Senior swimmers recognized at Bluffton

The Bluffton girls' swim team recently held its senior recognition night. Pictured above are, left to right, Mykayla Rodenbeck, Audry Estill and Robin Butler

4-H extension calendar

January 28: Girl Scout Birthday Celebration, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, noon - 3 p.m.
January 31: Wells County 4-H BB Gun & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30-8 p.m.
February 5: Wells County Horse & Pony Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 5 p.m.
February 5: Wells County Horse & Pony Advisory Board, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6 p.m.
February 7: Wells County 4-H BB Gun & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
February 12-18: Wells County 4-H Week
February 14: Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
February 16: WELLS WEIGHS IN, monthly weigh-in
February 18: Wells County, 4-H Open House and Enrollment Event, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 8 a.m. - noon
February 18: Wells County 4-H Jr. Leader Pokagon Trip, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 12:30 p.m.
February 20: Wells County 4-H Association, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, 7 p.m.
February 21: Wells County 4-H BB Gun & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
February 21: Wells County 4-H Foundation, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30 p.m.
February 28: Wells County 4-H BB Gun & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

4-H BB & Rifle safety sign up available

Youth in grades 3 – 12 may still enroll in this year’s Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Club at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, at the Wells County 4-H Park in Bluffton. Meetings will continue from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday until April 3rd.

Youth in grades three, four and five can participate in BB Gun. Youth in grades six and above can participate in rifle or pistol. Youth may become 4-H members when they enter third grade and may continue their membership through grade 12.

A membership fee of $20 should be paid at the first meeting. A supply fee of $10 for BB and $15 for rifle will also be collected. The supply fee covers the cost of equipment, materials, ammunition, insurance, and awards. Checks should be made payable to Wells County 4-H.

Scholarships are available by checking with 4-H Leaders at the events. If you have more than one person in the family, the second member is at a lower fee. No person will be turn away due to financial constraints.

The 4-H Shot Gun Safety Club, 4-H Pellet Pistol Safety Club and the 4-H Archery Club will all begin in April.

For more information about 4-H, contact the Wells County office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, 260-824-6412 or one of the Shooting Sports Leaders, Don Kiefer, 260-824-1585; Chad Captain, 260-417-6488; Tex Mauger, 260-827-0266; Gregg Palmer, 260-701-2975; or Kevin Springer, 260-565-3323.

4-H Horse and Pony Club to meet

The Wells County 4-H Horse & Pony Club will meet at 5 p.m. Sunday, February 5, at the Wells County Community Center at the 4-H Park in Bluffton. 4-H membership forms will be available for youth to sign up for this year’s Horse & Pony Club.

Youth may become 4-H members when they enter third grade and may continue their membership through the completion of grade 12. Each individual may continue membership for a maximum of 10 consecutive years. Youth in grades K – 2 may join the Mini 4-H Horse & Pony project.

Youth may also do the horse poster project. In this project, youth select a horse related topic to learn about and then make a poster for display at the annual 4-H Fair, July 14-19. For more information about the 4-H Horse & Pony Club, contact Rhonda Phillips at 260-638-4744 or Lisa Toliver at 260-557-4745.

The club-sponsored annual tack auction will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, February 18, at the 4-H Park in Bluffton.

Hoosier homestead gathering at Salamonie Lake, May 5-6

The Hoosier Homestead Gathering, May 5 and 6, at Salamonie Lake, offers guests the opportunity to learn how to simplify their lives.

Guests can meet people who have already simplified by doing things such as using solar energy and raising bees. Going to the Hoosier Homestead Gathering will help visitors make the connections needed to show them how to make desired changes.

On May 5 the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The program fee is $3; children age 3 and younger are free. The park entrance fee is $5 per car for Indiana residents and $7 per car for out-of-state residents.

Hoosier Homestead Gathering also seeks people who are interested in setting up a booth representing a simplified lifestyle or a homespun business.

For more information about attending or being a vendor, contact Upper Wabash Interpretive Services at (260) 468-2127 or lfager@dnr.IN.gov.

