Timber industry can benefit from expanded website

Indiana DNR Release:

Owners of forested property stand to benefit from expansion of the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry’s Indiana Forestry Exchange website.

The website, www.INForestryX.com , has grown to include searches for Active Timber Buyers and their Agents. The convenient search allows users to find these companies and people by their names, license numbers, or by the county in which they are located.

Goals of the website include: facilitating trade and commerce of forest products, equipment, materials and services; improving landowner access to the forest product marketplace; and increasing the successful implementation of forest conservation projects by improving access to available conservation work in Indiana and the surrounding states.

Landowners typically sell timber or seek professional forestry services once or twice in the ownership of the forest. Connecting potential sellers and buyers will become much easier with this website.

Indiana Forest Products Industry:
- $17 billion economic impact to the state
- 4. million acres of forested lands
- 85% owned by private woodland owners
- $8 billion in total value of shipments
- 3% of Indiana’s gross domestic product
- First nationally in hardwood plywood, wood office furniture, wood kitchen cabinets, manufactured homes and wooden caskets and coffins

www.INForestryX.com; Your source for:
Timber Sales
Landowner Jobs
Items For Sale
Items Wanted
Employment
Services
Announcements
Articles
Quick links to other Forestry Websites
Links to Find a Forester
Links to Find a Timber Buyer

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, April 29
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Bellmont at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Wabash, 5 p.m.; FW Canterbury at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Woodlan at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 30
SOFTBALL: Carroll at Norwell, 5 p.m. (Rescheduled)
TRACK: Southern Wells at Adams Central Small School Invitational, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1
BASEBALL: Southern Wells vs. Heritage at Parkview Field, 9 a.m.; Bluffton vs. Woodlan at Parkview Field, 2 p.m.; Norwell at Indianapolis Brebeuf Tourney, 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Huntington North (DH), Kriegbaum Field, 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton Classic, 10 a.m.; Heritage at Norwell, 9:30 a.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Heritage at Norwell, 11 a.m.
TRACK: Norwell at John Reed Relays, 9 a.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Canterbury Invitational, 11 a.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bellmont jayvees spear Knights
The Norwell Knights’ junior varsity softball team suffered an 11-1 loss Wednesday against the Bellmont Squaws at Norwell. The Knights (0-8) had two singles by Raven Pearson and Ariel Kelly. Chelsea Rice scored the run and stole a base.

Crusader girls win track meet
The Norwell Middle School girls’ track team defeated New Haven and Carroll Wednesday. The Crusaders scored 71 points. New Haven was second with 50 and Carroll ended up with 17.
Norwell was second in the junior varsity meet with 45 points.

Hurdles: 1. Jorey Wall (N) 16.0; HJ: 1. Wall (N) 4-9; 100 Meters: 1. Kendall Beckstein (N) 13.6; 200 Meters: 1. Beckstein (N) 28.2; 400 Meter Relay: Norwell (Beckstein, Brittany Barger, Wall, Mackenzie Sawyer) 54.0; 400 Meters: 1. Samantha Tolson (N) 1:07.1; 800 Meters: 1. Rachel Johnson (N) 2:39; 1600 Relay: 1. Norwell (Sawyer, Best, Johnson, Tolson) 4:36; Shot Put: 1. Renee Friend (N) 28-4; Discus: 1. Friend (N) 83-3.

Indian Springs tops Crusaders
The Norwell Crusaders dropped a 5-2 decision against Indian Springs in boys’ soccer on Tuesday.
Brandon Burch and Sam Crowell each scored a goal for the Crusaders. Assists by Jalen Smith assisted on Burch’s goal, while Crowell scored on a penalty kick. Jason Meyer had 11 saves in the goal for the Crusaders. Grant Hiday, Justin Miskin, Cameron Wilson and Landon Lockwood had strong performances for the Crusaders.

High school track polls released
The Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches girls’ and boys’ Top 20 polls, as of April 27, are listed below as follows:

GIRLS TOP 20: 1. Warren Central; 2. Lawrence Central; 3. Carmel; 4. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran; 5. Pike; 6. Fort Wayne Northrop; 7. Indianapolis North Central; 8. Lawrence North; 9. Center Grove; 10. Hamilton Southeastern; 11. Ben Davis; 12. Southport; 13. Carroll (Allen); 14. Fort Wayne Wayne; 15. Penn; 16. Columbus North; 17. Franklin Central; 18. Valparaiso; 19. Munster; 20. Fort Wayne Snider.
BOYS TOP 20: 1. Lawrence Central; 2. Ben Davis; 3. Bloomington South; 4. Indianapolis North Central; 5. Center Grove; 6. Carmel; 7. Zionsville; 8. Warren Central; 9. Fort Wayne Snider; 10. Bloomington North; 11. Lawrence North; 12. Columbus North; 13. Homestead; 14. South Bend Clay; 15. Fort Wayne Northrop; 16. Chesterton; 17. Evansille Harrison; 18. Castle; 19. Merrillville; 20. Valparaiso.

Free Norwell physicals available
Norwell student athletes may receive free physicals on Saturday, May 15, at Fort Wayne Orthopaedics, 7601 W. Jefferson Blvd., in Fort Wayne from 9:30-10 a.m. If there is a conflict with an athletic event, come between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Athletes must bring the proper form, which is available in the athletic office.

Former I.U. recruit commits to UCLA
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Bloomington South basketball player who rescinded his commitment to Indiana earlier this year has decided to play for UCLA.
Matt Carlino moved from Arizona to Indiana before this school year after verbally committing to Indiana in August 2008. He reconsidered his options this year and made an unofficial visit to UCLA last weekend. He also had visited Florida and had planned to visit Butler this week.
The 6-foot-2 guard will graduate high school a year early because he took summer classes before he left Arizona. He will leave for UCLA in June to take two summer classes.
Carlino said he liked coach UCLA coach Ben Howland and felt he could succeed there.

Upper Tippecanoe Lake Area fish report available online

Indiana DNR Release:

COLUMBIA CITY – Anglers who fish the Upper Tippecanoe River Lake Area (UTRLA) might be able to improve their catch by looking at a computer before hitting the water.

A report on fish population surveys conducted last year at six natural lakes north of Columbia City is on the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) website at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-UTRLA_Report_2009.pdf.

The report summarizes data collected by DFW fisheries biologists at Big, Crane, Crooked, Goose, Loon, and Old lakes in northern Whitley and southern Noble counties.
These UTRLA lakes lie within the upper reaches of the Tippecanoe River watershed.

The report includes comparisons of largemouth bass and bluegill populations in each lake, data on the overall make-up of fish communities in each lake, estimates and fishing effort and angler catches based on interviews, information on aquatic plants, and recommendations for future fish management.

“The report summarizes one of the most comprehensive series of fish surveys ever done on a watershed basis,” said Jed Pearson, DFW biologist who conducted much of the field work and report writing.

The purpose of the surveys was to document which lakes provide good fishing and determine which lakes currently meet fishing standards set by local anglers, lake residents, and the DFW. The standards were established after a six-month public planning process spearheaded by the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation.

“They wanted to know how the lakes stacked up against each other and what steps could be taken to improve fishing,” Pearson said.

Overall, largemouth bass were twice as abundant in the UTRLA lakes as in other lakes in northern Indiana. Crooked Lake contained an average number but bass were three times more abundant in Big Lake.

Bass sizes, however, were generally small. Those that were of legal size (14 inches and larger) made up an average of 11 percent of the populations, but those that were 18 inches and larger made up less than 2 percent. Big Lake had the lowest percentage of legal-size bass.

“We’re looking into options to reduce the number of small bass in Big Lake,” Pearson said.

Bluegill numbers and sizes fell within normal ranges, except at Goose and Loon. Goose Lake had an unusually high number of bluegills, including many large ones. In contrast, small bluegills dominated Loon Lake

“We need to encourage more bluegill fishing at the UTRLA lakes and find a way to increase bluegill size at Loon,” said Pearson.

High School Sports Calendar

Wednesday, April 28
SOFTBALL: Manchester at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Leo at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Whitko at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 29
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Bellmont at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Wabash, 5 p.m.; FW Canterbury at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Woodlan at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 30
SOFTBALL: Carroll at Norwell, 5 p.m. (Rescheduled)
TRACK: Southern Wells at Adams Central Small School Invitational, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1
BASEBALL: Southern Wells vs. Heritage at Parkview Field, 9 a.m.; Bluffton vs. Woodlan at Parkview Field, 2 p.m.; Norwell at Indianapolis Brebeuf Tourney, 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Huntington North (DH), Kriegbaum Field, 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton Classic, 10 a.m.; Heritage at Norwell, 9:30 a.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Heritage at Norwell, 11 a.m.
TRACK: Norwell at John Reed Relays, 9 a.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Canterbury Invitational, 11 a.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bluffton netters edge Starfires
A sweep of the singles matches powered the Bluffton girls’ tennis team to a 3-2 Allen County Athletic Conference victory over South Adams on Tuesday at Bluffton.
Kara Fiechter defeated the Starfires’ Tori Kistler 6-3, 6-1 in No. 1 singles. Amy Baker beat Alex Fox 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 singles. Megan Evans downed Aine O’Donnell 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 singles.
In No. 1 doubles, the Starfires’ Amber Neuenschwander and Kassey Potts defeated Samantha Drew and Annessa Reiff 6-4, 6-0. In No. 2 doubles, Sarah Musselman and Lindsey Graber beat Bluffton’s Mykayla Rodenbeck and Allison Williams 6-0, 6-1.
In the junior varsity match, South Adams won 4-2.

