Ossian Conservation Club releases calendar

• September 6th, 7th & 8th Ossian Days, We’ll be there selling Old Style Sugar Corn so stop in and say “Hi.”
• September 15th & 16th Ouabache Archer’s Year End Jamboree and 3-D Shoot at the Ossian Conservation Club. Several new Rinehart 3-D Targets! 8:30 AM. to 2:30 PM. All are welcome!
• September 18th thru the 22nd Bluffton Street Fair. Come see us on Marion Street just west of the food court. Last chance to try our Old Style Sugar Corn this year.
• September 23rd Ossian Conservation Club Shotgun Shooter’s informal Shotgun Shoot with regular clays – middies – minnies and rabbit targets. 12:00 noon till 4:30 PM. Bring the whole Family. Public is welcome!

N-B Video: Colts rookie Chandler Harnish "leaves resume on the field"

Norwell graduate Chandler Harnish talks about playing his last preseason game before the Colts have to decide to keep or cut him. Learn more in the Friday, Aug. 31, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Norwell Middle School opens cross country season

Norwell Middle School opened its 2012 cross country season with the Norwell Middle School Invitational with 11 teams attending. Pictured are front row, left to right, Austin Mounsey, Ethan Todd, Will Zimmer, Connor McCabe, Brandon Runyon; middle row, Nick Tarr, Nick Whitney, Caleb Kohler, Greyson Mishler, Garrett Weybright, Caleb Torson, Kyle James; third row, Paul Turrin, Josh Whitney, Gabe Smith, Dustin Haiflich, Zach Geiger, Noah Steffen, Austin Boucher, Trevor Prough, Quentin Middleton, Caleb Puch.

People age 50 or older are invited to three fun-filled days at Salamonie Lake’s Senior Fall Fest, Sept. 10-12. The event is at Lost Bridge West State

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

People age 50 or older are invited to three fun-filled days at Salamonie Lake’s Senior Fall Fest, Sept. 10-12.

The event is at Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area in western Huntington County. An assortment of activities, speakers and hands-on programming make this event a favorite for seniors.

Participants should call Upper Wabash Interpretive Services (UWIS) at (260) 468-2127 to register for meals and programs.

The theme is “Discover Your Roots.” Participants are encouraged to share genealogy and genealogy tips and family stories.

The monthly Senior Monday Luncheon will be Sept. 10 at 12:30 p.m. Craig Arnold, assistant director for the IPFW Archaeological Survey, will present a program on early Native American farming. The meat dish will be provided by UWIS. Seniors should bring a dish to pass, their own table service and $1 donation to help offset the cost of the meat dish.

A second carry-in meal will be Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m. UWIS will provide the main dish. Participants should bring table service and a dish to pass that represents their family’s favorite “homeland” meal. For example, those with German heritage should bring a German dish.

The event will feature two bands. The Second Coming will perform Sept. 11, 7-9 p.m. God’s Country will perform on Sept. 12, 7-9 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite instrument for evening entertainment and fun.

Other activities include fishing, horseshoes, cornhole and crafts.

A $3 program fee covers all sessions during Senior Fall Fest. The standard gate fee of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle applies.

For more information, visit dnr.IN.gov/uwis or Facebook.com/UpperWabash.

History weekend at Indiana Dunes State Park, Sept. 8-9

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Visitors to Indiana Dunes State Park can relive the history of the dunes area on Sept. 8 and 9.

All weekend, members of the Ouiatenon Brigade will be on the beach, just east of the beach pavilion. The brigade portrays the French-Canadian voyageurs of the 1700s in dress, food and lifestyle.

“To be standing by the brigade with the foredunes in the background really allows you to step back and imagine the time of early French-Canadian fur traders,” said Brad Bumgardner, park interpretive naturalist. “It’s a really neat sight to see.”

Saturday night will end with a performance of Native American flute music by Mike Mycroft. Mycroft will introduce visitors to the history of flute music in the Americas and demonstrate his skill before a setting sun. Visitors should bring a chair or blanket for sitting in front of the beach pavilion.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., Jim Ton, a former park employee, will lead a hike exploring the park’s early years. He will highlight the changes he saw in the park during his employment and in the 50 years since. The hike, which involves moderate sand walking, starts at the main beach pavilion and will travel into the dunes.