Open gym available

Open gym has begun for students in grades K-12. They are invited to the city gym for supervised play every day usually from 4 to 7 p.m.

Basketballs and other equipment are provided during this time. Times vary for special events. For more information call 824-6069.

Parkview Field ranked #1 MILB experience

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Stadium Journey, sports travel publication and website, released their Top 100 sporting venues. Parkview Field was ranked as the #1 ballpark in all of Minor League Baseball and the #13 venue in all of professional sports in their "Best of 2011" publication.

"It's an honor to be recognized in this way," said TinCaps President, Mike Nutter. "Stadium Journey has become a resource for sports fans across the country due to their extensive listings and rankings of sports venues. To be ranked as the best in Minor League Baseball is truly significant. To be listed as the #13 overall venue, among some of the most highly regarded facilities in all of sports, is a testament to the quality of Parkview Field and the way this community has embraced the ballpark."

"We considered 754 venues for our 'Best of 2011' publication," stated Paul Swaney, Editor and Co-Founder of Stadium Journey. "Parkview Field was literally the first Minor League ballpark we visited as part of our rankings and it set the standard. The apple theme throughout the ballpark, and being located in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, created a complete thematic experience and the perfect way for the team and the ballpark to be a part of the community."

"If you ran a minor league team and you were taking a test on how to build a minor league park, this would be the paper you would want to cheat off of. Parkview Field is the Stadium Journey Best Minor League Baseball venue for 2011. Make the trip to Fort Wayne and you'll see why." (quote from www.stadiumjourney.com review of Parkview Field)

Stadium Journey's Top 10 Minor League Baseball venues
1. Parkview Field - Fort Wayne TinCaps - Fort Wayne, Indiana
2. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium - Montgomery Biscuits - Montgomery, Alabama
3. BB&T Coastal Field - Myrtle Beach Pelicans - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
4. MCU Park - Brooklyn Cyclones - Brooklyn, New York
5. Daniel S. Frawley Stadium - Wilmington Blue Rocks - Wilmington, Delaware
6. Coca-Cola Park - Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs - Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
7. The Epicenter - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga, California
8. Arrowhead Credit Union Park - Inland Empire 66ers - San Bernadino, California
9. Fifth Third Field - Dayton Dragons - Dayton, Ohio
10. Appalachian Power Park - West Virginia Power - Charleston, West Virginia

Randy Davis Earns MAC West Weekly Honor

From the Ball State Athletic Office

MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State senior guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week the league office announced Monday. This is the third time in his career that Davis has been honored by the MAC and the first this season.

Davis led the Cardinals to back-to-back road wins last week with victories at Central Michigan and Northern Illinois. His all-around play was a catalyst for the Cardinals as he averaged 9.0 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as Ball State improved to 4-1 in MAC play.

Davis, the national leader in NCAA Division I in assist/turnover ratio at 3.79, dished out 16 assists in the two games while only committing three turnovers for a 5.33 ratio. He dished out a team-high 10 assists in the Cardinals’ 21-point victory at Central Michigan while also scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds. He followed that performance up with 11 points and six assists at Northern Illinois. On the year, he leads the team with 106 assists and chipping in 8.5 points per game.

Davis and the Cardinals begin MAC crossover play Tuesday night as they host MAC East Division leader and defending MAC Tournament champion Akron at 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena. The game will be televised by SportsTime Ohio and will also be carried by Comcast Indiana, ESPN3.com and ESPN Full Court.

2012 Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis schedule announced

BROWNSBURG — The full 2012 Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis schedule has been released and will again include the 58th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Aug. 29-Sept. 3.

The Mac Tools U. S. Nationals is the world’s largest drag race.

The racing season at Lucas Oil Raceway starts when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series takes to the track April 27-29 in the running of the Spring Spectacle of Speed. This event features Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car along with the remainder of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors.

