DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997           TAG: 9702260183

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: THUMBS UP 

SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   87 lines

JACQUELINE SMITH PARK RANGER FOR THE CITY OF SUFFOLK

Jacqueline Smith, park ranger for the City of Suffolk, wants to tell residents of the treasures in their own backyard.

Smith spends her workday at Lone Star Lakes, which is a peaceful habitat off Virginia Route 10 in Chuckatuck that seems far-removed from civilization. And for those who want to escape the pressures of city life, the 1,063-acre park is only a short drive away.

``We try to make it feasible for the public to utilize the facilities without disturbing the flora and fauna,'' said Annette Ferrell, park ranger sergeant.

Smith and Ferrell are delighted to give presentations to schools and civic organizations on the programs offered at both Lone Star Lakes and Bennetts Creek parks, Crump's Mill Pond, and the mini-parks.

``We give a brief history of the regional parks and facilities available to the public,'' Ferrell said. ``We would like to make the public more familiar with what we have.''

Recently, Smith, 49, gave a presentation to third-graders at Nansemond Parkway Elementary School. She carried fossils, pieces of wood cut by a beaver, and the skull of a deer for the students to touch.

Describing herself as an ``outside person,'' Smith has always been interested in fishing, nature and plant life. After working as a seasonal worker at the park, she was hired for a permanent position as a park ranger.

``I enjoy working with children and they were full of questions,'' Smith said. ``I explained to them what a park ranger is . . . that we are a lot like police officers, who enforce laws within the park and protect wildlife. I want them to know that the park is here for them to have a good time.''

A ``fisherman's paradise,'' there are 11 lakes in Lone Star Lakes in which to drop a fishing line. An unusual feature is that both fresh and salt water species may be found in the brackish waters, and sport fishermen are faced with a challenge due to the clarity and varying depth of the waters, Farrell said.

``Nothing stops die-hard fishermen from fishing,'' Smith said. ``They even break the ice to fish. In the 10 years that I've been working in the park, I've noticed there are also a lot more women and children fishing. It's a great family pastime.''

Ferrell job also provides her with a few fish tales.

``One day, an elderly gentleman backed his car down the ramp to go fishing,'' Ferrell said. ``He was so excited about fishing. All of a sudden, his car started rolling backwards down the ramp. He said he realized he could save either his car or his boat and tackle box.

``He let the car go, came up to the office, and asked me to call the police divers. Then, he went fishing. At the end of the day, he called his wife to come and pick him up. We notified a wrecking company to pull the car up and tow it out.''

She also has a history lesson for visitors. ``Lone Star Industries dug these lakes and stocked some of them for VIPs.They were digging for marel, which is the main ingredient to make cement. Fossilized sea life has been found, which means that at some point in time, this land was under the ocean.''

In the 1980s, Lone Star Industries sold the property to the city.

Although the park hires a seasonal worker to help with maintenance for the summer months, Ferrell enlists the help of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and community service workers through the court system.

``The work never ends,'' Ferrell said. ``We help Boy Scouts with their Eagle projects, discuss numerous projects with them that are available, and donate any expertise and time that we can to implement it. We've had a flag pole put in, a playground area cleared, several nature trails renovated, steps and handrails built, as well as birdhouses, brochure boxes and a handicap ramp.''

Park facilities include picnic shelters, nature trails, boat ramps, a playground, horse trails, an archery range, and a model airplane flying field.

Spring and fall are the busiest times of the year for the park; however, the winter months have much to offer bird-watchers and nature-lovers, Smith said.

``Canadian geese winter here,'' Ferrell said. ``There are also deer, otter, fox, beaver, a couple of bald eagles, and of course, snakes.

``I would like for the public to take time to come out and enjoy wildlife in its natural state. They can lay down the hustle and bustle and get back to their roots. It's like stepping back in time.'' MEMO: Park hours: Sunrise to sunset, April 1 through Oct. 31; 8 a.m. to

5 p.m. Nov. 1 through March 31. To hike, bird-watch, sight-see or crab,

the fee is $1 per car, per day. Other fees vary. For information, call

255-4038. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

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