JV SINGLES: Mallory Eicher (SA) d. Amanda Stone 8-4; Abbie Campbell (SA) d. Taylor Dove 8-0; Hunter Cunningham (B) d. Holly Taylor 8-5.
JV DOUBLES: Ivy Filhart/Alyssa Thompson (B) d. Megan Hreha/Faith Von Gunten 8-4; Trista Geisel/Tiffany Yoder (SA) d. Paris Mohler/Aline Gonzalez 8-2; Hannah Muhlenkamp/Alba Verea (SA) d. Anna Ponge/Mirna Villeda 8-3.
Chargers sweep Norwel netters
The Carroll Chargers blanked the Norwell girls’ tennis team 5-0 on Tuesday at Fort Wayne in Northeast Hoosier Conference action.
Alex Deister defeated Alyssa Tucker 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles. Ashley Hoagland beat Rachelle Rodenbeck 6-2, 6-1 in No. 2 singles. In No. 3 singles, Amanda Turney downed Jami Reinhard 6-2, 6-2.
In No. 1 doubles, Sarah Wright and Marisa Hanauer beat Lindsey Dahn and Eden Chaney 6-3, 6-1. Lauren Yovich and Kristina Byzyka topped Sophie Gerber and Addie Williams 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles.
The Knights’ record is now 5-3 overall and 1-1 against conference opponents. Carroll is 5-2.
In the junior varsity matches, Carroll won 10-2. Lyndsey Havener won for Norwell in singles over Tori Dickes 6-3. Taylor Sprinkle and Amanda Horan beat Marissa Ranney and Kristen Walker 6-4.

Woodlan golfers win match
The Woodlan Warriors won a four-way boys’ golf match Tuesday against Allen County Athletic Conference challengers at Dogwood Glen Golf Course in Warren.
The Warriors topped Heritage 177-188, while Southern Wells, the host team, was third with 206 and Bluffton finished last with 216.
Bluffton was led by Tyler Mohler’s nine-hole score of 45. Carson Addington and Andrew Wilson each shot a 56. Sean Ashman finished with a 59 and Spencer Barnell ended up with a 67.

Carroll pounds Norwell JV sluggers
The Carroll Chargers’ junior varsity softball team defeated the Norwell Knights 26-2 Tuesday in a five-inning Northeast Hoosier Conference game at Fort Wayne.
Carroll pounded the Knights for 15 hits, while holding Norwell (0-7) to three hits. Mariah Hoger had a single, a stolen base and one run for the Knights. Ariel Kelly had a hit and an RBI. Rachel Lind also singled. Rye Geiger also scored.

Vanderkolk inducted into Hall of Fame
Amy Vanderkolk, a 1985 graduate of Lafayette Jeff, was a member of the 2010 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary team that was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
She is a sister of Bluffton’s John Vanderkolk, who is a member of the Bluffton-Harrison School Board.
Vanderkolk was a first team All-State selection. She was a two-time sectional winner and led her team to an overtime semi-state loss to state runner-up Crown Point in 1983. She was a Lafayette Journal and Courier all-area selection three years and Golden Broncho Academic Award winner.
After graduation, she went to Indiana State and played four years for the Sycamores. She scored 1,434 career points, leaving her as the seventh all-time leading scorer and ninth all-time leading rebounder. A Gateway Conference all-conference pick her junior and senior seasons, she also was nominated as a Kodak All-American and was a GTE-CoSIDA Academic All-American and recipient of an NCAA post graduate scholarship. She was invited to the Olympic Sports Festival.

Basket Bingo fundraiser slated
The Norwell girls’ track and field team will be holding a fundraiser Saturday, May 8, in the high school cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $20 for 20 games. There will be concessions available, door prizes and two special raffle baskets. Tickets may be purchased from any track team member and also will also be available at the door. Money will be used to help with equipment expenses, equipment maintenance and escalating expenses. The baskets may be viewed at the girls’ track website at: http://teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsTrack/apt7.aspx

Chicken barbecue slated at Norwell
The Norwell Knights’ softball team will be selling Nelson’s Port-a-pit chicken on May 8 during the softball doubleheader against Bluffton and baseball doubleheader with Bishop Dwenger. Chicken will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Softball players are selling tickets through Friday. However, chicken may be purchased the day of the event.

May-June Outdoor Indiana magazine launches state park insert feature

Indiana DNR Release:

Outdoor Indiana magazine’s May-June issue is the first to include an eight-page collectible full-color insert on a state park or reservoir property. McCormick’s Creek State Park, Indiana’s oldest, is the first featured.

The magazine will continue profiling one property each issue, until the centennial of Indiana state parks in 2016.

The same issue also debuts what may become an annual feature on Indiana's best combination of small town/big outdoors, with the lake town of North Webster in Kosciusko County leading off.

Find these and other full-color articles you’ll get nowhere else in the latest issue of the DNR's 48-page bi-monthly magazine.

Subscriptions are $12 for a year (six issues) or $20 for two years. You also can ask for Outdoor Indiana at most Borders and Barnes and Noble stores in the state, and at DNR properties. Single copies sell for $3. To ensure you get this keepsake issue, subscribe by May 10 at (317) 233-3046 or OutdoorIndiana.org.

Join Outdoor Indiana magazine on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OutdoorIndiana

If you love the outdoors, you'll love Outdoor Indiana magazine.

Mountain bike trails, nesting birds public meeting, May 5, at Fort Harrison

Indiana DNR Release:

The findings of a study conducted at Fort Harrison State Park by Purdue researchers regarding the potential impact of proposed mountain bike trails in the Lawrence Creek Trail area on nesting bird species will be presented in a public meeting on Wednesday, May 5.

The meeting, hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, will be held in the Theodore Room at Fort Harrison State Park Inn at 5830 N. Post Rd. in Indianapolis.

Staff from Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, and Department of Biological Sciences will present the study results beginning at 6:30 p.m., and will respond to questions from the public after the presentation. DNR staff also will be there. The meeting will conclude at 8 p.m.

Final decision on trail placement has not been decided. Input from this meeting will be included in the DNR’s consideration of the subject.

Enjoy photos of Indiana’s historic buildings in May

Indiana DNR Release:

Eight different photo exhibits featuring the state’s historic resources will be available for viewing at eight respective sites around the state during May, which is Historic Preservation Month.

The photos were collected by the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, which has amassed its collection during the free, statewide photo contest it’s held since 2005. This is the first year the DHPA will partner with other preservation groups across the state, enabling more people to enjoy the photos.

Partnering with the City of Whiting, the DHPA will stage that exhibit in the lobby of the Whiting Community Center (1938 Clark St.), a 70,000-square-foot community center built for the residents of the city in 1923 by Standard Oil.

Partnering with the City of Logansport, the DHPA will stage that exhibit at the recently restored Savanah Vintage (218 Eel River Ave.), formerly the 1887 Eckert House along historic Bankers Row.

In Linton, the DHPA is partnering with the Carnegie Center for Arts and Heritage. The exhibit will be housed in the former Linton Public Library (110 East Vincennes St.), a 1908 building constructed with funds from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

The exhibit that is the product of the partnership with the City of Newburgh will be held in the current Town Hall (23 W. Jennings), which is attached to the c.1910 public library, one of the many Andrew Carnegie funded libraries constructed in Indiana.

In Madison, the exhibit made available by partnering with Historic Madison Inc., will be at Windle Auditorium (101 East 3rd St.), historically the 1835 Second Presbyterian Church

In Indianapolis, the DHPA is partnering with Big Car Gallery (1043 Virginia Ave., Suite 215), located in historic Fountain Square. Big Car is part of the Murphy Art Center, a former G.C. Murphy drugstore that historically included both the 1928 Granada Theatre and the 1911 Southside Theatre.

The exhibit produced through the partnership in Marion with the Marion Public Library and Museum (600 S. Washington St.) will offer one portion of that exhibit in the lobby of the library. The remainder will be in the 1902 Carnegie library that now functions as the museum.

The Warsaw partnership with the Kosciusko County Historical Society, will make available the exhibit that will be at the museum at 121 Indiana St., which once was the 1870 County Jail.

Contact the local hosts for hours, cost (if applicable) and details.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Golf outing for Norwell golfers
The Norwell high school and middle school golf teams will host a golf outing on May 15 at 1 p.m. at Timber Ridge Golf Course. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served at noon. Entry fee is $60 per person, including green fees, cart and lunch. Deadline is May 10. For more information, call Sara Imel at 260-437-1285.

Basket Bingo fundraiser slated
The Norwell girls’ track and field team will be holding a fundraiser Saturday, May 8, in the high school cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $20 for 20 games. There will be concessions available, door prizes and two special raffle baskets. Tickets may be purchased from any track team member and also will also be available at the door. Money will be used to help with equipment expenses, equipment maintenance and escalating expenses. The baskets may be viewed at the girls’ track website at: http://teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsTrack/apt7.aspx

Tigers, Raiders to battle for cancer
The varsity baseball game between Bluffton and Southern Wells on Tuesday at Southern Wells will be a “Baseball strikes out Cancer” game. T-shirts will be sold for $12 to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Game time is 5 p.m.