2012 LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS SCHEDULE

DRAGSTRIP
APRIL
4: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
11: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
15: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing Series open test
18: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
22: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
25: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
27-29: NHRA Spring Spectacle of Speed Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series

MAY
2: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
6: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
11: Friday Night Street Race
12: Indy RAGE
16: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
18-19: F-Body Nationals
20: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
23: Frank Hawley Drag Racing School
23: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
28: Summit Racing ET Series points race (National Dragster Challenge)

JUNE
1: Friday Night Street Race
2: Indy RAGE
3: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race (Junior Dragster Challenge)
6: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
8-10: NHDRO (No Hatin’ Drag Racing Organization)
13: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
15-17: NDHRA (National Diesel Hot Rod Association)
20: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
22-24: Radial Rage
27: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
27-29: 3 SNG
30-1: Mustang Club

JULY
1: Mustang Club
1: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
8: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
13: Friday Night Street Race
14: Indy RAGE
15: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race (King of the Track)
18: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
22: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race

AUGUST
1: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
3-4: 5th Gen Camaro Nationals
5: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
10: Friday Night Street Race
11: Indy RAGE
12: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
15: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
17-19: NHDRO (No Hatin’ Drag Racing Organization)
29-3: Mac Tools U. S. Nationals

SEPTEMBER
1-3: Mac Tools U. S. Nationals
8: Indy RAGE
9: Lucas Oil Raceway ET Racing points race
12: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
14: NHRA Summit Racing Series Division 3 Finals
19: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
21-23: Monster Mopar Weekend
26: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)

OCTOBER
6: Indy RAGE
10: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
11-14: 11th FuelLabNMCA World Street Finals (NMCA)s
17: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)
19-21: NHRA Sporstman Fall Classic
24: Wild Wednesday (Street legal and slick tire test & tune)

OVAL
MAY
19: USAC Hall of Fame Classic presented by eBay Motors
26: 67th Night Before the 500 featuring the USAC Midget Series, Star Mazda and USF2000)

JUNE
9: Must See Racing (Winged Sprint Car Series)
16-17: Slamology (Car, Truck, Music festival)

JULY
26: USAC Midget and Silver Crown Series
27: ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the CRA Super Series

SEPTEMBER
30: CRA Super Series

Raiding the cookies

Players on the Southern Wells girls' basketball team enjoy cookies while relaxing on the bench during the game against the Wes-Del Warriors Tuesday. Pictured here, from forefront, are Erica Fate, Mallory Preston, Sadie Herr, Morgan Perry, Sam Rhodes and Carissa Carter.

4-H gun and rifle safety club to begin

From the 4-H extension office:

Teaching safety skills is the main goal of the 4-H BB Gun and Rifle Safety Club. The club will once again offer its series of meetings beginning with sign-up night, Tuesday, January 24, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton. Meetings will continue each Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., until the Awards Night, April 3rd.

Youth in grades 3, 4 and 5 can participate in BB Gun. Youth in Grade 6 and above can participate in Rifle. First time members who are old enough for Rifle will be required to pass a shooting skills proficiency which reviews the positions and range safety procedures.

Youth may become 4-H members when they enter third grade and may continue their membership through the completion of Grade 12. Each individual may continue membership for a maximum of 10 consecutive years.

Members are not allowed to bring their own equipment. Advanced registration is not required. Sign up will be at the first meeting. All participants must have a completed and signed health form before participating in the hands-on activity.

A membership fee of $20 should be paid at registration time. This fee is only paid once each year. Youth in more than one 4-H club only pay the one time. There is a fee cap of $60 per family.

The supply fee for BB gun will be $10 and $15 for rifle. This includes a book for new members, ammunition, gun repairs, gun cleaning supplies, targets and member awards. If you have more than one youth in BB Gun or Rifle, the second member supply will be $5.

Scholarships are available for membership and supply fees. No youth will be turned away due to financial reasons. Check with 4-H Leaders or Extension Office for details.

