Yellowwood Lake dredging project resumes

Indiana DNR Release:

The Department of Natural Resources has resumed work on a dredging project at Yellowwood Lake that will extend the lake’s useful life and improve access for boating and fishing.

The project on the 130-acre lake in Yellowwood State Forest near Nashville began in 2008 when DNR conducted a dry dredging operation. Since the lake’s construction in 1938 by the Works Project Administration (WPA), the upper end of the lake has been filling with sediment, a process that happens to most man-made lakes.

Approximately five acres of 10-feet-thick sediment was removed from the lakebed and placed on the shore. Many acres remain to be treated. Most of the sediment from the project is being moved across the road to a clearing. Once the sediment is removed and dried, workers will begin grading and shaping the surface to restore lakeside recreation.

Operations were suspended in 2009 due to extremely wet weather. DNR plans to complete this year’s removal of silt from the lakebed by Nov. 1.

The overall project should be completed by the fall of 2011 if conditions allow.

Junior master naturalist camp at Chain O'Lakes

Indiana DNR Release:

A Junior Indiana Master Naturalist Camp for students entering grades 5-8 this fall is scheduled for Aug. 9-13 at Chain O' Lakes State Park.

The program will bring young people together with natural resource specialists to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils and wildlife, and promote volunteer service in local communities. Topics will include aquatics, botany, zoology, geology, outdoor skills, and people and natural resources.

“This is a great opportunity for any child interested in the outdoors to learn hands-on from experts working in the field,” said Howard Luehrs, interpretive naturalist at Chain O'Lakes. “Campers can hike away on Friday understanding more about the environment around them and how to safely explore it.”

Camp hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. On Friday, campers will meet at 9 a.m. for a two-hour session of volunteer time, followed by a barbeque picnic.

The camp fee is $50, which includes course materials, snacks, and Friday’s picnic. Campers must pay in advance to reserve a spot.

Campers are expected to attend all sessions and perform six hours of volunteer service to complete the camp and receive certification. Campers should bring their own lunch and swim trunks/towels.

To learn more, go to http://www.in.gov/dnr/masternaturalist.htm. To register, email chaininterp@dnr.in.gov or call the park at 260-636-2654.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Ossian Wizards win Bluffton Bash
The Ossian Wizards routed the Bluffton All-Stars 21-0 on Sunday to capture the Bluffton Bash 12-and-under baseball tournament championship.
The Wizards had 17 hits and held Bluffton to four. Trey Collins was the winning pitcher, while JayR Kobryn took the loss.
Walker Spahr hit a home run and single for the Wizards. Brody Myers doubled and singled twice. Trevor Wilson added three singles. Jaron Stoppenhagen and Collins each had two singles.
Kobryn doubled for Bluffton and Eric Baumgartner and Bubba Applegate each singled.
Spahr hit a game-winning home run in the fourth inning to lift the Wizards over the Fort Wayne Southwest Sluggers 1-0 in the semifinals. Collins was the winning pitcher and Brady Sheehan took the loss. Grant Prible tripled for the Wizards. Zach Schulz and Canan Ciesilski doubled for the Sluggers.
Bluffton eliminated the Wells County Tomahawks 6-1 in the semifinals. Kobryn hit a grand slam home run to key a five-run, third inning. Noah Antrim was the winning pitcher and added two singles. Kenny Patterson smacked a home run and single. Garrett Walborn and Applegate each singled. Quenton Middleton was the losing pitcher. Drew Dobbels doubled in the Tomahawks’ run.
The Richmond Express scored seven runs in the fifth inning to win the 10-and-under championship game in the Bluffton Bash on Sunday. The Express defeated the Redkey Outlaws 7-3.
Cole Stigleman tripled for Redkey, which had four hits. The Express had six singles. Jordan Stoole was the winning pitcher and Ethan Myers suffered the loss.
The Express blasted Niles (Mich.) 14-1 in the semifinal round to reach the championship game. The Express had 15 hits. Redkey had 14 hits in its 7-3 semifinal victory over Harlan.
—————
Game scores for the 12-and-under tournament are as follows: Wells County Tomahawks 10, Bluffton (11-year-olds) 0; Bluffton (12-year-olds) 14, Huntington 4; Ossian Wizards 6, Kokomo 4; Fort Wayne Southwest 9, Harlan 8; Blackford 11, Nappanee 10; Granger 18, Angola 1; FW Southwest 17, Bluffton (11) 0; Ossian Wizards 14, Bluffton (12) 0; Wells County 11, Harlan 10; Kokomo 13, Blackford 0; FW Southwest 19, Angola 0; Nappanee 14, Huntington 2; Harlan 11, Granger 10; Bluffton (12) 17, Nappanee 5.
Game scores for the 10-and-under tournament are as follows: Bluffton 12, Kokomo 9; Redkey 13, Eaton 2; Harlan 17, Bluffton 5; Niles (Mich.) 10, Bluffton 8; Richmond 29, Kokomo 4; Niles 12, Easton 4; Redkey 20, Bluffton 2; Redkey 19, Niles 0; Richmond 8, Bluffton 0; Harlan 19, Kokomo 4.

Tigers’ tennis practice to begin
Bluffton boys’ tennis practice will start Monday, Aug. 2, at 9 a.m. at the tennis courts. All athletes must have a physical on file with the high school before the first practice. If there are any questions, contact Robert Vanderkolk at 260-273-3220 or bobvanderkolk@hotmail.com.

Norwell tennis team to hold tryouts
Tryouts for the Norwell High School boys’ tennis team will start Aug. 2. Any interested boy needs to be at the Norwell tennis courts at 9 a.m. on Monday. Practices for the first week will be at 9-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. each day. Completed physical forms must be on file in the athletic office before boys may participate. If there are any questions, contact coach Joel Fillman at jafillman@verizon.net.

SW Jr. High cross country to start
Southern Wells Jr. High School cross country will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. All runners must have their physical on file in the high school office before the first practice.

Sign up for Parlor City Trot races
Runners may register for the 36th Parlor City Trot presented by Bluffton Regional Medical Center. Race date is Saturday, Sept. 4. Starting time is 7:30 a.m. Participants may choose between three events: a half-marathon (13.1 miles), a 10-mile run or a 10-kilometer run.
Registration may be completed on-line at runrace.net or forms may be picked up at FPC and YMCA in Bluffton for mail-in registration. Any questions may be addressed to Mac at 260-450-1071 or e-mail at macmcavoy@gmail.com.

TQ Midgets racing at Montpelier
The UMRA TQ Midgets will be joining the regular racing program Saturday, July 31, at Montpelier Motor Speedway.
The regular Mod Lites will be racing for a top cash prize of $1,000 for the winner. The Modifieds will be going for $600, Super Stocks $300 and Thunder Stocks $250.
Spectator gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults (age 13 and up). Children 12 and under enter free when accompanied by a paying adult. Pit admission is $25.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Clouser eliminated in match play
WEST LAFAYETTE —Bluffton’s McCormick Clouser was knocked out of the Indiana Boys’ State Junior Championship as the tournament went into match play Wednesday.
Clouser, a senior at Norwell, won his first match 1 up over Jon Haley of Muncie at Purdue University’s Kampen Course.
Clouser’s second match against Louis Gleixner of Greenwood was postponed by lightning and resumed Thursday morning. Gleixner edged Clouser 1 up when play resumed.

Tigers’ tennis practice to begin
Bluffton boys’ tennis practice will start Monday, Aug. 2, at 9 a.m. at the tennis courts. All athletes must have a physical on file with the high school before the first practice. If there are any questions, contact Robert Vanderkolk at 260-273-3220 or bobvanderkolk@hotmail.com.

Norwell tennis team to hold tryouts
Tryouts for the Norwell High School boys’ tennis team will start Aug. 2. Any interested boy needs to be at the Norwell tennis courts at 9 a.m. on Monday. Practices for the first week will be at 9-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. each day. Completed physical forms must be on file in the athletic office before boys may participate. If there are any questions, contact coach Joel Fillman at jafillman@verizon.net.

SW girls’ golf team to meet
Southern Wells girls who would like to join the high school golf team are asked to meet with coach Charles Harris at the high school on Friday, July 30, at 3:30 p.m. Completed high school physical forms must be on file in the high school office in order to practice and compete. For more information, call 765-728-2769.

SW Jr. High cross country to start
Southern Wells Jr. High School cross country will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. All runners must have their physical on file in the high school office before the first practice.

Sign up for Parlor City Trot races
Runners may register for the 36th Parlor City Trot presented by Bluffton Regional Medical Center. Race date is Saturday, Sept. 4. Starting time is 7:30 a.m. Participants may choose between three events: a half-marathon (13.1 miles), a 10-mile run or a 10-kilometer run.
Registration may be completed on-line at runrace.net or forms may be picked up at FPC and YMCA in Bluffton for mail-in registration. Any questions may be addressed to Mac at 260-450-1071 or e-mail at macmcavoy@gmail.com.

Elks’ golf tournament scheduled
The Bluffton Elks Lodge 796 scholarship golf tournament is set for Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Golf Club of the Limberlost in Geneva. Proceeds will go to the Elks scholarship. The shotgun start is 9 a.m.

Racing action at Anderson Saturday
ANDERSON — The Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series will return to Anderson Speedway on Saturday, July 31, for the final appearance of the 2010 season. The WMDH ThunderCars, Street Stocks and Front Wheel Drive Figure 8’s also will be in action.
Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday with racing beginning at 8. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for kids ages 6-12. Children five and under get in free.
For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or call 765-642-0206.

