Pinnacle Mountain Newsletter
Kathy Johnson			November 2005 Issue 15
My! Here we are at the ending months of yet another year. So, Sherry and I are wishing you and your family a very thankful, safe, and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. We had our 2^nd Board Meeting at our home on the mountain the middle of October. All committees reporting with a lot of discussion from all; very good and productive meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for Jaunuary 06, 2006 at James Hardin’s Home. Bobby Graham Presidents Message… Naturalist’s Corner… In your area… Your Neighbor… Cook’s Corner… President’s Message… North Carolina Snakes North Carolina Nonvenomous snakes have many tiny teeth. If you are bitten by a Nonvenomous snake, the bite will look like a horseshoe of tiny scratches, if one or two puncture wounds are present and you are not sure if the snake is Nonvenomous, go to a doctor. Unlike venomous snakes, most Nonvenomous snakes cannot bite through clothing. More than 80% of snakebites occur when a person is trying to kill or handle a snake. If a snake is encountered outdoors, the best defense is to back slowly away. Approximately 8000 people are bitten yearly in the US, only 2 % die.	Parade downtown Rutherfordton Circa 1920
	Naturalist’s Corner
	Snakes see shapes but not details. They find their food through their excellent sense of smell. They flick their tongue in and out of its mouth to collect particles of scent from the air. Most snakes are not aggressive and would rather avoid a confrontation with people. A snake can only strike with authority within a distance of one half of its body length. The venomous copperhead, canebrake, diamondback, pigmy and cottonmouth (or water moccasin) are pit vipers. They are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long Snakes range in size from a few inches to more than 8 feet. There are approximately 37 species of snakes found in North Carolina and 6 are venomous. The copperhead, Canebrake, Eastern Diamondback, Pigmy, Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin and Coral snake. Snakes do not see well, and have no middle ear so they don’t hear sounds as we do. They detect movement through changing color patterns and vibration.	movable fangs, a vertically elliptical ‘cat’s eye’ pupil, undivided scales on the underside of the tail and a large triangular shaped head that has a small, smooth, shiny cap over the nose. Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils, a large smooth cap over the top of the head past the eyes, divided scales on the underside of the tail, no pits and no long fangs. The exception to this rule is the Coral snake, it does not have the triangular shaped head or the elliptical ‘cat’s eye pupil. The Copperhead is North Carolina’s most numerous venomous snake.

Pinnacle Mountain Newsletter

The average temperature is 59.9 F, average rainfall is 49.91 inches.

Rainfall is concentrated in Spring and Fall with an average humidity

Approximately 65%. There are 200 frost free days in the growing

Season with an average snowfall of 2.74 inches.

The average employment for Rutherford County is 25,661 people and

Consists of manufacturing, retail, government, transportation and

Utilities, construction and other self employed.

The Blue Ridge Mountains to the North and Smokey Mountains

Provide shelter from extreme weather conditions in the winter and

Provide cool mountain breezes in summer.

Rutherford was formed in 1779 from Tryon.

For the Month of October, The Pinnacle Mountain Newsletter proudly introduces Riley and Gail Ethington.

Riley and Gail are in the process of building a home at 158 Tuck Back Cove and currently call Spartanburg South Carolina home.

They have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

Neighbor on

the Mountain…

Riley and Gail

Ethington

With the Holidays fast approaching,

Gail has wonderful recipes to share.

From Gail’s kitchen to your kitchen…

of Rutherfordton. Lake Lure is

A Private lake with public access.

The county seat of Rutherford County is Rutherfordton.

More than 50% of the U.S. population is within 600 miles of Rutherford County. Almost

60% of the country’s industrial manufacturing is less than a two-day drive.

Rutherford County is located in the foothills of North Carolina approximately half way between Atlanta Georgia and Washington DC.

Rutherford County

Rutherford County is considered a rural county with abundance of space, natural forests, lakes and farm land.

Rutherford County is an average 563 square miles. The county if composed of eight municipalities: Bostic, Chimney Rock, Ellenboro, Forest City, Rutherfordton, Ruth, Spindale and Lake Lure. Rutherfordton, Spindale and Forest City form the Tri-City Area and are connected by US Hwy 74 Business. The towns of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock are located approximately 20 miles west

Your Neighbor

Craig, Lisa, Camryn, Bryson and Tyler live in Anderson South Carolina. Craig works as a Chemical Engineer and Lisa is a School Teacher, currently a full-time mom.

Brian lives in Campobello South Carolina, attends ITT in Greenville and works as a Computer Technician.

Riley is retired from the United States Marine Corps and currently works as a Computer Projects Manager Consultant. He enjoys Martial Arts and carpentry work on the log home. He has served on the Pinnacle Mountain Property

Owners Association Board as President for the past four years. . . Gail works for Spartanburg Regional Hospital System. She enjoys Sewing and handcrafts. She is a member of the Pinnacle Mountain Property Owners Association Architectural Committee.

Riley and Gail’s very favorite thing to do… Play with the grandchildren!!!!!!

Cooks Corner…..