Youth may also enroll in the Shooting Sports Fair Exhibit Option. Members may make a poster or a notebook about some aspect of shooting sports or may exhibit something they have made. Examples might include: Poster or Notebook; Firearm Safety; Cross a Fence with a Gun; Eye Dominance; Muzzleloading; Target Trap; Archery Safety; Types of Arrows; Buying a Bow; Shooting Vests; Hunter Ed; Tree Stand Safety; Percussion or Flintlock; Hunting Wild Turkeys; Handmade Items – Gun Rack; Ammo Box, etc.

The 4-H Shot Gun Safety Club, 4-H Pellet Pistol Safety Club; and the 4-H Archery Club will all begin in April.

For more information about 4-H, contact the Wells County Office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, 260-824-6412 or one of the Shooting Sports Leaders: Don Kiefer, 260-824-1585; Chad Captain, 260-417-6488; Tex Mauger, 260-824-0266; Gregg Palmer, 260-701-2975; and Kevin Springer, 260-565-3323.

4-H Extension calendar

• January 17: 4-H Scholarship & Resume forms due at Wells County Extension Office
• January 17: State P-CARET Legislative Luncheon, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Indianapolis, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• January 17: Fort Wayne Farm Show, Coliseum, Fort Wayne 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (free)
• January 18: Fort Wayne Farm Show, Coliseum, Fort Wayne 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (free)
• January 19: Fort Wayne Farm Show, Coliseum, Fort Wayne 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (free)
• January 19: WELLS WEIGHS IN begins
• January 24: Crop Management Workshop, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., lunch provided. $75 Registration required, www.conf.purdue.edu/crop
• January 24: Sign-up Night for 4-H BB Gun & Rifle Safety Club, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
• January 28: Girl Scout Birthday Celebration, Wells County Community Center, Expo Hall, 4-H Park, Bluffton, noon – 3 p.m.
• January 31: Wells County 4-H BB & Rifle Safety Club, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Ball State announces award winners

From the Ball State Athletic Office:

Ball State first-year head football coach Pete Lembo announced the team's award winners for the 2011 season at the annual Football Honors Banquet.

The John Magnabosco Award, which goes to the team's Most Valuable Player, was presented on offense to Briggs Orsbon and on defense to Sean Baker. The Magnabosco Award is named in honor of Ball State's head football coach from 1935-52. Magnabosco is the winningest football coach in Ball State history with 68 victories.

Orsbon, a senior wide receiver for the Cardinals and an All-MAC Second Team choice, completed his Ball State career in 2011 with a perfect 4.0 GPA as a finance and risk management major. Orsbon was also named a 2011 Capital One Academic All-American and was a candidate for the 2011 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award. Orsbon, a two-time Capital One Academic All-District selection, served as one of the Cardinals team captains as a senior. He became only the second player in Ball State history to tally 200 or more career receptions and ended with 213 career catches, which ranks second all-time in Ball State history. Orsbon became only the sixth player in Ball State history to post over 2,000 career receiving yards and finished with 2,218, which ranks fifth all-time at Ball State. Orsbon played in 50 games in his four-year career. As a senior in 2011, Orsbon managed a team high 66 catches for a team best 649 yards with a team leading four touchdown receptions. He also led the Cardinals with 31 kick returns and 616 kick return yards plus averaged 19.9 yards per return. Orsbon averaged a team high 106.7 all-purpose yards per game as a senior.

Baker, a senior safety for the Cardinals, set the Ball State career interception record as a junior. The 2011 All-MAC First Team selection completed his career with 18 interceptions. Baker, who was the solo recipient of the Magnabosco Award as a junior, was the active leader in career interceptions among all Football Bowl Subdivision players in 2011. He recorded two interceptions in 2011 -- one vs. Central Michigan and one vs. Army. A team captain as a junior and a senior, Baker ranked third on the team with 95 tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack, despite missing two games in 2011 with an injury. Baker also tallied one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior. Baker led the Cardinals with a career high 18 tackles vs. Toledo plus led Ball State with 11 tackles at South Florida.

Jahwan Edwards, a true freshman running back, was named the recipient of the John Hodge Award as Ball State's Most Valuable Freshman. The Hodge Award is given in memory of the 1974 Cardinal Varsity Club Chairman who died in 1977. The CVC is an organization of benefactors to Ball State's intercollegiate athletics program.

