N-B Video: Norwell baseball wins first sectional game with nail-biting victory

Learn more in the Saturday, May 31, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Find out what fish are biting in your area lakes

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Anglers can find out what fish are biting in a certain lake on what bait by looking online at the updated DNR fishing reports.

The DNR has improved this Web page, dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/8270.htm, to allow for more information to be easily shared about lakes across the state.

The new look splits the state into three zones, North, Central, and South. Each zone can be clicked on an interactive map to see all lake reports in that region. A dropdown list of lakes in the system is also available to allow quick specific searches.

“The new fishing reports system allows DNR staff to provide updates throughout the state,” said Bill James, DNR fisheries chief. “This allows us to get more information to the public on lakes we are surveying in real time, and for anglers to know what is biting throughout the year.”

The information will be updated toward the end of every week, so anglers will have current information for each weekend.

Campers at DNR properties should remember the firewood rule

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

With the arrival of camping season, visitors to DNR properties should brush up on the DNR firewood rule.

The rule helps protect Indiana’s trees from the 140 known pests and pathogens that currently affect forests. The pests and pathogens are transported from primarily through the movement of firewood.

Under the rule, in-state visitors to state parks, reservoirs, state forests and state fish & wildlife areas can bring firewood from home — as long as the bark has been removed. The reason for bark removal is insect larvae live in the sapwood under the bark. Visitors from outside Indiana cannot bring firewood from out of state because of federal emerald ash borer quarantines.

Guests may also bring firewood into DNR properties, if it's:

— Kiln-dried scrap lumber.
— Purchased outside the property and bears either a USDA compliance stamp or a state compliance stamp.
— Purchased from the property campstore or on-site firewood vendor and has a state compliance stamp.
Regardless of where visitors get their firewood, they should burn it all at the campsite before they leave.

In short, the firewood rule means: “Buy it with a stamp, bring it debarked, burn it all.”

For more about the rule see firewood.dnr.IN.gov. Vendors who want to sell firewood for use in DNR properties should get or renew their compliance agreements. For details, see dnr.IN.gov/entomolo/images/sp-Compliance_Territories.pdf.

N-B Photos: Raiders, Tigers compete at Adams Central Invitational

All photos by Paul Beitler

Knights ambush Braves, 13-3, in NHC victory

The Knights ambushed the Braves, 13-3, in a five-inning game called by the 10-run rule at Norwell Thursday evening. Norwell scored nine runs in the first inning and went on to claim the Northeast Hoosier Conference victory.

Learn more in the Friday, May 2, News-Banner. (Photos by Paul Beitler)

Civilian Conservation Corps tour at Ouabache State Park May 3

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Visitors to Ouabache State Park can learn how the Civilian Conservation Corps helped develop the park during the Great Depression at a presentation and park tour, May 3.

The presentation is at 3:30 p.m. at the park lodge, which was built by the CCC. The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Friends of Ouabache State Park group and Ouabache State Park.

The CCC was a government work program that provided jobs to young, unemployed men during the Great Depression. The workers developed parks; built roads, trails and fire towers; planted trees and more.

The Friends group will show the audience historic photos and CCC memorabilia, including an original CCC uniform. After the presentation, participants can tour the park to view structures built by the CCC at designated stops. Those that visit all stops will receive a prize.

The Friends of Ouabache State Park group is raising funds to install a CCC statue at the park. There is currently only one statue located in Indiana, at Versailles State Park. Bluffton resident Wayne Lydy, 91, and his daughter, Myra Myrtle, Friends group president, are the driving force to get the statue. Lydy is one of the oldest surviving CCC veterans in Indiana.

The May 3 event is the first of a series of CCC programs presented by the Friends group in anticipation of the statue.

Admission on May 3 to all state parks and reservoirs is free for veterans and military personnel. For all other visitors the standard admission fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle applies.