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, April 27
GIRLS TENNIS: South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Carroll, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Bluffton, Heritage, Woodlan at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.; Homestead at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Carroll, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Carroll at Norwell, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
TRACK: Leo, Southern Wells at South Adams, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Adams Central at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 28
SOFTBALL: Manchester at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Leo at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Whitko at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 29
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Bellmont at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Wabash, 5 p.m.; FW Canterbury at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Woodlan at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 30
TRACK: Southern Wells at Adams Central Small School Invitational, 5:30 p.m.

Museum of 20th Century Warfare to open at Fort Harrison State Park on May 1

Indiana DNR Release:

The Museum of 20th Century Warfare will open on Saturday, May 1 with an Open House at 10:00a.m.at Building 711 in Fort Harrison State Park.

The Museum of 20th Century Warfare is a nonprofit Museum dedicated to teaching military history and to honor American veterans during the Twentieth Century. The Museum volunteers have remodeled Building 711 at Fort Harrison State Park to preserve and display artifacts from servicemen that served in all branches of the military from 1910 through Desert Storm.

The Open House will feature artifact displays, uniform displays from the 20th century, the model of the USS Indianapolis, and the dedication of the Dr. Leonard Wallace Memorial Library. Veterans and uniformed re-enactors will be at the Open House to answer questions. The model of the USS Indianapolis is dedicated to the USS Indianapolis survivors and in the memory of Larry Sharpes.

Fort Harrison State Park was once Fort Harrison Military Reservation from 1904 to 1995 for the US Army. Fort Harrison State Park was opened in 1996 as a part of the Indiana Division of Parks and Reservoirs, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

There is no cost for the Open House, entrance into the Museum is free. The normal $5 weekend in-state/ $7 out-of-state gate fee applies. Fort Harrison State Park is located at the corner of Post Road and 63rd in Lawrence, Indiana. Parking is available near the entrance of the Museum. For more information, please contact the park office at 317-591-0122, Wed – Sun, 8a – 4p.

Clouser medals at Concordia tournament

News-Banner Sports Editor Paul Beitler visited the Concordia Lutheran boys' golf invitational on Saturday at Foster Park in Fort Wayne.
Norwell junior McCormick Clouser, was the medalist (lowest individual scorer) for the tournament. He finished with a four under par 67.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell netters blitz Elmhurst
The Norwell girls’ tennis team breezed to a 5-0 victory over the visiting Elmhurst Trojans Thursday afternoon.
Alyssa Tucker, the Knights’ No. 1 singles player, dispatched Carrie Buschey in two sets, 6-3, 6-2. Rachelle Rodenbeck won the No. 2 singles match, defeating Mana Sarker 6-0, 6-1. In No. 3 singles, Jami Reinhard dominated Rianna Jacobs 6-1, 6-1.
In No. 1 doubles, Lindsey Dahn and Eden Chaney rolled through Amee Phaengyavong and Kelsey Church 6-1, 6-1. Sophie Gerber and Addie Williams outlasted Brittany Derrow and Morgan Banks 6-4, 6-3.
The Knights improved their record to 4-2, while the junior varsity team beat Elmhurst 4-2 to also raise its mark to 4-2.

JV SINGLES: Lyndsey Havener (N) d. Neena Green 8-3; Amanda Horan (N) d. Sara Cruz 8-1; Taylor Sprinkle (N) d. Camila Anajudo 8-5; Breeanna Fusselman (N) d. Ashley Martin 8-4.
JV DOUBLES: Veronica Hayes/Jayla May (E) d. Olivia Glenn/Riley Gaunt 8-2; Hayes/May (E) d. Kiersten Clark/Rachel Phillips 6-5.
Tigers defeat New Haven netters
With a sweep of the singles matches, the Bluffton girls’ tennis team defeated New Haven 4-1 in varsity hardcourt play Thursday at New Haven.
Bluffton junior Kara Fiechter led the singles by pulling out a three-set win over Amber Knueve 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 match.
Amy Baker, the Tigers’ No. 2 singles player, also rallied to beat Molly McKee 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-1.
In No. 3 singles, sophomore Tiger Megan Evans downed Courtney Louden 6-2, 6-4.
The Tigers’ fourth point was scored by the No. 1 doubles tandem of Samantha Drew and Annessa Reiff, who fought back to beat Nicole Louden and Megan Calvert 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
New Haven’s No. 2 duo of Brittany Harman and Chelsea Jacquay dominated Mykayla Rodenbeck and Katie Murray 6-1, 6-0.
In junior varsity action, New Haven won 6-0.

JV SINGLES: Kiersten Perkins (NH) d. Ivy Filhart 8-1; Courtney Parker (NH) d. Alyssa Thompson 8-1; Kayla Grotrian (NH) d. Paris Mohler 8-3; Eryka Kraner (NH) d. Mayte Puig Cortegoso 6-3.
JV DOUBLES: Morgan Tracey/Brittnee Fox (NH) d. Mayte Puig Cortegoso/Aline Gonzalez 8-0; Leesa Bunnell/Jessica Calvert (NH) d. Anna Ponge/Morgan Napier 8-0.

Jay County blasts Norwell softballers
Rachelle Jackson tossed a three-hitter against the Norwell Knights and the Jay County Patriots posted a 10-1 victory Thursday in girls’ softball at Portland.
Danielle Wellman hit a home run and double to lead the Patriots and Renae Ray also doubled.
Norwell’s Kayla Hanni was the losing pitcher, giving up two earned runs on nine hits. Kelsey Kline singled and drove in Heather Sterrett for the Knights’ run. Hanni and Sterrett each singled.

Bluffton golfers fall to Jay County
Bluffton’s Tyler Mohler was the individual medalist Thursday afternoon for the Tigers’ golf team, but the visiting Jay County Patriots had the better team score at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Bluffton.
Jay County finished with a four-man score of 194, while the Tigers’ top four shot a 203.
Drew Houck led the Patriots with a 46 and Mitchel Rigby shot a 48. Evan Ryder and Seth Ainsworth each posted a 50 to complete the team score. Austin Mann shot a 51, followed by Jacob Heitkamp with a 54 and Ric Carducci with a 58.
Sean Ashman and Carson Addington each shot a 53 for the Tigers. Andrew Wilson finished with a 55 and Jeff Patterson carded a 56. Spencer Barnell ended up with a 59 and Ian Betz recorded a 62.

JV Knights beat Whitko
The Norwell junior varsity baseball team upped its record to 9-0 with a 7-5 victory over Whitko on Wednesday at Norwell.
Briar Bolinger was the winning pitcher with help from Jacob Meyer. Evan Brown smashed a home run and drove in two runs. Spencer Newell singled and knocked in one run. Tailur Szarenski doubled.

Jay County girls top Norwell JV
Jay County defeated the Norwell girls’ junior varsity softball team 13-3 on Thursday. Norwell was led by Mariah Hoger with three hits, including a double.
Tigers, Raiders split in MS track
Bluffton and Southern Wells had a split Thursday in middle school track and field action at Southern Wells’ Carnes Field.
The Bluffton boys won 76-33, while the Raiders’ girls won 71-37.

GIRLS
LJ: L. Knowles (SW) 11-10.5; HJ: M. Steffen (B) 4-2; SP: H. Mock (B) 21-3.5; D: H. Paxson (SW) 82-1; 100 Hurdles: A. Price (SW) 18.9; 100 Dash: L. Knowles (SW) 14.2; 1600: I. Maddox (SW) 6:23; 400 Relay: Southern Wells (Price, Hook, Schortgen, Knowles) 58.7; 400 Dash: S. Ramseyer (SW) 1:12; 200 Hurdles: A. Price (SW) 36.3; 800: I. Maddox (SW) 2:45; 200 Dash: L. Knowles (SW) 31.1; 1600 Relay: Southern Wells (Ramseyer, Yencer, Mossburg, Maddox) 5:01.6.
BOYS
LJ: J. Streveler (B) 16-2; HJ: M. Pearson (B) 4-8; SP: M. Pearson (B) 36-1.5; D: M. Pearson (B) 120-6; 100 Hurdles: B.Connelly (B) 18.4; 100 Dash: J. Streveler (B) 12.0; 1600: C. Buskirk (B) 5:17; 400 Relay: Bluffton (Johnson, Fear, Pearson, Streveler) 50.1; 400 Dash: M. Sauerwine (B) 1:01.6; 200 Hurdles: P. Renner (SW) 31.9; 800: T. Thompson (SW) 2:30.4; 200 Dash: J. Streveler (B) 25.3; 1600 Relay: Bluffton (Sauerwine, Buskirk, Geimer, Connelly) 4:19.1.

SA thinclads beat Jr. High Raiders
South Adams won both of its middle school track meets against the Southern Wells Raiders on Wednesday. The Starfires defeated the Southern Wells’ boys 68-40 and the girls 66-43.
The Southern Wells’ boys were led by double winners Chandler Harris, Paul Renner and Cole Preston. Harris won the shot put (28-9) and discus (86-2). Renner won the 100-meter hurdles (19.9 seconds) and 200-meter hurdles (32.4). Preston won the 100-meter dash (12.3) and 200-meter dash (26.7). Jacob Roush won the 400-meter dash (1:06). Brad Woodward, Roush, Renner and Preston won the 400-meter relay (53.6). Taylor Thompson, Roush, Preston and Renner won the 1600-meter relay (4:22).
Ivy Maddox, Hillary Paxson and Lilly Hook led the Southern Wells’ girls. Maddox won the 1600 meters (6:18) and 800-meter run (2:47). Hook won the 100 meters (14.6) and Paxson won the discus (75-10).