Colts sign 4th-round draft pick
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have signed fourth-round pick Jacques McClendon.
Terms of the deal weren’t announced, but the Colts traditionally sign players drafted after the third round to four-year deals with league minimum salaries.
McClendon is a 324-pound guard from Tennessee. He’s Indy’s fourth draft pick to sign in the last three days.
Indy has already signed seventh-round choices Kavell Conner and Ray Fisher and fifth-round pick Brody Eldridge.
The Colts still have four unsigned rookies, including first-round pick Jerry Hughes and second-round choice Pat Angerer. Third-round pick Kevin Thomas is unsigned but is expected to miss the season with a knee injury.
The Colts open training camp Sunday at Anderson University.

Brown County gets largest state nature preserve

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has authorized establishment of the largest nature preserve in the DNR system – the Ten O’Clock Line Nature Preserve at Brown County State Park.

"Recreation and resource protection are key elements of the state park mission,” said Dan Bortner, director of the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. “Brown County has great opportunities for recreation, with wonderful trails for a variety of riders. This addition will guarantee that future generations will benefit from the natural resources found there as well.”

The 3,339 acres feature a large, intact block of upland and floodplain forest that provides habitat for many species that are dependent on forest interiors, including the cerulean warbler, whip-poor-will, broad-winged hawk, timber rattlesnake and red bat.

“This nature preserve provides permanent protection for some of the rarest wildlife in Indiana, as well as one of the rarest trees in the state, the yellowwood. It also preserves one of the largest unfragmented forests remaining in Indiana,” said John Bacone, director of the DNR Division of Nature Preserves.

As part of a state park, the land already was protected by property regulations. Nature preserve status represents an additional commitment by the Division of State Parks and Reservoirs that the land will stay natural, meaning there won't be a lodge, picnic shelter, new parking lot or other development in the acreage.

Horse trails located in the Ten O’Clock Line Nature Preserve will remain open to equestrian riders, and hikers can access the preserve from Trail 9.

The history of the new nature preserve’s name dates back to 1809, when the Treaty of Fort Wayne was negotiated between William Henry Harrison, then governor of the Indiana Territory, and Little Turtle, a Miami chief. The secondary name for the treaty line, the “Ten O’Clock Line,” which became Indiana’s northern boundary at statehood in 1816, remains today. The treaty line passes through the heart of the new nature preserve.

The next largest DNR nature preserves are Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon in Turkey Run State Park at 1,608 acres and Dunes Nature Preserve at Indiana Dunes State Park at 1,530 acres.

There are 233 nature preserve sites in Indiana encompassing nearly 39,000 acres.

FWCS: no decision yet on fall coaches

Aboite & About:

FORT WAYNE – This is the follow-up story promised early last week concerning the naming of varsity football coaches in the Fort Wayne area. In that story seven days ago, I was told by reliable sources that the three schools involved (Northrop, Wayne, and North Side) without an officially named coach would have one after the Fort Wayne Community School Board Meeting held this past Monday night.....

Ouabache State Park Events

Interpretive Naturalist: Kate Curless
Office Phone: 824-0926
4930 E. SR 201, Bluffton
OuabacheInterp@dnr.IN.gov

Ouabache's interpretive programs are family oriented. Parents and children are encouraged to attend activities together. An adult should accompany children under the age of 10. In the case of inclement weather, all hikes will meet at the Campview Shelter. Schedule subject to change.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
1:45 p.m. — Our Masked Bandit. Meet on the pool lawn to join Naturalist Kate as she introduces you to the Masked Bandit that roams the campgrounds!
3:45 p.m. — Pool break creature feature. Join Naturalist Kate on the pool lawn to get a close up look at an insect. Swimmers, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house, so you may re-enter the pool!
7:30 p.m. — Wildflower hunt. Join Naturalist Kate on a hunt for the wildflowers of the season. Learn how to use a guide book and what trails to look at for identification. Meet at the Lodge Recreational Building. Tennis shoes, sunscreen and bug spray recommended.

THURSDAY, JULY 29
1:45 p.m. — Meet the ring-neck pheasant. You might have seen this beautiful bird hiding in the tall grasses, surrounding the park. Find out more about them on the pool lawn during the pool’s safety check. Swimmers, make sure you get your hand stamped so you can re-enter the pool!
3:45 p.m. — Monarch. These beauties make a magnificent migration in the fall. Learn more about this flying jewel on the pool lawn during the pool safety break. Swimmers, make sure you get your hand stamped so you can re-enter the pool!
7 p.m. — Medical plants. There was no Ibuprofen on the frontier, instead you had to know what plants made good medicine. Meet at the small shelter in front of the Lakeside Shelter to learn more about medicinal plants.

FRIDAY, JULY 30
1:45 p.m. — One nasty bite! Nobody truly likes this little bug. Learn more about mosquitoes and West Nile virus on the pool lawn during the safety break. Swimmers, make sure you get your hand stamped so you can re-enter the pool!
3:45 p.m. — Our little owl. This little guy only grows to be 8-9 inches tall. Discover the Screech Owl on the pool lawn during the pool’s safety check. Swimmers, make sure you get your hand stamped so you can re-enter the pool.
7:30 p.m. — Howl at the moon. Have you heard yipping and howling late at night and wondered what animal was making all that noise? Join Naturalist Kate at the Campview Shelter to find out more about the coyote!

SATURDAY, JULY 31
9:30 a.m. — Talkin’ turtles. We’ll take a short stroll around the lake beginning at the Boat House while looking and chatting about turtles. Tennis shoes, sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.
11 a.m. — Hoosier Quest. Discover! Connect! Explore! Learn more about these great project based programs that you can complete at any of the State Parks and Reservoirs during this 30 minute program. Find out how you can earn certificates, patches, bandanas and more. Get started by meeting at Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A!
1:45 p.m. — Rap with raptors. Meet on the pool lawn to learn about the mavericks of our skies. Swimmers, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house, so you may re-enter the pool!
6:30 p.m. — Campfire story. Meet at Campview Shelter to hear the story of Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London around a crackling campfire. We’ll be creating our own calendars after the story.

SUNDAY, JULY 25
11 a.m. — Hoosier Quest. See Saturday for details.
1:45 p.m. — Pool break. Come out to the pool lawn to decorate a fish to take home during today’s pool safety check. Swimmers, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house, so you may re-enter the pool!

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Clouser one stroke back of leaders
WEST LAFAYETTE — McCormick Clouser opened the Indiana Boys’ State Junior Championship golf championship one stroke behind a trio of leaders at 1-under par.
Clouser, a senior at Norwell, finished the first round at Purdue University’s Kampen Course with an even-par 72.
Jake Groninger of Pendleton, Nick Grubnich of Crown Point and Dylan Meyer of Evansville ended up tied at 71.
Clouser was one over on the front nine and one under on the back. A group of four challengers, including Huntington’s E.J. Tackett, were knotted up with a 1-over 72.

SW girls’ golf team to meet
Southern Wells girls, who would like to join the high school golf team, are asked to meet with coach Charles Harris at the high school on Friday, July 30, at 3:30 p.m. Completed high school physical forms must be on file in the high school office in order to practice and compete. For more information, call 765-728-2769.

Norwell football camp slated
Registrations are being accepted for the Norwell youth football camp for students who will be in grades 3-8 at Norwell Middle School, Ossian and Lancaster elementary schools and Bethlehem Lutheran School will be held July 27, 28, 29. Cost is $30 for grades 3-4 and $35 for grades 5-8. A camp T-shirt is included.
Grades 3-4 will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Fundamentals will be taught and helmets and pads will not be used.
Anyone having questions should call Norwell coach Jeff Miller at 260-543-2213, ext. 7010, or Director of Football Operations Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169.

Norwell football golf outing slated
The Norwell Football Club’s 11th golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at Bluffton’s Timber Ridge Golf Course. Cost of the 18-hole Florida Scramble is $60 per person. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Hole sponsorships are available for $100 for each hole. For registration or more information, contact Tom or Jon Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169 or e-mail at tom754@comcast.net.

Toledo to host Hurricanes in 2015
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The Miami Hurricanes will play at Toledo in 2015 in what’s sure to be the highest-profile home football game in the Ohio school’s history.
The Hurricanes will travel to the Mid-American Conference school on Sept. 5, 2015, and then host the Rockets the following season.
Toledo announced Monday that it had finalized the agreement.
The Rockets play at the Glass Bowl, which has a capacity of 26,000 but can hold another 10,000 with extra temporary seating.
Toledo has brought in a number of big opponents in recent seasons, including Colorado, Purdue, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
This year the Rockets open at home against Arizona.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell football camp slated
Registrations are being accepted for the Norwell youth football camp for students who will be in grades 3-8 at Norwell Middle School, Ossian and Lancaster elementary schools and Bethlehem Lutheran School will be held July 27, 28, 29. Cost is $30 for grades 3-4 and $35 for grades 5-8. A camp T-shirt is included.
Grades 3-4 will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Fundamentals will be taught and helmets and pads will not be used.
Anyone having questions should call Norwell coach Jeff Miller at 260-543-2213, ext. 7010, or Director of Football Operations Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169.

CC conditioning for BMS students
Bluffton Middle School cross country conditioning will begin on Aug. 2 at the White Bridge and run from 8-9:30 a.m. It is open to students entering grades 6-8. A completed physical form must be on file in the school office in order to participate. Please bring a water bottle and beach towel. Any questions call Bev Balash at 565-3278 or 223-5529.

