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Published: Sunday, Sep. 09, 2012 / Updated: Friday, Sep. 07, 2012 01:21 PM

S.C. River Sweep Sept. 15

FORT MILL -- 

The 24th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep is scheduled 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 15. Each year thousands of people volunteer for the Sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways. However, the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation’s Riversweep on Lake Wylie is scheduled Oct. 6.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is once again partnering with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium to organize the statewide event, which is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Anyone can participate. Volunteers either organize their own cleanups at sites that are not already covered or they may sign up to assist at the cleanup locations.

To participate in coastal counties, call 843-953-2092 or susan.ferris.hill@scseagrant.org. For inland counties, call 803-734-9096 or marshallb@dnr.sc.gov.

Catfish Club tournaments

to begin

The Catawba Catfish Club announces nine events in its 2012-13 tournaments schedule, including two regular season and one championship event on Lake Wylie. Dates and location are as follows:

• Saturday, Sept. 15, Lake Wateree, Lake Wateree State Park

• Oct. 6, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Hwy. 21 Access

• Nov. 3, Lake Wylie, Buster Boyd Access Area

• Dec. 8, Lake Wateree, Lake Wateree State Park

• Jan. 5, Lake Wylie, Buster Boyd Access Area

• Feb. 2, Lake Wateree, Lake Wateree State Park

• March 2, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Hwy. 21 Access

• April 13, Lake Monticello, Hwy. 99 Access

• Championship Event for Catawba Catfish Club, May 4-5, 2013, Lake Wylie, Ebenezer Park

For more information, visit catawbacatfishclub.com.

Boating course

on Sept. 29

Catawba Power Squadron will offer America’s Boating Course from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 29 at Driving 911, 2000 S.C. 160, near Towne Tavern.

The course covers safe boating techniques, knots, what is required and rules, useful hints, navigation aids and trailering. The one-day class includes an exam to earn a certificate for a discount from most boat insurance companies. It also meets North Carolina’s boating law requirements for boaters younger than age 26 and qualifies ages younger than 16 to operate a personal watercraft.

The manual costs $30, which can be shared. Lunch is provided for an additional $5. To sign up for the class or for more information, call 803-831-8252, 803-547-6523 or 803-548-5362.

E15 warning stickers available

The National Marine Manufacturers Association is distributing 100,000 E15 warning labels to NMMA member boat manufacturers across the country to place on their boats in hopes of alerting boaters to the potential dangers of fuel with a high volume of ethanol. The labels will help educate boaters that E15 should not be used in their boat.

Contrary to studies showing ethanol is hazardous to marine engines, the Environmental Protection Agency recently approved a plan submitted by the ethanol industry that allows E15 to enter the marketplace.

It is important for consumers to stay aware at their local gas pumps, checking for high ethanol fuels and to use only E10 or lower in their vessels.

In Lake Wylie, Kangaroo Express at 4044 Charlotte Hwy. and BP at 5075 Charlotte Hwy. sell ethanol-free fuel.