Crusaders tie Bellmont in soccer
The Norwell Crusaders played to a 1-1 tie against the Bellmont Braves Thursday in middle school boys’ soccer.
Sam Crowell scored for the Crusaders. Goalkeeper Jason Meyer had 11 saves for Norwell. Colin Loker, Adam Herber and Reggie Hayes also had solid performances for the Crusaders.

Norwell golfers ranked 13th
The Norwell Knights are ranked 13th in the Top 20 poll released by the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association (IHSGCA):
1. Avon; 2. Hamilton Southeastern; 3. Brebeuf; 4. Floyd Central; 5. Evansville North; 6. Warren Central; 7. Bloomington North; 8. Carmel; 9. Center Grove; 10. Zionsville; 11. Warsaw; 12. Yorktown; 13. Norwell; 14. Terre Haute South; 15. Shawe Memorial; 16. Bedford North Lawrence; 17. Prairie Heights; 18. Providence; 19. Indianapolis Roncalli; 20. Columbus North. Honorable Mention: West Lafayette, Chesterton, LaPorte, Homestead.

High School Sports Calendar

Friday, April 23
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at FW Wayne, 4 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Eastbrook, 4:30 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: South Adams at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 24
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastbrook Invitational, 10 a.m.; Bluffton at South Adams Invitational, 9 a.m.
BASEBALL: Mississinewa at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Union City at Southern Wells (DH), 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Northfield (DH), 10 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers (DH), 10:30 a.m.; Southern Wells at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 10 a.m.
TRACK: Bluffton at Churubusco Invitational (Girls), 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastern Invitational, 10 a.m.

Monday, April 26
BASEBALL: Bluffton at Blackford, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Carroll at Norwell, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Carroll, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 27
GIRLS TENNIS: South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Carroll, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Bluffton, Heritage, Woodlan at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.; Homestead at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Carroll, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Carroll at Norwell, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
TRACK: Leo, Southern Wells at South Adams, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Adams Central at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 28
SOFTBALL: Manchester at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Leo at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Whitko at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 29
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Huntington North, 4:30 p.m.; Bellmont at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Wabash, 5 p.m.; FW Canterbury at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Woodlan at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bellmont at Norwell, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 5 p.m.; Norwell at Bellmont, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 30
TRACK: Southern Wells at Adams Central Small School Invitational, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 1
BASEBALL: Southern Wells vs. Heritage at Parkview Field, 9 a.m.; Bluffton vs. Woodlan at Parkview Field, 2 p.m.; Norwell at Indianapolis Brebeuf Tourney, 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Huntington North (DH), Kriegbaum Field, 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton Classic, 10 a.m.; Heritage at Norwell, 9:30 a.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Heritage at Norwell, 11 a.m.
TRACK: Norwell at John Reed Relays, 9 a.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Canterbury Invitational, 11 a.m.

Open houses set on proposed Atterbury land swap

Indiana DNR Release:

Two open house meetings are scheduled to provide information and gather comments on a proposed land exchange between the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana National Guard and the Indiana Department of Correction.

The meetings are from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (April 26) at the Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area office, 7970 South Rowe St., Edinburgh, and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 28) at the Indiana State Police Post, U.S. 40, Putnamville. The meetings are a walk-in-anytime format and people do not have to arrive at the start of the meeting.

Representatives from the DNR, Indiana National Guard, National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be available at both open houses to provide the public with detailed information and to answer questions. People will have an opportunity to provide comments at the meetings.

Public comments will be incorporated into a draft Environmental Assessment prepared by the DNR. Once that document is published in the Federal Register, the public will have another opportunity to offer input before a decision is made on whether or not to go forward with the proposal.

The proposal, as announced April 15 by Governor Mitch Daniels, would release 1,200 acres of the DNR’s Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area to the National Guard for expansion of Camp Atterbury. In exchange, the DNR would receive nearly 2,100 acres from the DOC at Putnamville for a new fish and wildlife area.

In addition, the DNR would continue to manage 5,000 acres of Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area for fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreational activities that are compatible with wildlife resource management.

The National Guard would use the land it acquires to launch a $105 million expansion of Camp Atterbury by constructing two training complexes that include barracks, headquarters, and a children’s day care center.

Information also is available at www.dnr.IN.gov and www.campatterbury.IN.ng.mil. Persons unable to attend the open houses can email comments or questions to dnrwebmaster@dnr.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, April 22
GIRLS TENNIS: FW Elmhurst at Norwell, 4 p.m.; Bluffton at New Haven, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells, Adams Central at Southwood, 4:30 p.m.; Jay County at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Angola at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Homestead, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at South Adams, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 23
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at FW Wayne, 4 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Eastbrook, 4:30 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: South Adams at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 24
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastbrook Invitational, 10 a.m.; Bluffton at South Adams Invitational, 9 a.m.
BASEBALL: Mississinewa at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Union City at Southern Wells (DH), 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Northfield (DH), 10 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers (DH), 10:30 a.m.; Southern Wells at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 10 a.m.
TRACK: Bluffton at Churubusco Invitational (Girls), 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastern Invitational, 10 a.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Gage Minniear sets school record
Southern Wells junior Gage Minniear broke the boys’ school record for the 300-meter intermediate hurdles Tuesday at Heritage. Minniear won the event in 42 seconds flat, eclipsing the previous mark of 42.15 set by Josh Boxell in 2000.

Maple Creek blanks Crusaders
Maple Creek defeated the Norwell Crusaders 4-0 in boys’ soccer action Tuesday. Norwell goalkeeper Jason Meyer had nine saves. Jalen Smith, Sam Crowell and Drew Burch drew praise from their coach. Paxton Lehman had three scoring chances and Adam Herber also had a scoring opportunity.

Tigers, Raiders to battle for cancer
The varsity baseball game between Bluffton and Southern Wells on Tuesday at Southern Wells will be a “Baseball strikes out Cancer” game. T-shirts will be sold for $12 to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Game time is 5 p.m.

Free state park, lake or state forest admission, May 2

Indiana DNR Release:

Get your carload of family and friends in the gate of any Indiana state park, lake or state forest at no charge on Sunday, May 2, as part of the annual Welcome Back Weekend, the traditional lid-lifter of the spring recreation season.

"This is a great time to visit a DNR property," said Ginger Murphy, assistant director for stewardship in the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. "It's a chance for people who've never visited or haven't visited recently to discover a state treasure and save a few dollars at the same time."

For a complete list of Welcome Back Weekend activities, see http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5882.htm.

Even veteran park-goers will notice something new or updated at most properties. Each winter, State Parks and Reservoirs staff members spend many hours making improvements to campsites, trails, restrooms, interpretive centers and other facilities. This year there are new exhibits at McCormick’s Creek State Park’s nature center, restroom facility improvements in several locations, a new park office at Versailles State Park, additional mountain bike trails at Harmonie and O’Bannon Woods state parks, and trail improvements. More are listed at www.stateparks.IN.gov.

"We hope people will like what they see and buy a $36 Annual Entrance Pass ($18 for ages 65 and older), which will get their carload through any entrance gate for the rest of 2010."

Normal weekend gate fees for most properties are $5 per day for an in-state vehicle and $7 per day for an out-of-state vehicle. During the week, most fees are $4 for in-state and $7 for out-of-state. All other fees will be in effect during Welcome Back Weekend. The only thing waived is the daily entrance normally charged for any car, truck, bicycle or pedestrian on May 2. The entrance fee for Historic Prophetstown at Prophetstown State Park remains in effect.

DNR working to reset insect traps in trees

Indiana DNR Release:

Purple panel traps used to detect the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive forest insect that kills ash trees, have once again appeared in trees throughout Indiana.

The traps, which resemble purple box kites, are baited with a scent that attracts adult beetles and coated with a sticky substance to ensnare the insects when they land. The Indiana DNR’s Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology works closely with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to set the traps each year during early spring.

Occasionally high winds or other weather events cause the traps to fall. If you notice a fallen or dislodged trap, please notify the Indiana DNR at 1-866 NO EXOTIC (1-866-663-9684) so they can reinstall it. Detection of EAB through the traps and through citizen reports is crucial to slowing the insect’s spread through Indiana and other states. Since the immature stage of EAB is frequently moved in infested firewood, Hoosiers should buy their firewood locally and burn it completely.

EAB, first found in Indiana in 2004, has now been identified as being in 32 Indiana counties: Adams, Allen, Blackford, Brown, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Delaware, Dubois, Elkhart, Floyd, Grant, Hamilton, Harrison, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lawrence, Marion, Miami, Monroe, Noble, Orange, Porter, Randolph, Ripley, St. Joseph, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, White and Whitley.

To learn more about EAB, including information for homeowners, visit Purdue’s EAB Web site at http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/ or call Purdue Entomology at (765) 494-0822.. To report a suspected find of EAB or a downed purple trap, call Indiana DNR's toll-free hotline at 1-866-NO EXOTIC (663-9684). To view the EAB Rule and EAB quarantine declaration visit: http://www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/

Bluffton trackers

Spencer Sumwalt in the 800


Jackson Lambert in 300 hurdles


Nikki Blair in 300 hurdles


Nick Rhodes in the 400


(Photos submitted by Marci Mettler)

Spring turkey season opens Wednesday

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana's 41st annual spring turkey hunting season begins Wednesday, April 21 statewide.
Hunters can harvest one male or bearded turkey in the spring season, which runs through May 9.