Bluffton boosters plan golf outing
Golfers are invited to register for the second Bluffton Athletic Boosters golf outing on Aug. 14 at Green Valley Golf Club in Bluffton. There will be a hot picnic lunch and free beverages. Individual entry fee is $40, while the fee for foursomes is $160. Individual or corporate hole sponsorship is $35. Door prize sponsors also are needed. For a registration brochure or more information, contact Bill McKinley at 273-2155 or mckinleybill@lve.com; Cheri Zeis at 273-7823 or zeis@mchsi.com; or Dan Geimer at 824-8543 or djgeimer@sbcglobal.net.

Comprehensive state forestry report available online

Indiana DNR release:

The first comprehensive assessment and strategy since the 1980s of all of Indiana’s forests—private, public and urban—has been completed by the DNR Division of Forestry, and is available for viewing at http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/5436.htm.

The strategy outlines many new forestry initiatives, such as a developing a Forest Mitigation Bank, a hardwood timber check-off program, and best management practices for slowing the spread of forest invasive species.

Thousands of individuals and landowners and more than 300 agricultural, conservation, educational, environmental, government, natural resource and recreation organizations participated in the planning process.

Bluffton Bash Baseball

News-Banner Sports Editor Paul beitler attended the Bluffton Bash baseball Tournament on Saturday and came away with some cool video. Check it out:

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell football camp slated
Registrations are being accepted for the Norwell youth football camp for students who will be in grades 3-8 at Norwell Middle School, Ossian and Lancaster elementary schools and Bethlehem Lutheran School will be held July 27-28. Cost is $30 for grades 3-4 and $35 for grades 5-8. A camp T-shirt is included.
Grades 3-4 will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Fundamentals will be taught and helmets and pads will not be used.
Anyone having questions should call Norwell coach Jeff Miller at 260-543-2213, ext. 7010, or Director of Football Operations Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169.

CC conditioning for BMS students
Bluffton Middle School cross country conditioning will begin on Aug. 2 at the White Bridge and run from 8-9:30 a.m. It is open to students entering grades 6-8. A completed physical form must be on file in the school office in order to participate. Please bring a water bottle and beach towel. Any questions call Bev Balash at 565-3278 or 223-5529.

Bluffton boosters plan golf outing
Golfers are invited to register for the Bluffton Athletic Boosters golf outing on Aug. 14 at Green Valley Golf Club in Bluffton. There will be a hot picnic lunch and free beverages. Individual entry fee is $40, while the fee for foursomes is $160. Individual or corporate hole sponsorship is $35. Door prize sponsors also are needed. For a registration brochure or more information, contact Bill McKinley at 273-2155 or mckinleybill@lve.com; Cheri Zeis at 273-7823 or zeis@mchsi.com; or Dan Geimer at 824-8543 or djgeimer@sbcglobal.net.

Norwell football golf outing set
The Norwell Football Club’s golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at Bluffton’s Timber Ridge Golf Course. Cost of the 18-hole Florida Scramble is $60 per person. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Hole sponsorships are available for $100 for each hole. For registration or more information, contact Tom or Jon Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169 or e-mail at tom754@comcast.net.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Baer Field Speedway to induct three into its Hall of Fame

FORT WAYNE — Jim Lambert, Hank Lower and Larry Zent will be inducted into the Baer Field Speedway Hall of Fame on Saturday night as a part of the regular racing program.
Lambert, who is nicknamed “the Beach Boy,” has 13 track championships (Baer Field – 1985, 86, 88, 89, 91, 93, 94, 98, 2000; Avilla – 1993-95; and Angola 1988). Before his retirement in 2009, Lambert spent 40 years as an industrial technology teacher at Wayne High School. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Fort Wayne.

Lower, a 72-year-old Angola resident, started racing in 1959. Lower continues to drive with the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series (HOSS) and is currently seventh in HOSS points for 2010. He was a three-time Butler Motor Speedway track champion (1977-1979); four-time Sprints On Dirt (SOD) champion (1982, 1983, 1986, 1994); and the 1997 HOSS champion. Lower is the all-time combined Baer Field and Avilla Speedway sprint feature winner. He and his wife, Beverly, have two children.

Zent began his driving career in the mid-1970s and became Baer Field Speedway’s all-time winningest driver. Zent dominated the Outlaw Super Late Model stock car scene. He also ventured into the ARCA, ASA and CRA series. He and his wife, Teresa, live in Fort Wayne.
Saturday’s racing card will consist of the HOSS Bill Lipkey Memorial race, plus the regular late models, modifieds, street stocks and mini stocks. Spectator gates open at 4 p.m., with qualifying at 5:30, and racing at 7:30. Adult admission will be $18, children 7-12 $5, and no charge for those under six years old.

Norwell football camp slated

A Norwell football camp for boys who will be in grades 3-8 at Norwell Middle School, Ossian and Lancaster elementary schools and Bethlehem Lutheran School will be held July 27-28. Cost is $30 for grades 3-4 and $35 for grades 5-8. A camp T-shirt is included.

Grades 3-4 will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Fundamentals will be taught and helmets and pads will not be used.

Anyone having questions should call Norwell coach Jeff Miller at 260-543-2213, ext. 7010, or Director of Football Operations Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169.
CC conditioning for BMS students.

Bluffton Middle School cross country conditioning will begin on Aug. 2 at the White Bridge and run from 8-9:30 a.m. It is open to students entering grades 6-8. A completed physical form must be on file in the school office in order to participate. Please bring a water bottle and beach towel. Any questions call Bev Balash at 565-3278 or 223-5529.

Deer-hunting rules changes gain preliminary approval

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission gave preliminary approval yesterday to a comprehensive package of proposed changes to deer-hunting rules in Indiana.

The DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife developed the rules proposal to focus deer-herd reduction in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance the ecological, recreational and economic needs of the state’s citizens.

Key points of the proposal include:

–Changing the deer firearms season to nine days beginning the Saturday before Thanksgiving
–Adding a two-day antlerless-only firearms season in October in designated counties
–Adding a statewide antlerless-only firearms season from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1
–Shortening the muzzleloader season to nine days
–Extending the urban zone season through Jan. 31
–Expanding the use of crossbows
–Requiring hunters to take at least one antlerless deer prior to taking an antlered deer in an urban deer zone

“For the last several years, Indiana deer management and associated deer rules were designed to stabilize or slightly grow the deer herd,” said Mitch Marcus, wildlife section chief for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. “We are now experiencing record-setting harvests, record numbers of deer damage complaints, constituent complaints to legislators, and record numbers of deer-vehicle collisions. The intent of this deer rule proposal is to move Indiana toward a focused, strategically targeted deer-herd reduction.”

Hunters have harvested more than 100,000 deer in the state in 15 of the last 17 years, topping 125,000 in four of the last five years, including a record 132,752 in 2009.

Further changes would add a new nonresident youth deer license, add license requirements for the new special antlerless seasons, add requirements to the use of ground blinds, allow a rifle cartridge to have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches instead of l.625 inches, and require youth hunters to wear hunter orange during the youth special season.

A complete summary of the proposed changes is at
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm

The NRC’s preliminary approval moves the proposed changes into the public input phase of the rules-making process. Comments on the proposal can be submitted online at www.IN.gov/nrc; by mail to Division of Hearings, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46204; or at public hearings. Dates and locations for a minimum two hearings will be announced at a later date.

After the public input process is complete, the NRC will consider final adoption of the rule package.

If adopted, the new rules would take effect in 2011 and would be evaluated over a five-year period to determine if the intended result of reducing the deer herd is being achieved. Success will be measured through maintaining an annual deer harvest sex ratio of 60/40 (females/males), landowner and deer-hunter survey responses, reduction in county antlerless quotas, and reduction in deer-vehicle accident rates.

The proposed changes to deer-hunting rules are a result of the NRC Advisory Council’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Rules Enhancement Project and a DNR review of Indiana deer management. The NRAC project drew more than 1,000 suggestions from the public, and the DNR review included discussions with representatives from several stakeholder groups—Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Indiana Deer Hunters Association, Indiana Bowhunters Association, Quality Deer Management Association, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Farm Bureau, Bloomington City Council, Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association, and a sporting goods retailer.

Leaders or representatives of the Roundtable, IWF, IDHA, IBA, QDMA, The Nature Conservancy and Indiana Farm Bureau spoke in support of the proposed rule changes at Tuesday’s NRC meeting.

“We are pleased with the amount of public input given through the Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Rule Enhancement Project and the agency review of deer management with stakeholder groups,” Marcus said. “We look forward to additional public input as part of the rule-making process.”

Brickyard 400

BRICKYARD 400 REMINDER: PLAN AHEAD TO AVOID CONSTRUCTION
Different routes, shuttle service can ease traffic caused by major construction project

INDIANAPOLIS – NASCAR fans are encouraged to arrive early in the Indianapolis area during the Brickyard 400 on July 23-25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway due to a major Interstate highway construction project west of the racetrack.

The southbound Interstate 465 exit to Crawfordsville Road (southbound Exit 16A) is closed for the remainder of 2010 as part of a major reconstruction of I-465 on Indianapolis’ west side. This traditionally has been a popular exit for fans heading to the Speedway from points north and northwest of IMS.

For 2010 Brickyard 400 activities, fans traveling southbound on I-465 should use the 38th Street exit (Exit 17), located 1 mile north of Crawfordsville Road, and proceed east following signage toward the track.