Edwards rushed for 786 yards on 178 yards with 11 rushing touchdowns in 2011. He rushed for a career high 123 yards on a career best 25 attempts, including a career long rush of 28 yards at Ohio. Edwards rushed for a career best three touchdowns vs. Army, and that performance marked the most rushing TDs for a Ball State player since Oct. 24, 2009. Edwards tallied his first 100-yard rushing contest when he gained 112 yards vs. Buffalo.

Scott Kovanda, a junior punter, and Jamill Smith, a sophomore wide receiver/return specialist, were named co-recipients of the Bill Reynolds Special Teams Award. The award is named in memory of Reynolds, who spent 31 years as a volunteer in the Ball State athletics department with an emphasis on the football program prior to his death in the summer of 2000.

Kovanda, who was one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award that goes to the nation's most outstanding collegiate punter, ranked 22nd in the country in punting with a 43.5 average. Kovanda punted 61 times for 2,654 yards, including a long punt of 72 yards. He forced opponents to start inside the 20-yard line 22 times in 2011, and helped Ball State rank 18th in the nation in net punting. Kovanda, who owns a 3.90 grade-point average as a finance major, was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team and the All-MAC Third Team in 2011.

Smith averaged a team high 23.3 yards per kickoff return, including a career long 78-yard kickoff return at Eastern Michigan. Smith was named to the All-MAC Second Team as a punt return specialist after tallying eight returns for 87 yards and a 10.9 average in 2011. In addition, Smith managed 40 catches for 422 yards and three touchdowns in 2011.

Ryan Hartke, a senior defensive end with a 3.40 GPA as an accounting major, was named the recipient of the Gene Booker Academic Award. The Academic Award has been given annually since 1978 and was named in honor of Gene Booker for the first time in 2011. Booker was a member of Ball State's 1949 football team, which is the only unbeaten and untied team in the school's 87 years of football. Hartke tallied 37 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and three sacks with one fumble recovery in 2011. He received honorable mention on the Academic All-MAC Team in 2011.

Joshua Howard, a senior safety, received the Mark Hays Inspiration Award, which is given to the person who demonstrates the greatest ability to motivate and inspire his teammates. The award is given in the memory of the late son of Kermit and Mary Ellen Hays, who are longtime fans and supporters of Ball State's athletics program.

Howard was fourth on the team with 84 tackles in 2011 plus added a team high three interceptions. He also managed one tackle for loss, three fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. Howard tallied his third fumble recovery of the season at Northern Illinois and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown. He recorded a career best 13 tackles in the season finale vs. Toledo.

The Bill Meitzler Scout Team Players of the Year were Jared Scaringe on offense and Keenan Noel on Defense. This award is given in honor of the former Cardinal Varsity Club Board member and longtime fan and supporter of Ball State football. Scaringe was a redshirt freshman wide receiver for Ball State in 2011, while Noel redshirted as a true freshman cornerback for the Cardinals last fall.

Ball State's football program gave out two new awards in 2011 -- the Paul Schudel Strength and Conditioning Award and the Dave McClain Leadership Award. Adam Morris received the Schudel Award, while Kreg Hunter and Andrew Puthoff shared the McClain Award.

The Schudel Award is named in honor of Ball State's football coach from 1985-94 and led the Cardinals to the 1989 and 1993 Mid-American Conference Championships. He guided Ball State to its first ever NCAA Division IA bowl games with appearances in the 1989 California Raisin Bowl and the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. Schudel completed his career with 60 wins, which was second in Ball State history, and ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 47 victories.

The McClain Award is given in memory of the deceased Dave McClain, who was Ball State's head football coach from 1971-77 and guided the Cardinals to a 46-25-3 overall record. He guided the Cardinals into the Mid-American Conference and NCAA Division I football. McClain led Ball State to the 1976 MAC Championship in only the Cardinals second season in the conference. McClain's final three Ball State teams posted a combined 26-7 overall mark and a 13-4 MAC mark.

