Johns Creek as good as can be. Go to coosavalley.tu.org and view the Calendar of Events tab for future stream work and activities planned.