Hunters must posses a spring turkey hunting license and a valid game bird habitat stamp, or a youth consolidated hunt/trap license, or a lifetime comprehensive hunting or comprehensive hunting and fishing license. An apprentice license is available to anyone, including hunters born after Dec. 31, 1986, who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.

Legal turkey hunting equipment includes 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, muzzleloading shotguns not smaller than 20-gauge nor larger than 10-gauge, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

Turkeys may be hunted one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except at all DNR fish and wildlife areas, J. Edward Roush, Mississinewa, and Salamonie lakes, where legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon CDT and 1 p.m. EDT.

All turkeys must be properly tagged and checked-in at an official turkey check station. A list of check stations is available in the 2009-2010 Hunting and Trapping Guide or at wildlife.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, April 20
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at FW South Side, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS TRACK: Columbia City, DeKalb at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Southern Wells, Adams Central at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK: Norwell, Columbia City at DeKalb, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells, Adams Central at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell vs. Carroll (Coyote Creek), 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton, Southern Wells, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Southwood, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Huntington North, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 21
GIRLS TENNIS: Adams Central at Bluffton, 4 p.m.
BASEBALL: Canterbury at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Whitko at Norwell, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southwood at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 22
GIRLS TENNIS: FW Elmhurst at Norwell, 4 p.m.; Bluffton at New Haven, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells, Adams Central at Southwood, 4:30 p.m.; Jay County at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Angola at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Homestead, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at South Adams, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 23
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at FW Wayne, 4 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Eastbrook, 4:30 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: South Adams at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 24
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastbrook Invitational, 10 a.m.; Bluffton at South Adams Invitational, 9 a.m.
BASEBALL: Mississinewa at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Union City at Southern Wells (DH), 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Northfield (DH), 10 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers (DH), 10:30 a.m.; Southern Wells at FW Concordia Lutheran Invitational, 10 a.m.
TRACK: Bluffton at Churubusco Invitational, 9 a.m.; Southern Wells at Eastern Invitational, 10 a.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell 7th at tennis invite
The Norwell girls’ tennis team placed seventh at the Mount Vernon Invitational Saturday at Fortville.
Alyssa Tucker, the Knights’ No. 1 singles player, was fourth with a win and two losses.
Norwell’s No. 2 doubles tandem of Sophie Gerber and Addie Williams was sixth (1-2).
At No. 2 singles, Rachelle Rodenbeck was seventh (1-2). Jami Reinhard was seventh at No. 3 singles (1-2).
The No. 1 doubles team of Lindsey Dahn and Eden Chaney was seventh (1-2).

Bluffton golfers fall to Southwood
The Bluffton boys’ golf team fell to the Southwood Knights on Monday at Etna Acres Golf Course near Andrews.
Southwood’s Jake Shaw was the medalist with a 37 to lead the Knights to a 166 team score. Bluffton finished with 200.
Drew Boyer shot a 41 and Devin Dale added a 42 for Southwood. Corey Metzger chipped in a 46. Levi Winget and Ryan Wells each shot a 47.
Bluffton was led by Tyler Mohler with a 42. Spencer Barnell followed with a 49. Sean Ashman finished with a 53. Carson Addington and Ian Betz each shot a 56. Andrew Wilson closed out with a 61 and Jeff Patterson ended up with a 65.

Norwell jayvees post two wins
The Norwell Knights’ junior varsity baseball team recently recorded a couple victories, pounding Heritage 22-3 and defeating Huntington North 7-1.
Evan Brown tossed a six-inning one hitter against Huntington North. He struck out nine and hit three batters. Austin Dettmer, Jacob Meyer, Luke Hunter, Cale Schumm, Nathan Shelton and Brown each knocked in one run. Brown homered, Robbie Ritter tripled and Schumm doubled.
The Knights erupted for 15 runs in the third inning against Heritage. Spencer Newell homered, tripled and knocked in five runs to lead Norwell over the Patriots. Brown had two hits and three RBIs. Reece Dafforn, Tailur Szarenski, Ritter, Hunter, Schumm and Shelton each had two RBIs. Ritter tripled. Joe Rasdorf, Dafforn, Schumm and Shelton doubled. Hunter and Dafforn shared pitching duties. Hunter started and Heritage scored its runs in the first two innings. Dafforn relieved Hunter after three innings.

AC jayvees outscore Norwell girls
The Adams Central Jets scored eight runs in the first inning and added 12 more in the fourth to defeat Norwell 20-4 in junior varsity girls’ softball action Monday at Norwell.
Maria Hoger doubled and knocked in two runs for Norwell (0-3) and losing pitcher Chelsea Rice was 3 for 3 with singles, a double and one RBI.

Ryne Otis swings big bat
Taylor University sophomore Ryne Otis had a big day for the Trojans’ baseball team in a doubleheader sweep of Marian on Saturday.
The former Norwell standout went 4 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs and four runs in the first game. In game two, the sophomore was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Taylor (30-9, 13-1 MCC) won 15-5 and 12-1.
Otis hit his first of two home runs in the opening game to tie for the team lead with 10.

Drew Imel helps IPFW place 9th
IPFW freshman Drew Imel helped lead the Mastodons’ men’s golf team to a ninth-place finish in its final regular-season match on Saturday at the Detroit Titans Invitational in Detroit.
The Mastodons fired a two-day, 54-hole total of 921 (304-309-308) at Golden Fox Golf Club.
Imel, the Mastodons’ leader on day one, fired a 78 in the final round to end tied for 13th place overall with a 225 total (73-74-78).

Bluffton basketball camp set
The Bluffton Tigers’ boys’ basketball team is taking registrations for an elementary basketball camp for students in kindergarten through second grade.
The camp is slated for April 26-29 from 3:35-5 p.m. at Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School. Registration forms have been distributed at the school. Cost is $25, which includes a T-shirt, basketball and poster of the 2009-2010 Tigers’ team. For more information, call head coach Kevin Leising at 824-3724.

Basket Bingo fundraiser slated
The Norwell girls’ track and field team will be holding a fundraiser Saturday, May 8, in the high school cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $20 for 20 games. There will be concessions available, door prizes and two special raffle baskets. Tickets may be purchased from any track team member and also will be available at the door. Money will be used to help with equipment expenses, equipment maintenance and escalating expenses. The baskets may be viewed at the girls’ track website at: http://teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsTrack/apt7.aspx

Celebrate Arbor Day, April 30

Indiana DNR Release:

A day for putting down roots approaches. Tree roots, that is. It’s Arbor Day, celebrated this year on April 30 in Indiana.

In recognition of Arbor Day, people in all 50 states will plant trees on a specific day for the 139th consecutive year. Because of climate differences, different states choose different dates.

For details on Indiana State Museum’s Arbor Day program in Indianapolis, see http://indianamuseum.org/educators/festivals/arbo.html.

Then-president Theodore Roosevelt once said, “A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as hopeless.” With the world population’s ever-growing demand for wood and fiber, the need for trees nearly 103 years later has only increased.

Originally conceived by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, the Arbor Day concept is intended to make people aware of the many benefits received from trees. Morton eventually served as President Grover Cleveland’s secretary of agriculture.

Different places choose to celebrate on different days. This annual event is also observed in many European countries.

Indiana’s Arbor Day is now celebrated on the last Friday of April but that was not always so. The first Arbor Day in Indiana was observed on April 11, 1884. The date of Arbor Day changed for several years at the discretion of the governor, until the current system was established in 1991 to correspond with the official date of National Arbor Day.

For more information about Indiana’s forests and the importance of trees, see www.IN.gov/dnr/forestry, write the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, 402 W. Washington, Rm. W296, Indianapolis, IN 46204; or call (317) 232-4105.

Biologists to assess shad kill at Lake Everett

Indiana DNR Release:

ARCOLA – Although state fisheries biologists reduced the number of unwanted gizzard shad in Lake Everett two years ago, how successful they will be in restoring good fishing to the 43-acre Allen County natural lake remains to be seen.

Biologists from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) will return to Lake Everett in June to determine the number of shad still present in the lake and assess whether fishing for popular sport fish has improved.

Throughout the last decade, the number of shad increased sharply in Lake Everett. By 2004, shad had become the dominant fish captured during routine fish population surveys. Shad composed 43 percent of the number of fish and 54 percent of the weight. By 2008, shad accounted for 63 percent of the weight of fish surveyed.

Because gizzard shad, a slender, silver-colored fish of little interest to anglers, compete for food with bluegill and other popular sport fish, overall fishing quality at Lake Everett had declined.

Biologists also speculated that gizzard shad, because of their abundance and diet of tiny zooplankton, indirectly increased the amount of algae in the lake and reduced water clarity.

To selectively reduce the number of gizzard shad in Lake Everett, 21 gallons of rotenone were applied throughout the lake in September 2008. When used in low amounts, rotenone, a natural fish toxicant, primarily kills shad.

Once adult shad were reduced at Lake Everett, the DFW restocked 4,300 largemouth bass to increase predation on any newly hatched shad that may appear in later years.

“Based on results from our sampling last year, we estimate that 90 percent of the adult shad were killed in 2008,” said Jed Pearson, a DFW biologist who has monitored the lake over the past 25 years. “Although some shad survived the rotenone application, we hope that they will not rebound to nuisance levels.”

Pearson also noted that water clarity at Lake Everett was better in 2009 after the shad kill than in any previous year.

“Water clarity increased nearly three-fold in 2009 compared to the average from 2004 through 2008,” Pearson said.