Ball State finished the 2011 season with a 6-6 overall record under the guidance of Lembo. The Cardinals won six games for the fourth time in 10 years, and posted wins in 2011 over Indiana, Army, Buffalo, Ohio, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

Plans announced for Indiana-Poland 4-H exchange

Applications are now being accepted from 4-H members in Northeast Indiana for the 2012 Indiana-Poland Exchange Program.

Approximately 20 youth and eight adults will travel to south central Poland for two weeks in late June and early July to share and learn about 4-H and their culture. The youth will stay with host families, participate in 4-H activities, visit some historic sites and learn about daily living in Poland. The adults will be staying at a regional agriculture learning center or with host families.

Northeast Indiana 4-H has hosted youth from Poland four times (2011, 2009, 2007 and 2005). Delegations have traveled to Poland in 2010, 2008 and 2006.

Approximate dates for this trip will be June 26 – July 8. Anticipated cost of the exchange is $1,600 - $1,800. Application and a deposit are due Feb. 1. Scholarships are available through the Hefner International Exchange Fund. In addition, some sponsorships will be available from the Wells County 4-H Association.

Applications are available from the Purdue Extension Service offices in Northeast Indiana. These counties include Elkhart, LaGrange, Steuben, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Wabash, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Grant, Blackford, and Jay counties.

For more information about the exchange program, contact Roger Sherer at 260-824-6412 or rsherer@purdue.edu.

Football announces roster additions

From the Ball State Athletic Department:

Ball State head football coach has announced the addition of three mid-year signees plus the return of one student-athlete for the 2012 roster.

Joining the program at mid-year are Selwyn Frazier (Independence Community College), Oga Igbinosun (Rahway High School) and Chris Pauling (T.W. Andrews High School), while Matthew Mosley returns to the Cardinals after sitting out the 2011 season to concentrate on academics.

"We are pleased to welcome these new student-athletes to the university for the spring semester, while also glad to have Matthew Mosley return to the program," Lembo says. "Selwyn, Oga and Chris are quality young men who are excited to be at Ball State. They have a great opportunity to acclimate themselves academically, athletically and socially this spring. They will also help to create greater internal competition on our defense at positions where we need to improve. Matthew is a quality young man who loves Ball State and is passionate about the game of football. He did a nice job staying connected during his hiatus from the program. We are hopeful he returns as a more focused and mature student."

Frazier earned two letters while playing for Independence Community College in 2010 and 2011. A graduate of Wichita East High School in Wichita, Kansas, Frazier is expected to play safety for the Cardinals. As a team captain in his second year at ICC, Frazier ranked second on the team with 63 tackles. He earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors in his second season, while helping the team to its first ever playoff appearance in his first campaign. At Wichita East, Frazier was a team captain as a senior and earned all-conference honors in his final season. He helped Wichita East to a 5-5 mark in his senior season and earned four letters for Coach Brian Byers.

Igbinosun earned three letters at Rahway High School in New Jersey for Coach Gary Mobley. He helped his team to a 6-5 mark as a senior and a 24-10 record in his career. Igbinosun, who graduated from Rahway in December, is expected to play defensive end for the Cardinals. At Rahway, Igbinosun managed 98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as a senior. He set a school record with six tackles for loss, including four sacks as a senior. Igbinosun managed 18 career sacks. He was selected to the New Jersey North-South All-Star Game and was named the New Jersey Game Most Valuable Player. A second-team all-state selection as a senior, Igbinosun earned all-area first team honors and was a Super 100 New Jersey selection in his final season. In addition, he was named the Mid-State 39 Defensive Player of the Year in his final season. Igbinosun, the son of Solomon and Mercy Igbinosun, also competed in wrestling, track and basketball at Rahway.