Optional north-south roads include High School Road, Moller Road or Georgetown Road.

The Indiana State Police advises spectators to visit its website, www.in.gov/isp, and visit the “Traveling Tips” document among the scrolling headlines to receive information on the most direct routes to take when arriving and leaving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Road conditions and construction updates also can be found at the site.

Fans also can avoid traffic and parking issues by using shuttle bus service provided by the Free Enterprise System, Inc. Air-conditioned shuttles will operate from three locations downtown and from Indianapolis International Airport. To purchase a shuttle ticket, or for additional information, visit www.brickyard400parking.com.

IMS officials offer two additional recommendations to fans: plan to leave early for the track, and do not use 16th Street westbound in an attempt to enter via Gate 2, as 16th Street quickly backs up due to the volume of cars attempting to park in the infield.

A very limited number of infield parking spaces are available and accessible via Gate 10 on 30th Street – the same gate where fans can park for free in Lot 7. Ample parking also is available in IMS Lot 1B (the “Coke Lot”) at 25th Street and Georgetown Road. A map of IMS parking lots is available at http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/var/assets_content/track-map-500-lrg.jpg.

On Brickyard 400 Race Day, public gates open at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 1 p.m. For additional information, and a complete schedule of the events, visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

***

Tickets: Tickets are on sale now for the Brickyard 400. Tickets can be purchased online at www.imstix.com at any time.

General admission tickets will be available for Brickyard 400 Race Day – at a value price of just $40 each – for the first time at this year’s event. Any number of children 12 and under accompanied by at least one adult holding a general admission ticket will be admitted free.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

Commenting on proposed DNR rules changes

Indiana DNR Release:

Those interested in submitting a comment on the deer rules proposals that received preliminary adoption from the Natural Resources Commission yesterday and were released earlier today, or on the catfish, or furbearer possession rule proposals that also received preliminary adoption, can do so at http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and clicking on “Comment on Proposed Rule."

The only other means by which comments will be accepted is by regular mail sent to this address:

Natural Resources Commission
Division of Hearings
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2200

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Thompson medalist
at U.S. Junior Amateur
McCormick Clouser misses cut
ADA, Mich. (AP) — Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., birdied his final hole Tuesday to win medalist honors by one stroke at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
The 17-year-old Thompson, whose younger sister Alexis won the 2008 U.S. Girls Junior Championship, shot a 6-under 66 at Egypt Valley Country Club to finish the two rounds of qualifying at 10 under.
Thompson, who has committed to LSU, edged defending champion Jordan Spieth of Dallas and Gavin Hall of Pittsford, N.Y., by one stroke.
Hall, 15, did not break par in Monday’s opening round but Tuesday he fired a tournament record 10-under 62. The previous record was set by Joe Monte, who shot 64 in 2004 at Longmeadow (Mass.) Country Club.
Bluffton’s McCormick Clouser, a senior at Norwell, missed the cut, shooting a 3-over-par 75 in the second round to finish with a 7-over 151 (76-75).
With the field of 156 cut to 64, match play begins Wednesday with Thompson as the top seed.

Bluffton football families invited
Families of Bluffton football players are invited to the Bluffton Football Toughman Olympics on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Event competition will take place from 5-7. There will be a meal and a brief meeting between 7-8 p.m. Food will be provided by the Indiana National Guard.

Norwell football camp slated
A Norwell football camp for boys who will be in grades 3-8 at Norwell Middle School, Ossian and Lancaster elementary schools and Bethlehem Lutheran School will be held July 27-28. Cost is $30 for grades 3-4 and $35 for grades 5-8. A camp T-shirt is included.
Grades 3-4 will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Fundamentals will be taught and helmets and pads will not be used.
Anyone having questions should call Norwell coach Jeff Miller at 260-543-2213, ext. 7010, or Director of Football Operations Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169.

CC conditioning for BMS students
Bluffton Middle School cross country conditioning will begin on Aug. 2 at the White Bridge and run from 8-9:30 a.m. It is open to students entering grades 6-8. A completed physical form must be on file in the school office in order to participate. Please bring a water bottle and beach towel. Any questions call Bev Balash at 565-3278 or 223-5529.

Gilliom, Antrim lead senior golfers
Bob Gilliom and Tom Antrim were the top individual leaders for the Tuesday Senior Golf League at Green Valley Golf Club in Bluffton.
Gilliom turned in the low gross score of 39, while Antrim finished with the low net score of 26. Gilliom also was the closest-to-the-pin winner. Jerry Moss, Stan Ellison, Larry Claghorn and Gilliom were members of the winning team. Joe Gilbert had the longest putt.

Horse and Pony Show

Watching the skills on display at the Wells County 4-H Horse and Pony Show it is easy to forget just how difficult it is to manage a 1,000 pound horse, especially when you weigh a tenth of that as many of these kids do.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Kaylee Imel qualifies
for Women’s Amateur

Fort Wayne — Bluffton’s Kaylee Imel and Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo., both shot a 3-over-par 75 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne to lead five golfers, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
The Women’s Amateur is for women with a Handicap Index not exceeding 5.4 and will be played from Aug. 9-15 at Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.
Also qualifying were Milena Savich of Carmel, Ind., and Brittany Marchand of Canada, Ontario, both with a 4-over 76. The final qualifying spot was won by Aimee Neff of Carmel, Ind., after a six-person playoff of the players tied at 77. The first alternate is Kaira Martin of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and the second alternate is Jessie Jordan of Urbana, Ohio. The course was set up at 6,373 yards with a par of 72.
The Women’s Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

3 share U.S. Juniors’ lead
McCormick Clouser 9 shots back
ADA, Mich. (AP) — Defending champion Jordan Spieth of Dallas shot a 5-under 67 on Monday to share the first-round lead with Stephen Behr of Florence, S.C., and Davis Womble of High Point, N.C. at the U.S. Junior National Championship.
Wyndham Clark of Greenwood Village, Colo., Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., Bobby Wyatt of Mobile, Ala., and Shugo Imahira of Bradenton, Fla., were one stroke back on the Classic Course at Egypt Valley Country Club.
Bluffton’s McCormick Clouser, a senior at Norwell High School, finished the first round with a 4-over 76 (39-37).
The field of 156 players will be cut to 64 following Tuesday’s second round of stroke play. The championship’s 18-hole match play segment is scheduled to begin Wednesday with first-round matches. Second- and third-round matches are scheduled for Thursday while the quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday. The 36-hole final match is scheduled for Saturday.
The 16-year-old Spieth, who won last year at Trump National in New Jersey and has committed to the University of Texas, is seeking to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win multiple U.S. Juniors titles. Woods won three straight from 1991-93.
Spieth finished tied for 16th at the PGA’s Byron Nelson Championship in May, six strokes behind winner Jason Day.

Fish & Wildlife promotes Marcus, Kershaw

Indiana DNR Release:

Division of Fish & Wildlife director Mark Reiter announced the recent promotion of two staff members.

– Mitch Marcus as Wildlife Section chief
– James Kershaw as Public Lands Program manager

“These guys have proved themselves as assets to our division for quite a few years,” Reiter said. “Throughout their careers, they have served in positions with increased levels of responsibility and made significant contributions to the Division of Fish & Wildlife mission. I am confident they will continue being major contributors to our future successes.”

As Wildlife Section chief, Marcus will supervise three areas – wildlife science, private lands management and public lands management, and the 180 DNR employees who work on such things as statewide game management, wildlife regulations, science and research, wildlife habitat development on private land, management of state fish and wildlife properties, and land acquisition.

“I’m excited about trying to get this ball rolling on the land acquisition project that Gov. (Mitch) Daniels announced a couple weeks ago,” Marcus said, referring to dual projects along the Wabash and Muscatatuck rivers aimed at acquiring approximately 70,000 acres of floodplain land along the two river corridors. “I’m also pretty excited with our efforts in recruitment and retention of hunters, and I’m looking forward to getting the (Wildlife) section at a point where we’ll be able to continue to use grant dollars to do wildlife work.”

Marcus joined DNR in 1993 as assistant property manager at Minnehaha Fish & Wildlife Area southeast of Terre Haute. He later worked as assistant property manager at Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area in northeast Indiana and as supervisor of the private lands programs for northern Indiana. He worked most recently in the DNR central office in Indianapolis as research supervisor for the division.

A native of Griffith, Marcus has a master’s degree in wildlife biology from Southern Illinois-Carbondale and a bachelor’s in biology from Wabash College.

He replaces Wayne Bivans, who retired from the DNR earlier this year.
In his new role, Kershaw will report to Marcus on management of DNR public lands holdings that encompass approximately 130,000 acres on 21 fish and wildlife areas.

“I’m looking forward to having a positive impact on the hunting and fishing opportunities that our public lands provide for all Hoosiers,” Kershaw said. “We have some of the best recreational opportunities in the Midwest, and there’s a pretty positive outlook and potential for the future as well with the Muscatatuck and Wabash initiatives and other projects we’re working on.”

A native of Brownsburg, Kershaw has been with DNR since 1999 and has worked as a laborer, operational planner and most recently as public access supervisor and staff specialist for the division’s Fisheries Section. He has a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Purdue University.

Natural Resources Commission meeting, May 18

Indiana DNR Release:



The Natural Resources Commission meeting previously scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at The Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park has been moved to the Roosevelt Room in the Fort Harrison State Park Inn, 5839 North Post Road, Indianapolis.

For a meeting agenda, click here.