To evaluate ongoing benefits of the shad kill, Pearson and sampling crew will return to the lake in early June to conduct a fish population survey.

“What we hope to find this year is an increase in the number and size of bluegills, an increase in the number and size of bass, and very few gizzard shad,” Pearson said. “Our biggest concern is that we might find lots of 1-year-old shad that were produced last summer.”

Based on results of the survey this June, the DFW will determine if any additional fish management actions are needed at the lake.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Raiders fall 7-2 to Bruins
The Blackford Bruins defeated Southern Wells 7-2 on Friday in high school baseball action at Southern Wells.
Blackford (3-4) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings. The Raiders (1-6-1) cut their deficit in half, but the Bruins added three more runs in the sixth to seal their victory.
Seth Biberstine (0-3) took the loss. Over six innings, he gave up three hits, walked four, hit two batters and struck out seven. Luke Roush finished in relief.
Kevin Feemster doubled for the Raiders, who had three hits. Blackford had three errors and Southern Wells two.

Kaylee Imel finishes 7th
Western Michigan University freshman Kaylee Imel tied for seventh place to help the Broncos finish second at the Bowling Green University Falcon Classic in Bowling Green, Ohio. Imel was 14 over par with a total score of 158 (80-78).

Senior golf league to tee off
The Senior Men’s Golf League at Bluffton’s Green Valley Golf Course will begin play Tuesday, May 4, at 9 a.m.

High School Sports Calendar

Monday, April 19
GIRLS TENNIS: Adams Central at Norwell, 4 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Bluffton at Southwood, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Adams Central at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Woodlan at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Adams Central, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Adams Central at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 20
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at FW South Side, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS TRACK: Columbia City, DeKalb at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Southern Wells, Adams Central at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK: Norwell, Columbia City at DeKalb, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells, Adams Central at Heritage, 5 p.m.; Bluffton, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell vs. Carroll (Coyote Creek), 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton, Southern Wells, Leo at Garrett, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Southwood, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Huntington North, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 21
GIRLS TENNIS: Adams Central at Bluffton, 4 p.m.
BASEBALL: Canterbury at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Whitko at Norwell, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Southwood at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 22
GIRLS TENNIS: FW Elmhurst at Norwell, 4 p.m.; Bluffton at New Haven, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells, Adams Central at Southwood, 4:30 p.m.; Jay County at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Angola at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Homestead, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at South Adams, 5 p.m.

Salamonie seniors lunch topic is wildflowers, May 3

Indiana DNR Release:


Individuals age 50 or older are invited to enjoy Wildflowers at their Best at the May 3 senior’ lunch at the Salamonie Interpretive Center.

Interpretive naturalist Marvin McNew will present his annual wildflower program through Powerpoint slides and take a short walk on the Turkey Cove Trail to look for wildflowers.

The program kicks off with the meal at 12:30 p.m. The meat dish will be provided by Upper Wabash Interpretive Services (UWIS). Seniors should bring a dish to pass, their own table service and $1 donation to help defray the cost of the provided meat dish.

Those interested should register by calling UWIS, (260) 468-2127, or visiting the interpretive center, 3691 S. New Holland Rd., Andrews, 46702.

The interpretive center and gift shop’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This barrier-free building features exhibits, floor-to-ceiling windows in the wildlife viewing area, and staff to answer questions.

The center is in Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, Highway 105, western Huntington County.

The standard gate fee ($4/car Mon-Thurs; $5/car Fri-Sat-Sun; $7/car for out-of-state license plates) will be in effect when the gatehouse is open.

For more information on other UWIS programs, see www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

Zebra mussel found at Geist means trouble

Indiana DNR Release:

A marina worker at Geist Reservoir hooked a Chinese mystery snail, an exotic species already prominent in the reservoir, while fishing recently, and on it was another undesirable species—an adult zebra mussel.

“That’s one invasive species colonizing on another,” said Doug Keller, aquatic invasive species coordinator with the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The find could signal trouble for Geist, much as the mussel's presence has affected other waters.

Previously found in more than 65 bodies of water in 44 counties throughout Indiana, the discovery marks the first time that the mussel has been found in the Indianapolis area. Zebra mussels were also discovered last year in Summit Lake, the first population known to occur in Henry County.

Keller said the effect of zebra mussels can be devastating where the invasive species successfully colonizes.

“Zebra mussels can rapidly multiply and are known for clogging drainage and filtration pipes,” Keller said. “Besides pipes, they can attach to virtually anything in the water column, including rocks, limbs, piers or even boats.”

Geist is one of three water supply reservoirs for the Indianapolis area. Keller said that as zebra mussel numbers increase in Geist and downstream in Fall Creek, there could be negative impacts to the water utility’s withdraw capacity.

Zebra mussels are originally from Europe and spread rapidly across North America in the 1990s. Aside from being a costly nuisance to humans, zebra mussels may also cause declines in fish populations. By filtering tiny plants, called phytoplankton, out of the water column, zebra mussels diminish the base of the food chain, potentially causing declines in all other aquatic life, including fish.

Keller said that few options for eradicating the mussel exist, short of eliminating every other living thing in the reservoir. The best means of control, he said, is by educating boaters about preventing further spread of the mussel.

Typically, zebra mussels are transported by human recreational activities such as boating or fishing. A few simple steps can prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species. Removing all aquatic vegetation and draining livewells, bilge, water lines and boat trailers at access ramps will prevent transport of the mollusk to other waters. Drying equipment after each use also is important.

“Letting all equipment dry for five days after a boating trip will prevent the spread of both adults and larvae," Keller said. “However, if you plan to visit a body of water sooner, you can use a solution of 5 percent bleach and water to clean and disinfect all of your equipment.”

For more information, visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3123.htm, or contact Keller at (317) 234-3883.

Opinions on proposed deer hunting changes sought through survey

Indiana DNR Release:

An online survey designed to gauge hunter and landowner support for proposed changes to deer hunting rules aimed toward better deer herd management is available to be taken at dnr.IN.gov until April 25.

The survey is at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5904.htm

The components of the proposed strategy, which were formed after meetings during the past several months with stakeholder groups to discuss objectives, strategies and components of deer management in Indiana, include deer donation programs, hunter access, antlerless quota system, season structure, bag limits, hunting equipment, licensing, and special deer control permits.

The stakeholders included representatives of the DNR divisions of Fish and Wildlife, and Law Enforcement, Bloomington City Council, Indiana Bow Hunters Association, Indiana Deer Hunter’s Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, Quality Deer Management Association, Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Woodland Owner’s Association, The Nature Conservancy, and a sporting goods retailer.

The group agreed that the objective of Indiana’s deer management strategy for the next five years should be to focus deer herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana.

Register Soon for Kid’s Fishing Derbies

Indiana DNR Release:

Children ages 2 to 14 are invited to participate in one of the fishing derbies at the three Upper Wabash Reservoirs June 5 during the statewide Free Fishing Weekend. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. with fishing from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The award ceremonies follow.

Children should register in advance to participate in one of these free events.

“Each participating child goes home with a prize. There are grand prizes for the largest fish caught and prizes for each of three age categories. Each child can win only one of these large prize packages, and all will receive other prizes for participating,” said Marvin McNew, director of Upper Wabash Interpretive Services.

Children will be divided into age categories 2 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 to 14 year olds. Prizes include fishing tackle, tackle boxes, fishing rods and reels, and many others. Current sponsors include Bozarth Recreational Resort, Wal-Mart, Bud’s Fish’ N Hole, Riverside Sporting Goods, Yohe Realty, and Huntington Metro Kiwanis.

Call (260) 468-2127 to register for the derby of choice. Salamonie’s Derby will be near the beach in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area; Mississinewa’s will be at the boat ramp in the Miami Recreation Area; and J. Edward Roush’s Derby will be at the pond in the Little Turtle Recreation Area.
The standard entrance fee ($4/car Mon-Thurs; $5/car Fri-Sat-Sun; $7/car for out-of-state license plates) will be in effect when the gatehouse is open.

High School Sports Calendar

Friday, April 16
GIRLS TENNIS: Southwood at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Elmhurst, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Blackford at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Huntington North at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 17
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Mt. Vernon, 9 a.m.
TRACK: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers Relays, 9:30 a.m.; Bluffton, Southern Wells (Boys) at Churubusco Invitational, 10 a.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Heritage, 10 a.m.; Oak Hill at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Heritage, Noon.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at South Adams, 11 a.m.; DeKalb at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Southern Wells at Wapahani (DH), 9 a.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Bellmont Invitational, 8 a.m.; Norwell at Legends Tournament, 1 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Tigers, Knights named
academic all state
Two Bluffton Tigers and four Norwell Knights were among high school players chosen as members of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Academic All State Team.
Bluffton senior Cody Cochran was named to the first team. Cochran’s senior teammate, Mark Bowman, and Norwell seniors Jordan Shady, Klay Fiechter, Jake Shapley and Brandon Gerber were honorable mention selections.

CRA Late Models at Anderson
ANDERSON — The CRA Super Series Late Models will be racing at Anderson Speedway on Saturday, April 17, with the return of the Anderson 125.
The Figure 8s and Front Wheel Drive Ovals also will be part of the racing lineup.
Spectator gates open at 3 p.m. with racing beginning at 7. Admission is $13 for adults and $4 for children ages 6-12. Children five and under get in free. For more information, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or call 765-642-0206.