Pauling, a December graduate of T.W. Andrews High School in North Carolina, has joined the Cardinals and is expected to play safety at Ball State. Pauling earned three letters for Coach Rodney McKoy at Andrews and heoped the Red Raiders to an 8-3 mark as a senior and a 32-12 record in his career. Pauling managed 86 tackles, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt, which he returned for a touchdown in his senior season. He totalled 260 tackles, eight forced fumbles, three blocked punts, 20 sacks and two interceptions in his career. Pauling was an All-PAC 6 Conference selection as a junior and senior. He was named all-area and selected to play in the South Carolina/North Carolina Shrine Bowl as a senior. The son of Chris and Rosalyn Pauling, he managed a 3.1 grade-point average in high school and was a three-time selection to the Academic All-PAC 6 Conference team.

Mosley played in all 12 games as a true freshman during the 2010 season and earned his first letter. He recorded his first career tackle vs. Southeast Missouri State and tallied a career high two tackles in six games. A graduate of Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Ill., Mosley played outside linebacker for the Cardinals.

N-B Video: 2012 boys' basketball — Bluffton moves on in ACAC action

Bluffton basketball player Jackson Lambert talks with the News-Banner's Paul Beitler after leading the Tigers with 22 points in ACAC action. The Tigers advanced to semifinals after the win. Learn more in the Wednesday, Jan. 11, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Indiana Football Hall of Fame to induct new members

From the Ball State Athletic Department:

The Indiana Football Hall of Fame will induct three members on Sunday, Feb. 26, at Primo’s Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.

Eric DeBord, Paul Schudel and Mark Surface will each be inducted with festivities beginning at 1:15 p.m. A social will take place from 1:15 to 2 p.m., followed by dinner and the induction ceremony. Tickets for the event cost $30 and can be purchased from Dave Land of the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Land can be contacted at delifca@comcast.net.

DeBord is a 1977 graduate of Wes-Del High School and a 1981 graduate of Indiana University. He was a four-year starter in football, wrestling and baseball at Wes-Del and was the first student-athlete to ever earn 12 letters for the school. At Indiana, DeBord was a four-year letterman and two-year starter. He was a starter on the 1979 Holiday Bowl Championship Team.

Schudel was Ball State’s head football coach from 1985-94 and led the Cardinals to the 1989 and 1993 Mid-American Conference Championship. He completed his Ball State career ranked second in career wins with 60 for the Cardinals and fifth in MAC career wins with 47. A 1966 graduate of Miami University, Schudel served stints as an assistant coach at a variety of schools, including 10 years at Michigan from 1975-84 where he helped the Wolverines to five Big Ten Championships and five Rose Bowl appearances.

Mark Surface, a 1968 graduate of Ball State, spent his entire career as a high school coach in the state of Indiana, including from 1985-2006 at Marion High School. An alum of Lafayette Jefferson High School, Surface played on two Grantland Rice Bowl teams at Ball State. He earned conference coach of the year honors eight times in his career and led Marion to a runner-up finish in the 1988 Indiana High School Athletic Association State Championships.

N-B Video: 2012 boys' basketball — Norwell rebounds from defeat

Norwell senior Grant Baker shares how his team recovered from their first loss earlier to defeat Carroll on Saturday, Jan. 7. Learn more in the Monday, Jan. 9, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

N-B Video: 2012 high school wrestling — Norwell vs. Southern Wells

Southern Wells' Seth Biberstine wrestles Norwell's Kyle Short, both undefeated, in the 285-pound division on Thursday, Jan. 5. The News-Banner's Paul Beitler then speaks with the victor after the match. Learn more in the Friday, Jan. 6, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Prepare for 4-H season

The Wells County 4-H office is preparing for the summer and 4-H, releasing several news stories to help those prepare.

WELLS COUNTY 4-H FAIR DATES SET
The Wells County 4-H Association has set July 14-19 for the 2012 Wells County 4-H Fair. Livestock show times and auction are expected to be similar to previous years.

Representatives of the 4-H Fair will be attending the 2012 Indiana Association of Fairs & Festivals Conference in Indianapolis later in January.

Officers of the Wells County 4-H Association for 2012 include Kent Ulmer, president; Brian Clark, 1st vice president; Chad Captain, 2nd vice president; Gretta Nusbaumer, secretary; Leah Sills, treasurer; Karl Steiner, executive committee member; and Larry Connett, executive committee member.