Farm League Friday

Standard Plastic

PNC Bank

Parlour City Trophy and Apparel

National Oil
2010 Mental Attitude winner

MarkleBank

Hiday Motors

F.O.P.

Bluffton Regional Medical Center

Every player was a winner at the Bluffton Farm League season wrap-up and tournament on Friday.
We are proud of the kids, and appreciate all the hard work from coaches, organizers and parents who made it happen.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

NMS runners invited to conditioning
Norwell Middle School girls or boys interested in joining the cross country team are invited to conditioning on the following Tuesday and Thursday evenings, July 20, 22, at 7 p.m. Please meet with coach Bob Dahl at the track. Parents interested in joining the group also are invited. Runners should have a physical form filled out and signed. A link to the physical form can be found at http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsCC/links1.aspx.
For more information please contact Bob Dahl at bdahl@onlyinternet.net.

Bluffton boosters plan golf outing
Golfers are invited to register for the second Bluffton Athletic Boosters golf outing on Aug. 14 at Green Valley Golf Club in Bluffton. There will be a hot picnic lunch and free beverages. Individual entry fee is $40, while the fee for foursomes is $160. Individual or corporate hole sponsorship is $35. Door prize sponsors also are needed. For a registration brochure or more information, contact Bill McKinley at 273-2155 or mckinleybill@lve.com; Cheri Zeis at 273-7823 or zeis@mchsi.com; or Dan Geimer at 824-8543 or djgeimer@sbcglobal.net.

Norwell football golf outing slated
The Norwell Football Club’s 11th golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at Bluffton’s Timber Ridge Golf Course. Cost of the 18-hole Florida Scramble is $60 per person. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. For registration or more information, contact Tom or Jon Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169 or e-mail at tom754@comcast.net.

Peralta hits rare inside-the-park HR
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jhonny Peralta got a rare inside-the-park home run for the Cleveland Indians when Detroit Tigers center fielder Ryan Raburn crashed through a bullpen door trying to make a catch.
With runners on first and second and two outs in the first inning Sunday, Peralta hit a 1-1 pitch from Andy Oliver towards the Cleveland bullpen. Raburn leaped into, and tumbled through the door. The ball caromed off the wall and left fielder Brennan Boesch raced over to retrieve it as Peralta, one of the slowest players on Cleveland’s roster, chugged around the bases.

'Tater Traditions to be held Aug. 7 at Potato Creek SP

Indiana DNR Release:

For generations rural traditions were carried out through games and recreation in southwest St Joseph County on what is now Potato Creek State Park. A few of those crafts, toys and games will be brought back to life during ’Tater Traditions on Aug. 7.

The day begins with the dedication and tour of the newly reconstructed spring house at 10 a.m. The park interpretive naturalists will then conduct an afternoon of special programs from 1-4 p.m., focusing on the rural lifestyle of the mid 1900s at the Potato Creek nature center. Activities will include contests, such as corncob darts, corn shucking, sack races, games and various crafts. There will be a $1 charge for materials for the craft programs that will include simple wooden jewelry, candle dipping and making butter.

Starting at 1 p.m. and throughout the day, there will be ongoing Food Ways Demonstrations in the nature center auditorium. Some hands-on demonstrations and activities include pickling, canning techniques, preparing herbs and snapping beans. Laney Honey of North Liberty will also demonstrate honey techniques and varieties.

To finish the day, The Northern Hoosier Hearth will be presented at 7 p.m. by Angela Quinn.

No advance registration is required, and the activities are open to all. The normal park gate fee of $5 per Indiana vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will be charged. For more information call the park, (574) 656-8186.

Note: The Food Ways Demonstrations and The Northern Hoosier Hearth have been made possible in part by support from the Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the Indiana Humanities Council.

North-South All Star Football

News-Banner Sports Editor Paul Beitler attended the North-South All-Star football game on Friday at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Beitler caught all the action as North beat South 24-21 in double-overtime. Check out his awesome video, including interviews with Southern Wells graduate Tyler Roush and Norwell graduate Klay Fiechter:


More photos and information in today's News-Banner, page 6.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Clouser places fifth in tournament
Bluffton’s McCormick Clouser finished one shot off the lead in a tie for fifth place on Thursday at the AJGA Columbus Junior golf tournament at the Muirfield Village Country Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Clouser, who will be a senior at Norwell, carded a 5-under-par 211. He had 15 birdies over three rounds with scores of 70, 72 and 69 on the par-72 course.

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

4H Fun Run/Walk on Saturday
The 4-H 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, July 17, at the Wells County 4-H Park. In an effort to beat the heat, race-day registration will start at 6:45 a.m. and the 5K (3.1-mile) race will begin at 7:30 a.m. Race-day registration is $15. All proceeds will go to the Wells County 4-H Foundation scholarship fund. For more information, e-mail Kyan Harris at k_pepper33@hotmail.com or registration forms may be picked up at the Purdue Extension Wells County office.

Correction:
Wrong identifications in photo
The names of the parents for Bluffton Middle School students Emilee Gentis and Janean Steffen, who were pictured in a photo on page six of the News-Banner on Thursday, were switched around. Gentis’ parents are Michelle and Kerry Gentis and Steffen’s parents are Lynn and Tom Steffen. The News-Banner regrets the errors and apologizes for the mistake.

PAL title games set for tonight, Thursday

Huntington County TAB:

Frederick's Photography and Metro Kiwanis will face off in the PAL Coaches Pitch Championship Game while Farm Bureau Insurance and F.O.P. 77 will play for the Little League title tonight, Thursday, July 15, after all four teams won their respective games on Wednesday, July 14.

Coaches Pitch
On Wednesday, Frederick's Photography edged out El Shaddai 12-11.

Metro Kiwanis cruised by I.M.I. Inc. 17-9....(more)

Summer Football Action!

News-Banner Sports Editor Paul Beitler visited the final day of the Bluffton youth football camp on Wednesday. The group had several contests and some team tournament games, including a pass, kick and punt contest which he caught on video.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Imel finishes 10th at State Amateur
Bluffton’s Kaylee Imel finished the Indiana Women’s State Amateur Golf Championship Wednesday in a three-way tie for 10th place at Anderson Country Club.
Imel, who will be a sophomore at Western Michigan University sophomore, shot a 10-over-par 226 (75-75-76) for the three-day tournament.
Milena Savich, of Carmel, was the state champion with a one-under-par 215. Lyndsay, of Bristol, and Michele Nash, of Indianapolis, each ended with an even-par 216.

Parlor City Trophy & Apparel
blanks F.O.P.
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel’s Max Corle and Kolton Moore combined to pitch a one-hit shutout Tuesday against F.O.P. in a Bluffton Farm League baseball tournament game at Roush Park.
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel beat F.O.P. 6-0 to advance to the championship game of the tournament. Parlor City Trophy & Apparel scored two runs in each of the first three innings.
F.O.P.’s Gavin King broke up a no-hitter with a two-out hit in the top of the fifth inning.
Brandon Lockwood led Parlor City Trophy & Apparel with two hits. Ty Wright, Colton Paxson and Corle each added a hit. Corle was the winning pitcher. King was the losing pitcher.

CORRECTION
Wrong softball team noted
The wrong team was named in the Wells County Girls’ Fastpitch Softball Junior League pictures in Wednesday’s News-Banner. The team was Loren’s Light & Heavy Duty Towing Service and not Bluffton Regional Medical Center. The News-Banner regrets the errors and apologizes for the inconvenience it caused. Loren’s Light & Heavy Duty Towing Service won the Junior League tournament championship and Aries Petty was the tournament most valuable player.

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

Pacers tap Clark Kellogg as VP
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers have chosen Clark Kellogg as its vice president for player relations.
The 48-year-old Kellogg was the Pacers first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1982 and he played five seasons before a knee injury forced his retirement.
Kellogg will continue to work as a television analyst for Pacers games and as the lead college basketball analyst for CBS Sports.

John R. Wooden Classic to continue
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The family of the late John Wooden has agreed to continue the college basketball doubleheader named for him and played in Anaheim, Calif., for the last 16 years.
The event will be Dec. 18 at Honda Center and feature UCLA against BYU and St. Mary’s against Long Beach State.
Jim Wooden and Nancy Muehlhausen, the coach’s son and daughter, said in a statement Wednesday that they’re proud the event will continue to celebrate their father’s life and legacy.

Spring house to be dedicated at Potato Creek SP, Aug. 7

Indiana DNR Release:

Potato Creek State Park will dedicate a newly reconstructed spring house on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. The reconstruction of this mid-19th century building was a project of the Friends of Potato Creek State Park with financial support from the GFWC Progress Club of South Bend; Robert Bosch, LLC; and the Cheryl Campion Memorial Fund.

After a short dedication ceremony, there will be an open house for visitors to hear about the spring house’s use and look inside. Participants should park at the Porter Rea Cemetery parking lot and allow time to walk the 3/8 of a mile along Trail 4 to the site.

Spring houses were built over springs to take advantage of the consistent temperature of the spring water to store food items. Spring water is about the same temperature as the surface temperature average. In northern Indiana that is about 50 degrees.

Spring houses were built either of stone or wood or a combination of the two. Since stone changes temperature very slowly it retains the coolness of the water better than wood. This spring house has a stone foundation and floor with a channel for the water to flow through. Food was stored in crocks, jars and cans on the cool floor or directly in the water in the channel. The upper wooden part of the building kept the sun off and the animals out of the stored food.