Basket Bingo fundraiser slated
The Norwell girls’ track and field team will be holding a fundraiser Saturday, May 8, in the high school cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $20 for 20 games. There will be concessions available, door prizes and two special raffle baskets. Tickets may be purchased from any track team member and also will also be available at the door. Money will be used to help with equipment expenses, equipment maintenance and escalating expenses. The baskets may be viewed at the girls’ track website at: http://teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsTrack/apt7.aspx

Senior golf league to tee off
The Senior Men’s Golf League at Bluffton’s Green Valley Golf Course will begin play Tuesday, May 4, at 9 a.m.

Photo correction
Southern Wells’ Taylor Estes was incorrectly identified as Marissa Geimer in a photo at the top of page six in Thursday’s News-Banner. Estes was the girl competing in the 100-meter low hurdles instead of Geimer. The News-Banner regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell jayvees blank Tigers
Jacob Meyer, Evan Brown and Nathan Shelton led the Norwell Knights’ junior varsity baseball team to a 10-0 win over the Bluffton Tigers on Wednesday at Bluffton.
Meyer, the winning pitcher, blanked the Tigers on two hits over four innings and struck out seven batters. Drew Giltner followed up with two hitless innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Brown had two hits and drove in four runs for the Knights (5-0). Shelton tripled and knocked in three runs. Joe Rasdorf, Tailur Szarenski and Reece Dafforn each had one RBI. Dafforn doubled and Robbie Ritter doubled twice and scored twice. Spencer Newell scored two runs. Luke Hunter, Cody Rice, Giltner and Meyer each scored a run. Meyer, Rasdorf, Newell, Szarenski and Rice each singled.

Basket Bingo fundraiser slated
The Norwell girls’ track and field team will be holding a fundraiser Saturday, May 8, in the high school cafeteria from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $20 for 20 games. There will be concessions available, door prizes and two special raffle baskets. Tickets may be purchased from any track team member and also will be available at the door. Money will be used to help with equipment expenses, equipment maintenance and escalating expenses. The baskets may be viewed at the girls’ track website at: http://teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsTrack/apt7.aspx

Crusaders open boys’ soccer season
The Norwell Middle School boys’ soccer team lost its season opener Tuesday, falling to DeKalb 7-0. Norwell goalkeeper Jason Meyer had 11 saves. Other bright spots for the Crusaders were Brandon Burch, Reggie Hayes and Sam Crowell.

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, April 15
GIRLS TRACK: Norwell at FW South Side, 4 p.m.
TRACK: Blackford at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: South Adams at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Jay County, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: FW Snider at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at Columbia City, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton, Blackford at Marion, 4:15 p.m.; Southern Wells at Mississinewa, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Wayne, 5 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Southwood, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 16
GIRLS TENNIS: Southwood at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Elmhurst, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Blackford at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Huntington North at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 17
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Mt. Vernon, 9 a.m.
TRACK: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers Relays, 9:30 a.m.; Bluffton, Southern Wells (Boys) at Churubusco Invitational, 10 a.m.
BASEBALL: Norwell at Heritage, 10 a.m.; Oak Hill at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Heritage, Noon.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at South Adams, 11 a.m.; DeKalb at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Southern Wells at Wapahani (DH), 9 a.m.
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Bellmont Invitational, 8 a.m.; Norwell at Legends Tournament, 1 p.m.

Muskie egg-take sets records at Lake Webster

Indiana DNR Release:

NORTH WEBSTER–To meet the production goals of Indiana’s statewide muskie stocking program, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists collected nearly 1.5 million eggs this spring from adult female muskies at Webster Lake.

The eggs were taken from 35 female muskies and fertilized with milt from male muskies, both of which were captured in large trap nets set at six locations between March 30 and April 6 in the 774-acre Kosciusko County lake.

During the eight-day period, biologists netted 128 muskies, including 74 males and 19 additional immature or “spent” females that had already released their eggs.

“We set a record this year for the fewest number of days needed for egg-taking,” said Dave Clary, manager of the Fawn River State Fish Hatchery in Orland. “It usually takes 10 to 15 days.”

“The weather probably had a lot to due with our quick success this spring,” Clary said.

According to Clary, weather changes and variable water temperatures can cause fluctuations and delays in muskie egg development.

Of the nearly 1.5 million eggs obtained this year, more than half (44) were taken on April 3. The largest female muskie captured was 46.5 inches long.

Biologists extracted and fertilized more than 600,000 eggs, which also broke the record for a single day egg-take. Once the muskie eggs were fertilized, Clary transported them to the Fawn River Hatchery where they were placed in hatching jars. Just before hatching, the eggs were shipped to East Fork State Fish Hatchery in southwest Indiana, where the newly hatched muskie fry will be fed tiny pellets similar to food for aquarium fish.

“The young muskies will be raised throughout the summer at East Fork Hatchery, fed live minnows for 30 days in the fall, and then stocked in various public lakes throughout the state,” Clary said. “They are normally 8 to 10 inches long by the time they are stocked.”

Antique tractors and gas engines at Spring Mill SP, April 25-26

Indiana DNR Release:

The 10th annual Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Show at Spring Mill State Park will be held April 24-25, one of the first spring weekends the state park is open.

One of many special family activities that weekend at Spring Mill, the show also features working farm machinery.

Antique farm tractors dating to the 1930s will be on display near the Sycamore Shelter House, which will serve as event headquarters, welcoming visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Antique tractors, small-engine and farm machinery owners can register their display items starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. A tractor parade is scheduled for 4 p.m. that day.

Members of the Tri-County Antique Farm Machinery Association will help with this year’s show. Machinery owners will be on hand throughout the weekend to talk about their hobby and the history of the machines. The stories behind the machines are often as colorful as the tractors and engines themselves.

Visitors can step back in time and imagine what it was like in the days when the family tractor was the most important piece of machinery on the farm. They too will be able to realize how much easier life was during this era, as compared to the thriving days of “Spring Mill Village,” when horses, oxen and mules were the means of crop production.

Although there is no fee to participate in the show, there will be a $5 gate fee for cars with an Indiana license plate, and a $7 per out-of-state cars. Those interested in camping can contact the park office at 1-866-6 CAMP IN. For more information about lodging at Spring Mill Inn call 1-877-LODGES-1.

Hurshtown Reservoir opening

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE — Hurshtown Reservoir opened at 6 a.m. for fishing this morning.
The 240-acre lake is located at 16000 Roth Road near Grabill. Some fish in the Allen County waterway include smallmouth bass, white crappie and catfish. The reservoir is also stocked with walleye. All state fishing regulations apply and fishing licenses are required.

Bald eagles back home in Indiana in record numbers

Indiana DNR Release:

DNR helicopter surveys of bald eagle populations done over five days between March 31 and April 12 showed record numbers.

A state-record 119 nests were considered to be occupied by eagle pairs, based on the presence of eagles observed or reported this year or on the condition of the nest indicating recent attendance. These 119 territories compares to the previous record 101 territories found in 2008 and 94 in 2009. Eight additional nesting sites were considered unoccupied due to the poor condition of the nest.

For most of the 20th century, bald eagles were absent as a nesting species in Indiana. The first recent nesting attempt was noted in 1989, and the first successful nests were observed in 1991. A total of 73 young eagles were released in Indiana from1985-89, to reestablish a breeding population.

Bald eagles were removed from the Federal Endangered Species list in 2007 and the Indiana list in 2008. They are considered a Species of Special Concern in Indiana.

The DNR checked 146 sites for bald eagle nests, including one nest in Kentucky and two in Illinois along the Indiana border. Information about three additional Hoosier nests from reliable sources was included in the DNR survey. All results refer to Indiana nests.

A record total of 97 of the nests checked were considered "active nests" in which eggs were laid. The record of 90 came in 2008 and 2009. Bald eagles lay eggs from late January to early April. Some nesting territories may be active for decades, although some bald eagles may build and use more than one nest.

“The numbers of active nests are likely underestimates because some nestings may have failed before the nests were checked,” said John Castrale, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife non-game bird biologist.

Bald eagle nests were found by a survey in Allen, Adams, and Shelby counties for the first time ever, and found present in 50 Indiana counties overall. Eagle nests are most concentrated in southern and west-central Indiana, and along the Wabash River in central Indiana. Most nests are along the Wabash, White, and Ohio rivers, although some relatively small streams support eagle pairs. The most nests associated with a lake or impoundment is six at Patoka Lake.

In another first for the Indiana survey, Castrale, said that a bald eagle pair was noticed to have built a nest on something other than a tree—a wooden electrical tower in Sullivan County.

Other notable findings:

–19 of the found nest sites had not been known about previously and were brought to DNR’s attention by bird watchers and the general public.

–10 nests reported to DNR could not be found; most were in territories that had been abandoned or the nest trees had fallen.

–Canada geese were using eagle nests in two instances.

–Four reported nests were found to be red-tailed hawk nests and one was a great blue heron nest.

–120 adult eagles were observed at or near 97 Indiana nests.
Restoration and monitoring of bald eagles in Indiana is funded by donations from the DNR’s Nongame Fund and federal State Wildlife Grants. To donate to the DNR Nongame Fund, download and complete the Donation Form., print it, and send with check or money order to Nongame Fund, 402 W. Washington St. Rm. W273, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Track meet photos by Paul Beitler

Southern Wells' Taylor Beetz clears the bar in the girls' high jump.



Bluffton's Nick Rhodes approaches the finish line to take first place in the boys' 400-meter dash.



