Kentucky Lake Paris Tennessee 4th July

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FROM FIREWORKS TO FISHING…LAKE IS PLACE TO BE ON FOURTH OF JULY

Nice weather is expected. Add a holiday weekend to good weather and a crowd is in the making.

Recreation is big business around here and if you don’t believe it just drive around the lake area this weekend and try to find a picnic table, camp spot, boat ramp or parking spot at a boat ramp.

Kentucky Lake will draw folks from miles around this weekend as it’s the place to be for fun in the sun. The lake is a special place all year long but its appeal spikes during holidays as there’s just something about the atmosphere.

Fishermen better rise early if they plan to find a quiet spot before the jet skis, pontoons, and recreational boaters hit the water at midday. Fortunately, the reservoir is big enough to accommodate lots of folks with many different desires.

The smell of hamburgers grilling around the campgrounds is as much a part of the big weekend as swimming and skiing. Fireworks will light up the sky, especially when the big show at Paris Landing State Park kicks off.

Everyone hope to have a big time and we’re fortunate to have Kentucky Lake right here in our backyard.

It goes without saying the busy boating weekend ahead commands special attention and preparation. Watching out for the other guy is imperative if the waterways are to remain safe for all users.

Here’s some food for thought from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency if you plan to join the crowd this weekend on Kentucky Lake:

TWRA officials remind all those who visit the state’s waterways for the July Fourth holiday to be safe for what is annually one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Officials emphasize the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) while boating in a safe and responsible manner. The TWRA wants all those who visit the waterways to have an enjoyable time. However, TWRA officers will be on the watch for dangerous boating behavior, such as boating under the influence (BUI) and other reckless operation.

The 2010 July Fourth holiday period will run from 6 p.m. on Friday, July 2 through midnight Monday, July 5.

So far in 2010, there have been 69 reported boating accidents resulting in 38 injuries and 9 fatalities. Alcohol or drug use has been involved in 19 percent of all accidents and four of the fatalities were alcohol related. TWRA officers have made 85 BUI arrests this year as of June 28, 2010.

In 2009 over the July Fourth holiday weekend, there was one boating-related fatality. There were six total accidents reported resulting in injuries and nine that caused property damage. TWRA boating officers made 17 BUI arrests over the weekend.

Wearing a life jacket is the single most effective way to protect boaters and reduce drowning in boating accidents. Eighty percent of those who drown in boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.

Along with the use of life jackets, TWRA wants to stress the responsible use of alcohol while boating. It is important to consider the effects of drinking and driving whether on water or land. In a boat on the water, the effects of alcohol increase because of external stressors such as engine vibration, wave motion and glare from the sun.

Operating a boat with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or higher is illegal in Tennessee, the same as operating a motor vehicle.

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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