The normal park gate fee of $5 per Indiana vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle will be charged. For more information call Potato Creek State Park, (574) 656-8186.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Clouser verbally commits
to Michigan State
Norwell senior McCormick Clouser has verbally committed to play golf for Michigan State University. He will sign his letter of intent on the early signing date in November.
Clouser of Bluffton will be playing his fourth season for the Norwell golf team. He was the top individual finisher at the Huntington North boys’ sectional on June 4 at LaFontaine Golf Club.
He was a finalist for the 2008 Indiana state finals and the individual runner up in the 2009 Huntington North sectional. Clouser also has made the Northeast Hoosier Conference First Team in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He also was named the Northeast Indiana Co-Player of the Year 2010 and made the Northeast Indiana All-Area Team in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Clouser has qualified for the USGA Junior Amateur at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada, Mich.
He has played in several national and state events, including the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), the Indiana Junior Golf Program, Plantations Junior Golf Tour (PJGT), the Optimist International Tournament, and the Callaway Junior PGA Series.
Last week, Clouser finished in an 11th-place tie at an AJGA event at Boyne Highlands Resort in Michigan. He shot a 6-over-par 222 (74-75-73).
This week, he is playing an AJGA event in Dublin, Ohio, at the Country Club of Muirfield Village. He shot 2-under-par 70 in the first round Tuesday.

Imel heads into final State Am round
Kaylee Imel, a sophomore at Western Michigan University sophomore, is six strokes behind the leader after the second round of the Indiana Women’s State Amateur Golf Championship at Anderson Country Club.
Imel finished her second 18 holes tied with four other players with a 6-over-par 150. Michele Nash of Indianapolis was sitting atop the leaderboard with an even-par 144. The tournament ends Wednesday.

Raising money for Norwell spikers
The Norwell Knights’ volleyball program will be holding a fundraiser at Ed & Luigi’s Drive-In in Ossian on Thursday, July 15, from 5-10 p.m. All tips will go to Norwell volleyball.
Gilbert, Sommers lead senior golfers
Joe Gilbert and Rex Sommers were the top individual golfers Tuesday for the Senior Golf League at Bluffton’s Green Valley Golf Club. Gilbert had the low gross score of 41 and Sommers was low net with 28. Members of the winning team were Bill Poulson, Bob Trussel, Malcolm Hiday and Gilbert. Tom Williams was closest to the pin and had the fewest putts (12). Poulson made the longest putt.

Sign up for 4H Fun Run/Walk
The annual 4-H 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, July 17 at the Wells County 4-H Park. In an effort to beat the heat, race-day registration will start at 6:45 a.m. and the 5K (3.1-mile) race will begin at 7:30 a.m. Race-day registration is $15. All proceeds go to the Wells County 4-H Foundation scholarship fund. For more information, e-mail Kyan Harris at k_pepper33@hotmail.com or registration forms may be picked up at the Purdue Extension Wells County office.

Loren’s knocks off
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Loren’s Light & Heavy Duty Towing Service recently defeated previously unbeaten Bluffton Regional Medical Center 13-9 in the championship game of the Wells County Girls’ Fastpitch Softball Junior League tournament at Roush Park.
Loren’s was led by Aries Petty with two home runs and Sara Eubank with a triple and double. Emily Eubank and Kenya Moore each tripled.

DNR to erect mesh barrier to block Asian carp

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will take a lead role in implementing a short-term step to address the advance of Asian carp up the Wabash River system and their potential movement into the Maumee River, a tributary to Lake Erie.

The focal point is Eagle Marsh, a 705-acre restored wetland near Fort Wayne that DNR staff identified as a possible pathway for Asian carp passage under certain flood conditions. The marsh is just north of Fox Island County Park near the intersection of Interstate 69 and U.S. 24.

A permanent solution to prevent Asian carp from being able to pass through this area during flooding conditions will take more time to develop, design and construct.

Therefore, as an immediate preventive measure, the DNR will install mesh fencing across a section of the marsh, creating a barrier against passage of Asian carp between the Wabash and Maumee drainage basins.

The DNR convened a recent meeting in Fort Wayne to address the potential carp movement and explore solutions, and the consensus was the mesh barrier is the best short-term option to pursue. The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Little River Wetlands Project that manages Eagle Marsh, were represented at the meeting.

The fencing will be substantial enough to withstand floodwaters but will be designed so it does not increase flood elevations and cause property damage. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide design guidance on the fencing. The goal is to have the fencing installed this summer. Additional monitoring will be conducted and more aggressive action taken if the threat warrants.

Although Chicago waterways remain the likeliest entry point for Asian carp into the Great Lakes, the Corps of Engineers is tasked with finding other potential pathways throughout the Great Lakes basin. Corps officials have identified several sites they are investigating to determine the risk of Asian carp advancement, including the Eagle Marsh area.

Although the Wabash and Maumee basins drain in opposite directions and have no direct connection under normal conditions, their waters do comingle under certain flood conditions.

Eagle Marsh straddles a natural geographic divide created by glacial movement during the ice age. The broad wetland marsh extends across the divide into two key drainage ditches – McCulloch Ditch and Junk Ditch. McCulloch drains west into the Little River and eventually the Wabash River near Huntington, while Junk Ditch drains northeast into the St. Marys River and then the Maumee River.

If Asian carp cross the divide at Eagle Marsh and reach the Maumee, they would be in the Lake Erie drainage basin and additional more costly and invasive steps would be required to protect the Great Lakes from the threat.

The DNR and the Corps of Engineers are working with U.S. Geological Survey to analyze historic flood data and determine the depth and duration of flooding in the Eagle Marsh area.

Asian carp, a generic term for four species of non-native carp, were first detected in Indiana in 1996 at Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area in the southwest corner of the state. Subsequent DNR surveys located bighead carp and silver carp in low abundance in the Wabash River or its tributaries, but the location of those findings show the fish moving upstream. A 2008 survey collected a total of 25 silver carp and two bighead carp over a 105-mile stretch of the Wabash River.

Adult bighead carp have been found below the dam at Roush Lake near Huntington, and silver carp have advanced to the Mississinewa River near Peru. In late May, a DNR biologist found evidence of silver carp spawning near Lafayette, 105 river miles downstream from the mouth of the Little River.

NOTE: For a map of the Eagle Marsh area, go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-AsianCarpMap.pdf
For facts about Asian carp in Indiana, go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-AsianCarpAdvisory.pdf

Fall swim classes coming to Carroll

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE — NACS Natatorium will host its early fall learn to swim program, beginning Sept. 13.

Pretesting will take place Sept. 8 from 6–7:30 p.m. Open registration starts Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. and runs through Sept. 1th at 5 p.m. ...

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Kaylee Imel 8th at State Amateur
Western Michigan University sophomore Kaylee Imel finished Monday’s first round of the Indiana Women’s State Amateur Golf Championship in a five-way tie for eighth place.
The 2009 Norwell graduate shot a 3-over-par 75 at Anderson Country Club. The tournament ends Wednesday.

Parlor City Trophy & Apparel
whips MarkleBank 18-2
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel scored 17 runs over the last two innings to blast MarkleBank 18-2 in Bluffton Farm League baseball tournament action Saturday at Roush Park.
Ty Wright led Parlor City Trophy & Apparel with three hits. Brandon Lockwood and Levin Steffen each had two hits. Kolton Moore, Max Corle, Mason Heller, Jordan Szarenski and Colton Paxson each had one hit. Corle also was the winning pitcher.
Dravin Stoltz and Matt Geisel each had two hits for MarkleBank. Matt Feasel and Spencer Harris each had one hit. Feasel also was the losing pitcher.

Standard Plastic falls to
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel took an early lead and defeated Standard Plastic 8-3 on July 6 in Bluffton Farm League baseball tournament action at Roush Park.
Parlor City Trophy & Apparel had 11 hits. Ty Wright, Brandon Lockwood, Max Corle and Jordan Szarenski each had two hits. Kolton Moore, Mason Heller and Levi Steffen each had one hit. Corle was the winning pitcher.
Spencer Schwartz, Elias Inskeep and Damion Fleming each had one hit for Standard Plastic. Willie Turner was the losing pitcher.

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

Cross country invitation issued
Bluffton High School boys interested in joining the cross country team are invited to call head coach Bret Grover for more information at 820-0638.

Upward evaluation, sign up at ZUM
Upward Flag football and cheerleading evaluation and registration at Zanesville United Methodist Church is Wednesday, July 14, from 6-8 p.m. Evaluations will be held on the football fields. For more information call 260-638-4108 or Rob and Kandi Riley at 260-638-4571. The church is located at 11811 N. Wayne St. (CR 300 W), Zanesville. There is a need for boys and girls K-6 and middle school boys may be added if warranted. There is a Senior Girls league for middle and high school ages. First practice starts Monday, Aug. 2. First games are Saturday, Aug. 14, and last games are Oct. 9. Cost is $65 and scholarships are available.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

State Farm wins tournament title
JayR Kobryn and Noah Antrim led State Farm to victory Saturday afternoon over First Bank of Berne in the championship game of the Bluffton Junior League baseball tournament at Jefferson Park.
Playing with only eight players, State Farm scored three runs in the fourth inning and four in the fifth to break open a 1-1 tie and went on to win the game 8-1.
Kobryn drove in four runs with a triple and double and scored two runs. Antrim knocked in three runs with two singles and was the winning pitcher. He struck out 14 batters in the six-inning contest.
Cordell Humbarger drove in Antrim for the first run of the game with a double in the first inning. Bryce Paxson singled in the fourth to key State Farm’s rally.
Grant Harris doubled and singled twice for First Bank of Berne. Harris also struck out five over 4 2/3 strong innings of pitching. Hunter Schreiber smacked a double and scored the lone run.
First Bank of Berne left two baserunners stranded in the first inning. Tanner Thompson also reached third in the second inning, but Antrim struck out the next three batters. Thompson also reached second in the fourth inning, but Antrim fanned the next three batters.
After Paxson reached to lead off State Farm’s fourth inning, Bobby Lovis and Keaton Reddick also got on base. With two outs, Kobryn tripled and Antrim singled to give State Farm a 4-1 lead.
In the fifth, Lovis and Reddick reached base with two outs. T.J. Arriaga was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kobryn doubled to drive in three runs off relief pitcher Garrett Walborn. Antrim knocked in Kobryn.