Southern Wells' Marissa Geimer clears a hurdle in the girls' 100-meter low hurdles.



Bluffton's Keith Cochran sails over the bar in the boys' high jump.



Bluffton's Hannah Oman clears the crossbar in the high jump



Southern Wells' junior Gage Minniear wins the 300-meter boys' intermediate hurdles.



Bluffton's Felicia Prible makes an attempt in the girls' high jump.



Bluffton's Stacey Bagley (right) finishes first in the 200-meter dash. Teammate Sharika Moss (left) places second.

DNR volunteer opportunities abound

Indiana DNR Release:

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24, and the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs has numerous types of opportunities for the outdoor-minded to catch the giving-back fever and maybe even have fun in the process.

Opportunities include greeting interpretive center visitors, serving as a campground host, demonstrating a craft or skill, assisting with special events, maintaining trails, or monitoring bluebird boxes. Helping control invasive plants such as garlic mustard is another possibility.

If you don't like working outdoors but still want to help the natural resources in another way, many DNR properties need help entering computer data. Such assistance would free up those whose specialties can be more efficiently used outdoors.

“Volunteering can help you get to know other property visitors and staff," said Jody Heaston, SPR volunteer coordinator. "It can also give you a great sense of accomplishment, knowing that you are helping manage and conserve our natural and cultural resources.”

A brochure describing volunteer opportunities at DNR properties is at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2443.htm. Visit www.dnr.IN.gov/parklake and click on “How You Can Help” to download a volunteer application form. For more information about volunteer opportunities at specific properties, call the office at a DNR property near you.

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, April 13
BOYS GOLF: FW Wayne, FW Elmhurst vs. Norwell at Brookwood, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Columbia City, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Mississinewa, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Huntington North at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Wabash, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Oak Hill, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Heritage at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BOYS TRACK: Carroll, East Noble vs. Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK: Carroll, East Noble at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Harding, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Northfield, 4:30 p.m.; Southern Wells at Jay County, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 14
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Blackford, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Eastbrook at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Blackford, 5 p.m.; Eastbrook at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Blackford at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 15
GIRLS TRACK: Norwell at FW South Side, 4 p.m.
TRACK: Blackford at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: South Adams at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Jay County, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: FW Snider at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at Columbia City, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton, Blackford at Marion, 4:15 p.m.; Southern Wells at Mississinewa, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Wayne, 5 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Southwood, 5 p.m.

Friday, April 16
GIRLS TENNIS: Southwood at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Elmhurst, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Blackford at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Huntington North at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bluffton golfers drop opener to AC
Adams Central’s Kaleb Davis shot a 47 Monday at Grey Goose Golf Course in Decatur to lead the Adams Central Jets to a 198-222 victory over the Bluffton Tigers in boys’ varsity action.
Bluffton was led by Tyler Mohler’s 50. Sean Ashman added a 55 for the Tigers. Andrew Wilson shot a 57, Ian Betz 60 and Spencer Barnell 69.
Davis was backed up by teammates Clint Pfeiffer and Nick McCullough, who shot a 50. Jerrod Cobb added a 51 and Blake Pfeiffer rounded out the round with a 54.

Ball State sets Homecoming game
MUNCIE — Ball State’s football game against Western Michigan on Oct. 9 has been set as the 84th Homecoming Game.
The Homecoming Steering Committee has selected “Rock the Red” as the Homecoming theme.
The Cardinals will open the season against Southeast Missouri State on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Scheumann Stadium. The following Saturday, Ball State will host Liberty. After three straight road games — Purdue, Iowa and Central Michigan — the Cardinals will host the Broncos for Homecoming.
Ball State owns a 51-30-2 overall mark in Homecoming contests, including victories in two of the last three years.

Deadline for Squires Softball entries
This is the final week to sign up for Markle’s Norwell Squires Softball. For more information, e-mail Scott Hanni at Scott.Hanni@nwcs.k12.in.us or Doug Denney at dtank23@verizon.net.

Four drivers win at Montpelier track
Four feature winners were crowned Saturday night in the season opener for Montpelier Motor Speedway.
Tony Roland won the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modifieds. Ervin Turner captured the Super Stocks race. D.J. Holt was the Thunder Car winner and Tim Vangundy took the Modified Lites victory.
Racing is slated to continue Saturday, April 17, featuring the Ford Focus Midgets and the regular racing schedule, starting with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing beginning at 7 p.m.

Wright State coach hired by Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson has hired Brad Brownell of Wright State as its men’s basketball coach.
Brownell replaces Oliver Purnell, who left after seven seasons to become the coach at DePaul.
Clemson spokesman Tim Bourrett says Brownell will be introduced Tuesday afternoon at a news conference at the school.
Brownell went 84-45 in four years at Wright State in Ohio. He led the Raiders to a 20-12 — 12-6 in the Horizon League. Wright State was beaten by eventual NCAA tournament runner-up Butler in the conference championship game.

High School Sports Calendar

Monday, April 12
BOYS GOLF: Bluffton at Adams Central, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: FW Concordia Lutheran at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Oak Hill at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Concordia Lutheran, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: FW Elmhurst at Norwell, 5 p.m.; South Adams at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 13
BOYS GOLF: FW Wayne, FW Elmhurst vs. Norwell at Brookwood, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Columbia City, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Mississinewa, 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL: Huntington North at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Wabash, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Oak Hill, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Heritage at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
BOYS TRACK: Carroll, East Noble vs. Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK: Carroll, East Noble at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Harding, 5 p.m.; Bluffton at Northfield, 4:30 p.m.; Southern Wells at Jay County, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 14
GIRLS TENNIS: Bluffton at Blackford, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Eastbrook at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Blackford, 5 p.m.; Eastbrook at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Blackford at Norwell, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 15
GIRLS TRACK: Norwell at FW South Side, 4 p.m.
TRACK: Blackford at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: South Adams at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Jay County, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: FW Snider at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Norwell at Columbia City, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton, Blackford at Marion, 4:15 p.m.; Southern Wells at Mississinewa, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at FW Wayne, 5 p.m.; Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Southwood, 5 p.m.

Muskie study planned for Upper Long Lake

Indiana DNR Release:

COLUMBIA CITY – Fisheries biologists with the Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) will conduct a major study of the muskie stocking program this summer at Upper Long Lake in southwestern Noble County.

Since 1996, the local lake association and the Webster Lake Musky Club have periodically stocked muskie fingerlings in the 86-acre natural lake to provide muskie fishing opportunities and increase predation on small bluegills.

When stocked, the muskie fingerlings average 10 inches long and are purchased from a commercial hatchery in Wisconsin. They are normally stocked at the rate of five fingerlings per surface acre (430 total) with the expectation that one out of five will survive to adult size.

Although the muskie stockings are funded privately by the two organizations with approval from the DFW, both are requesting assistance from the DFW to evaluate the program’s success.

“Some lake residents question whether muskie stockings are providing any benefit,” said Jed Pearson, DFW fisheries biologist. “They want to know how many muskies are in the lake, how many muskies are being caught by anglers, and whether they are affecting other fish in the lake.”

Although Pearson says the DFW does not help pay for the cost of stockings, they can provide technical assistance in evaluating them.

“We will first take a look at the lake’s largemouth bass population in April and May and compare the bass population present now with what was present when the muskie stockings began,” Pearson said.

In mid-May and throughout summer, DFW personnel will be stationed at the lake to count and interview anglers. Data they gather will be used to determine how many fish are caught, size of fish caught, and the level of interest in muskie fishing.

DFW biologists will also conduct a complete fish population survey in mid-June using a shocker-boat, nets and traps that will provide detailed information on the overall species composition of the lake, the abundance of forage fish for muskies to eat, and the size of bluegills.

“Upper Long Lake has a long history of producing excessive numbers of small, slow-growing bluegills,” Pearson said. “One of the original goals of stocking muskies was to reduce the number of small bluegills in hopes that others would grow larger. The survey will allow us to compare bluegill size now to the size of bluegills in the past.”

Once the surveys are complete, the DFW will issue a report of the findings next winter. At that point, plans are to conduct a meeting of interested lake residents and anglers to determine the future direction of the muskie stocking program.

Forestry survey available April 12 to collect public opinion

Indiana DNR Release:

Anyone interested in Indiana’s forests, including but not limited to conservationists, forest stakeholders, landscape stewards and Department of Natural Resources partners will be able to give their opinion on best forestry strategies through an online DNR survey starting Monday, April 12.

The survey can be accessed through any computer with an Internet connection, either at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9HWLZ7J or via the DNR Division of Forestry Web site: http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5436.htm.

The survey will be open for responses for two weeks and will close on April 26 at 6 p.m.

“Eighty-five percent of Indiana’s forests are owned by private individuals,” said DNR State Forester John Seifert. “That is why it is important that their voice be heard in developing a statewide strategy.”

The results will be discussed, refined and prioritized at the upcoming Forest Conservation and Stewardship Strategy Forum in Indianapolis, April 30–May 1, at The Nature Conservancy’s Efroymson Conservation Center.

This stakeholder event is part of a Farm Bill-required planning effort that will be completed this June. The goal of the effort is to identify where issues and priorities converge to help ensure that limited federal and state resources are being spent in a manner that produces the greatest benefit.

In a similar stakeholder survey in June 2009, more than 1,200 respondents identified fragmentation and conversion of forestland, conservation of soil and water resources, invasive species, and maintenance of biological diversity as the most important issues affecting the 5.1 million acres of forests in Indiana.