Officers for the Wells County 4-H Council for 2012 will be Karl Steiner, president; Cathy Neu, vice president; and Melissa Bolyn, secretary. The 4-H Council is responsible for the 4-H rules and policy that govern the various 4-H events and activities within the county.

This year's Indiana State Fair will be held August 3-19. The logo will include "Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit" and the theme will center around the "Year of the Dairy Cows."

For more details on the State Fair, go to www.in.gov/statefair.

4-H SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE JAN. 17
4-H Club college scholarship forms and the State 4-H resume forms are due Tuesday, Jan., 17 at the Wells County Extension Office located at the 4-H Park in Bluffton.

At least 16 $300 scholarships will be presented to Wells County youth who apply through the program.

Forms were mailed to high school seniors in December, but they may also be found on the State 4-H webpage: www.four-h.purdue.edu. Click on the "scholarships" link under the "opportunities" tab.

For more information about the 4-H scholarships, contact the Wells County Office of the Purdue Extension Service at 824-6412 or rsherer@purdue.edu.

WELLS COUNTY 4-H HORSE & PONY SIGN UP AVAILABLE
Youth and parents interested in the Horse & Pony Club can attend the Wells County 4-H Horse & Pony Club at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Wells County Community Center at the 4-H Park, Bluffton.

4-H member enrollment forms will be distributed along with a schedule for 2012.

Future club meetings will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 5 March 4 at the same location.

Outdoor meetings will begin in the spring in preparation for the Wells County 4-H Fair, July 14-19.

Youth may become 4-H members when they enter third grade and may continue their membership through the completion of grade 12. Each individual may continue membership for a maximum of 10 consecutive years.

The club-sponsored annual tack auction will be held Saturday, February 18, at the 4-H Park in Bluffton. Doors open at 5 PM and the Auction begins at 6 PM.

For more information about the 4-H Horse & Pony Club, contact Rhonda Phillips, 260-557-4745 or Lisa Toliver, 260-224-7030 or the Wells County Extension Office, 824-6412.

STATE 4-H POULTRY WORKSHOP JAN. 7
Indiana 4-H will host a workshop for 4-H Poultry members on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds in Lebanon IN, located I-65, exit 138.

Workshop topics include raising and showing meat bird chickens, judging egg layer chickens, showmanship; basics of judging large fowl chickens, ideal waterfowl breed type, judging exhibition poultry and a question/answer session with the experts.

For more information, contact Doug Akers at 765-482-0750 or dakers@purdue.edu.

N-B Video: 2012 boys' basketball — Southern Wells vs. Cowan

The Southern Wells Raiders face the Cowan Blackhawks in close and furious competition during a Tuesday night game. See the Wednesday, Jan. 4, News-Banner for more details. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Jarrod Jones picks up MAC West Player of the Week honors

From the Ball State Athletic Department:

MUNCIE, Ind. – For the third time this season, Ball State senior forward Jarrod Jones of Michigan City has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the week. Jones is the only player in either MAC division to win player of the week honors multiple times this season as he picked up accolades Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

Jones, a preseason All-MAC selection, led the Cardinals to their seventh victory of the season on New Year’s Eve as he scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 25 minutes of play against Chicago State. He connected on 6-of-7 from the field (.857) and 5-of-8 (.625) from the charity stripe to lead the Cardinals to the 28-point victory.

Jones leads the Cardinals and is second in the MAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game. He also ranks second in the league on the glass at 8.2 rebounds per game, third in field goal percentage at .582 and fifth in free throw percentage at .825. He has scored in double figures in nine of the first 11 games this season, including six games of at least 20-plus points.

Jones and Ball State closes out the pre-conference portion of the schedule Wednesday night as they host Florida A&M. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena.

N-B Video: The business behind baseball

Bluffton High School graduate Luke Reiff explains his job as general manager for the Stockton Ports, a minor leage baseball team. Learn more in the Saturday, Dec. 31, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)