Brett Ratcliffe to coach USA team
Brett Ratcliffe, an assistant baseball coach at DeKalb High School, left Monday to serve as the pitching and catching coach for the USA Baseball 14-and-under National Team.
Ratcliffe, a Norwell graduate, will be in Cary, N.C., at the USA National Training Center to help select 18 players for the United States team, which will travel to Nicaragua to play in the COPABE “A” Pan American games July 25-Aug. 1.
Ratcliffe also coached the USA team which captured the Gold medal last year in Ecuador.

Summit City Sluggers place 12th
The Summit City Sluggers 15-and-under baseball team finished 12th at the Buckeye Elite Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, last week.
The Sluggers ended up with a 2-1 mark in the 56-team field.
On Saturday, the Sluggers defeated the NorthCoast (Ohio) Gladiators 9-6. Evan Brown pitched six strong innings to record the win.
In the tournament, Austin Branock went 6 for 10 with four runs batted in. Spencer Dull went 3 for 6 with seven runs Josh VanMeter went 6 for 8 with five RBIs.
The Sluggers beat the Cincinnati Styx 11-1 on Thursday in their second game. Matt Chronister pitched a complete 4-inning game, which ended by the mercy rule. Southtown (N.J.) Knights beat the Sluggers 5-4 also on Thursday in their first game. Josh VanMeter was the losing pitcher.

F.O.P. wins tourney game
F.O.P. drilled Bluffton Regional Medical Center 12-3 on Wednesday in the Bluffton Farm League baseball tournament at Roush Park.
Nick Huffar was the winning pitcher and also had three hits, including a triple and double. Everett Johnson also doubled. Gavin King and Stewart Strickler each singled twice.
Nick Bowman tripled and Brock Nunley singled for Bluffton Regional. Rylie Johnston was the losing pitcher.

Imel 22nd at Indiana Open
Drew Imel finished in a four-way tie for 22nd place at the Indiana Open Championship at The Legends of Indiana golf club in Franklin on Friday.
Imel, of Bluffton, a sophomore at IPFW, ended the tournament with a 3-under-par 285 (74-69-74-68). He is a 2009 Norwell graduate.

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

Cross country invitation issued
Bluffton High School boys interested in joining the cross country team are invited to call head coach Bret Grover for more information at 820-0638.
NMS runners invited to conditioning
Norwell Middle School girls or boys interested in joining the cross country team next fall are invited to conditioning on the following Tuesday and Thursday evenings, July 13, 15, 20, 22, at 7 p.m. Meet with coach Bob Dahl at the track. Parents interested in joining the group also are invited. Runners should have a physical form filled out and signed. A link to the physical form can be found at http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/NorwellHighSchool/NHSGirlsCC/links1.aspx.
For more information please contact Bob Dahl at bdahl@onlyinternet.net.

Final summer track & field meet
The final New Haven High School track meet is July 14 at 6 p.m. Cost is $1 for each event entered. All standard high school field events will be contested. The following running events will be offered: 300mH, 60m dash (9-under only), 100m, 800m, 200m, 400m, 3200m. The following age groups will be available: 9-under, 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and up.

Baseball tournaments need teams
Blackford Area Baseball and Thunder Sports will have a 13U, 12U, 11U, 10U, 9U, 8U baseball tournament Aug. 5-8 at Hartford City and Montpelier. Little League rules will apply unless otherwise noted. 13U will follow high school rules. Entry deadline is July 31. Cost is $260 and two new baseballs, 13u is $300 and two new baseballs. Guarantee of three games, single-elimination tournament will follow pool play. 13U games will be played at the Hartford City Babe Ruth Park. Contact John Hendricks at 765-348-6413 or e-mail hendricksjohn@hotmail.com.

Announce SSF Rebel hoop placings

Huntington County Tab:

Results from the Salamonie Summer Festival 3-on-3 Rebel Basketball Tournament have been released.

The tournament took place at the Knight-Bergman Center in Warren on Saturday, July 3.

In the 11 and 12-year-old female division, the Heat took first place, the Brutes placed second and the February Babes took third.

In the 13 and 14-year-old female division, the Sparks came in first, followed by the Future Lady Raiders in second and the Legit 4 in third.....

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

Youth football camp to begin Monday
The Bluffton Tigers Football Summer Youth Camp for students in grades 5-8 (2010-11) is scheduled for July 12-14 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Bluffton High School practice facility. Cost is $10. Registration forms are being mailed to students or may be picked up the first day of the camp.

BMS volleyball camp July 12-15
A Bluffton Middle School volleyball camp for all incoming girls in grades 6-8 will be held July 12-15 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Bluffton High School. Cost is $25. For more information please call Bluffton’s head volleyball coach Robert Ochoa at 260-710-1317.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

State Farm tops Pizza Hut
State Farm advanced to the championship game of the Bluffton Junior League baseball tournament with an 8-6 victory over Pizza Hut on Wednesday at Jefferson Park.
State Farm scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal its victory. Noah Antrim was the winning pitcher.
Antrim doubled in the fourth inning to score JayR Kobryn and Trey Collins, which ignited a three-run rally. Pizza Hut had taken a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Kobryn led State Farm with a second-inning home run, a double and single. Collins tripled to drive in T.J. Arriaga in the fifth inning. Arriaga had tripled before that. Collins also had two singles. Cordell Humbarger doubled and singled twice.
Pizza Hut’s hitting attack was led by Reggie Garrett, who had four hits including a double. Lead-off hitter Dylan Heckman singled three times and scored twice. Dillon McAdoo also had three singles. Bubba Applegate homered in the sixth inning. McAdoo was the losing pitcher.
State Farm will play in the championship game Saturday at 5 p.m. at Jefferson Park.

Volleyball coaches needed
Southern Wells High School is searching for volleyball coaches for the upcoming season. Interested applicants should call Southern Wells Activities Director Kevin Lavanchy at 765-728-5534.

Racing on Friday at Montpelier
Instead of racing on Saturday night this week, Montpelier Motor Speedway will move its regular schedule to Friday night, July 9, for a midseason special.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps starting at 6:30 and racing at 7:30.
The pay out for the first-place feature winner will be $600 for the modifieds, $400 for the super stocks, $250 for the thunder stocks and $250 for the mod lites.
General admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12-and-under with a paying adult. Pit admission is $25.

T-Ball scores reported
The following Bluffton T-Ball League baseball scores were reported: Pizza Hut 17, Almco Steel 15.

July is national Park and Recreation Month; enjoy it Hoosier style

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana is celebrating national Park and Recreation Month this month by offering great outdoor places to play for people of all ages and capabilities throughout the state.

Hoosiers are invited to make their way to any state park to camp, hike, swim, fish, picnic, birdwatch and enjoy the outdoors. For a unique state park experience, take a swing at Fort Harrison’s golf course, mountain bike at Brown County or Versailles, ride horses at one of our saddle barns, climb ladders on the trails at Turkey Run and Shades, or twist and turn down the waterslide at O’Bannon Woods.

Several out-of-the-ordinary events take place throughout July in Indiana’s state parks and reservoirs, including “Dog Days” at Brown County and Raccoon State Recreation Area, a sand-sculpture building contest at Indiana Dunes, tomahawk throwing at Monroe Lake, Gus Grissom Day at Spring Mill, Winter in July at Potato Creek, The Vietnam Experience re-enactment at Fort Harrison, panning for gold at Salamonie’s summer day camp, and the annual reunion of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556 at Pokagon.

Get more details of these and many other outdoor activities at www.interpretiveservices.IN.gov. To find out more about healthy ways to enjoy state parks and reservoirs, visit www.dnr.IN.gov/healthy.

Indiana's 24 state parks and nine reservoirs are managed by DNR's Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. The division's mission is to manage and interpret the properties’ unique natural, wildlife, and cultural resources using the principles of multiple use and preservation, while sustaining the integrity of these resources for current and future generations. Learn more about Indiana's state parks and reservoirs at www.stateparks.IN.gov.

There are many city and county parks in Indiana where you can find great ways to spend time outside as well. Check with your local government for more information.

Each July since 1985, the United States has celebrated Park and Recreation Month. This year’s theme is Celebrate, Advocate, Recreate! along with reminding local decision makers and the community of the exciting and vital role that parks and recreation play in the lives of Americans. To see information about the value of parks to communities, visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-Parks_and_Recreation_Fact_Sheet_2010.pdf.

Park and Recreation Month is a program of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, go to www.nrpa.org/july.

Bluffton Parks Dept. Events

Bluffton Parks Dept Iron Kid Triathlon July 24th
A triathlon is a swimming, bicycling, and running competition. Each triathlete will swim first, go directly to bicycling, and finish the competition running. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to participate in an enjoyable, life-experience through athletics. Download the registration form from the city’s website at www.blufftonindiana.net and mail to the park office at 128 E Market St. Bluffton Indiana 46714 by July 21st, 2010 or stop by City Hall to pick up a form. Race date is set to start at 8:00am sharp. This event is for children ages 5-12, cost is $15 and includes a t-shirt, finishing medal, snacks, and trophies to the top 3 in each age group and gender. For questions call 824-6069 or e-mail parks@ci.bluffton.in.us . All participants must be preregistered, no race day entries.

Bluffton Parks Dept Cardboard Boat Race July 24th
Families build a boat using only cardboard and duct tape that 2 people can ride in and enter the 2010 Cardboard Boat Race held July 24th. Official rules are at the Park office and you must call 824-6069 to register by July 21st. Following the race you can relax in the pool. Admission is $2.00. Boat Construction Rules ----Boat Race Waiver---


Bluffton Parks Dept Peewee Basketball Registration this Friday July 9th
This league will begin playing August 14 and runs for 6 consecutive Saturdays. League is for boys and girls who will be entering Kindergarten through 4th grade in 2010-11 school year. Cost is $15 per child. Register on July 9, at Kehoe Pavilion at 8:00 pm then stay and watch the movie Monsters vs Aliens on the big screen. If you are interested in coaching this league please call 824-6069 to fill out an application.

Bluffton Parks Dept Dog Days of Summer Event
The Parks Department is looking for pet care services and providers to join us at Pickett’s Run on Saturday Aug 14th from 11-2pm. There is no cost to participate, just call the park office at 824-6069 to reserve a space. This event will allow you to distribute information on your services to the pet owners who visit. There will be contests, demonstrations, and giveaways.

Bluffton Parks Dept Street Fair Art Bazaar
The Parks Department is looking for adults who would like to sell their arts and crafts, such as jewelry, quilts, paintings, stain glass, mosaics etc. This event is held in the City Gym on Saturday Sept 25th from 9am-3pm. Call the Park office for more information and to register at 824-6069

BLUFFTON ATHLETIC BOOSTER GOLF OUTING 2010

The Bluffton Athletic Boosters are having a 9-hole scramble at Green Valley Golf Club. Saturday August 14th, 2010 with a shotgun start at 10AM. There will be
team prizes and door prizes with many fun events and contests.Hot picnic lunch
to follow. Cost is $40.00 per individual golfer and hole sponsors are available
for $35.00. Download attached flyer and mail in, Or call.
Bill Mckinley 273-2155
Cheri Zeis 273-7823
Dan Geimer 824-8543.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

State Farm comes back to win
State Farm rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat First Bank of Berne in the Bluffton Junior League baseball tournament Tuesday night at Jefferson Park.
State Farm scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth to win 6-5.
Trey Collins drove in the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the sixth and doubled. Noah Antrim also doubled and singled. JayR Kobryn doubled and Keaton Reddick singled. Antrim also was the winning pitcher.
Hunter Schreiber and Jacob Studabaker singled twice for First Bank of Berne. Garrett Walborn also singled. Starting pitcher Grant Harris held State Farm to one run over four innings. Walborn relieved Harris and suffered the loss.

State Farm pounds PNC Bank
In the opening game of the Bluffton Junior League baseball tournament, State Farm smacked four home runs to smash PNC Bank 15-8 on Monday at Jefferson Park.
JayR Kobryn and Trey Collins each homered and doubled twice. Anthony Harriman also homered and doubled. Noah Antrim homered, while Bryce Paxson and Keaton Reddick each singled. Collins was the winning pitcher.
Ben Caylor and Levi Arnold each singled twice. Jason King, Mitchell Drew, Jacob Swanson and Kevin Colon each singled. King also was the losing pitcher.

State Farm wallops PNC Bank
State Farm used 17 hits to defeat PNC Bank 15-3 in the final game of the Bluffton Junior League baseball regular season last Thursday.
Bryce Paxson smacked four hits, including a double, to lead State Farm (12-3). Noah Antrim added three hits, including a triple. JayR Kobryn also had three hits, including two doubles. Anthony Harriman and T.J. Arriaga each had two singles. Cordell Humbarger doubled and singled. Paxson also was the winning pitcher.
Ben Caylor, Eric Baumgartner, Jacob Swanson and Kevin Colon each singled for PNC Bank. Jason King was the losing pitcher.

Pizza Hut downs AdamsWells
Pizza Hut defeated AdamsWells Internet 16-10 in the Bluffton Junior League baseball tournament on Monday.
Dillon McAdoo tripled and doubled twice for Pizza Hut. Dylan Heckman tripled and singled. Bubba Applegate tripled. Reggie Garrett doubled and singled. Devin Shannon singled and was the winning pitcher.
Philip Pearson doubled and singled twice for AdamsWells Internet. Colton Anderson hit three singles. Nate Flatt doubled. Desmond Carter, Hayden Valentine and Trevor Norman each singled. Carter was the losing pitcher.

MarkleBank blanks National Oil
MarkleBank shut out National Oil 9-0 in a Bluffton Farm League baseball game.
MarkleBank outhit National Oil 15-0. Winning pitcher Jordan Bower tripled and singled. Nick Sprankles and Noah Fredrick each doubled and singled. Landon Harris and Matt Thompson doubled. Matt Feasel and Spencer Harris singled twice. Blaine Johnson and Xavier Walden each singled. Kyle Stacey was the losing pitcher.

F.O.P. drills National Oil
F.O.P. prevailed over National Oil 12-9 in a Bluffton Farm League baseball game.
Winning pitcher Everett Johnson also led F.O.P. with a triple, double and single. Gavin King tripled and singled. Dylan Kobryn doubled and singled. Nick Huffar and Josh Bridges both doubled. Stewart Strickler singled.
Dominik Jojola doubled for National Oil, while Kyle Stacey and Zach Cummings each singled. Matt Yonker was the losing pitcher.

F.O.P. clips Standard Plastic
F.O.P. clipped Standard Plastics 4-1 in a Bluffton Farm League baseball game.
Corey Lewis drilled two doubles to lead F.O.P. Nick Huffar doubled and singled. Gavin King and Dylan Kobryn each singled. King also was the winning pitcher.
Standard Plastic was held to a single by Spencer Schwartz. Willie Turner was the losing pitcher.

F.O.P. thwarts Standard Plastic
F.O.P. held off Standard Plastic for a 13-11 Bluffton Farm League baseball victory.
Standard Plastic scored seven runs in the fourth inning, but F.O.P. withstood the attack. Gavin King tripled twice and doubled for F.O.P. Stewart Strickler doubled and singled twice. Everett Johnson doubled and singled. Josh Bridges doubled. Nick Huffar singled twice. Dylan Kobryn singled. Corey Lewis was the winning pitcher.
Spencer Schwartz cracked three singles for Standard Plastic. Willie Turner and Ellis Inskeep each doubled and singled. Reid Wenger and Damian Fleming both doubled. Case Smith singled. Turner was the losing pitcher.

F.O.P. blitzes Hiday Motors
F.O.P. rolled over Hiday Motors 13-0 in Bluffton Farm League baseball action behind a one-hitter.
Nick Huffar was the winning pitcher and also hit a triple and single. Everett Johnson tripled, doubled and singled. Corey Lewis, Stewart Strickler, Dylan Kobryn and Kyle Crist each singled.
Connor Hiday singled for Hiday Motors. Landon McClitsch was the losing pitcher.

Tigers’ youth football camp coming
The Bluffton Tigers Football Summer Youth Camp for students in grades 5-8 (2010-11) is scheduled for July 12-14 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Bluffton High School practice facility. Cost is $10. Registration forms are being mailed to students or may be picked up the first day of the camp.

BMS volleyball camp July 12-15
A Bluffton Middle School volleyball camp for all incoming girls in grades 6-8 will be held July 12-15 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Bluffton High School. Cost is $25. For more information please call Bluffton’s head volleyball coach Robert Ochoa at 260-710-1317.

Upward Soccer evaluations set
Upward Soccer will be back in action this fall at Hope Missionary Church. Evaluations are coming up and will be held outside or due to bad weather in the Family Center gym. No cleated shoes should be worn. For more information call the church office at 260-824-1844. The church is located at 429 E. Dustman Road (CR 100N), east of Ind. 1.
The evaluation schedule is as follows: Pre-kindergarten to kindergarten, Monday, July 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Grades -3, Tuesday, July 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Grades 4-6th, Thursday, July 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
First practice starts the week of Monday, Aug. 9. First games are Saturday, Aug. 21 and the last games are Oct. 16. Cost is $50.

Norwell football golf outing slated
The Norwell Football Club’s 11th golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 14 at Bluffton’s Timber Ridge Golf Course. Cost of the 18-hole Florida Scramble is $60 per person. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Hole sponsorships are available for $100 for each hole. For registration or more information, contact Tom or Jon Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169 or e-mail at tom754@comcast.net.

Senior League holds best-ball event
The winning team members for Tuesday’s Senior Golf League best ball tournament at Green Valley Golf Club in Bluffton were Paul Perry, Bill Fuller, Larry Claghorn, Stan Ellison and Tom Antrim. Jack Decker was the closest-to-the-pin winner.

T-Ball scores reported
The following Bluffton T-Ball League baseball scores were reported: Almco Steel 18, BKM Real Estate 6; AdamsWells Internet 17, Steffen Oil 13.