Other programs will include voyageur hikes that explore the park’s early history, as well as a look at how the dunes have influenced different art styles, from paintings to Hollywood movies.

All programs are free, but the standard park gate fee of $5 for Indiana vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles will be in effect. For more information, call the nature center at (219) 926-1390.

Indiana Dunes State Park is at 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, 46304.

Southern Wells at Bluffton

Southern Wells faces off against Shenandoah at Fred F. Park Field. The Southern Wells football team can't play on its own field due to the drought from this summer. (Photo by Dick Green)

Daniels recommits to federal trails funding program

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Gov. Mitch Daniels announced today that Indiana will continue to participate in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) that has provided $14.5 million in federal funds for more than 100 trails projects in the state since 1994.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) recently passed by Congress reauthorized RTP for the next two federal fiscal years beginning Oct. 1 but also gave governors the option to not participate. Daniels chose to renew Indiana’s commitment to trails initiatives, which fits with the Hoosiers on the Move plan he announced in 2006.

“Hoosiers on the Move established an ambitious goal of having a trail within 7.5 miles or 15 minutes of every Hoosier citizen by the year 2016,” Daniels said. “We’re getting close, and continued funding from the Recreational Trails Program over the next two years will put us over the top in fulfilling that goal.”

RTP is a matching grant through the Federal Highway Administration that funds multiple trail types, including bicycle/pedestrian greenways, mountain biking, equestrian, water and motorized (ATV, motorcycle, four-wheel drive). RTP funds are routed through the Indiana Department of Transportation and administered by the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation.

“We have completed over 100 miles of trails and funded development of Redbird and Interlake state recreation areas that provide access to 75 more miles of trail specializing in motorized vehicle recreation,” said Steve Morris, director of the DNR Outdoor Recreation. “Other noteworthy projects include the award-winning mountain bike trails at Brown County State Park, and rail-trails like Pumpkinvine in Elkhart County and Panhandle Pathway near Winamac.

“Numerous other greenway and community park trails have been completed in 53 counties that have received RTP funding.”

Indiana’s RTP provides 80 percent federal reimbursement for eligible projects, which must provide public access to trails. All units of government and agencies incorporated as not-for-profit corporations are eligible to participate. Applicants may request grant amounts from a minimum $10,000 to a maximum of $150,000.

RTP funding is derived from revenue received by the Federal Highway Trust Fund from the federal motor fuel excise tax paid by users of off-road recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and off-road light trucks.

One of the requirements for a state to receive RTP is having a state trails advisory board. For information about the Indiana Trails Advisory Board, see dnr.IN.gov/outdoor/4094.htm.

For more information on RTP and application guidelines, see dnr.IN.gov/outdoor/4101.htm.

DNR, Purdue to offer wildlife workshop at IPFW

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Purdue University are offering a new workshop in the Fort Wayne area for landowners interested in managing their properties for wildlife.

Wildlife Management for the Private Landowner is an eight-week course beginning Sept. 18 and ending Nov. 6 at Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne.

It’s designed to provide landowners an introduction to wildlife ecology, a history of Indiana ecosystems, wildlife identification, wildlife biology, habitat management planning and techniques, and how to access information and assistance with wildlife management goals.

Specific topics will include the biology and management of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, pheasants, quail, rabbits, and doves. Other topics will provide information on how to restore and manage Indiana ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Topics will be presented by natural resource professionals from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, Purdue University, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The workshop will be from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday at IPFW, plus two Saturday field days to demonstrate techniques discussed in the classroom. The forest management field day is Oct. 13 and the grassland/wetland field day is Oct. 27.

The cost is $100 per person and includes a binder with resource materials, publications geared to course topics, and snacks and drinks during each session.

For more information or to register, contact Rob Chapman, extension wildlife specialist with Purdue University, at (812) 662-4999 or RNCHAPMAN@purdue.edu.

Weekend events at Ouabache State Park

Friday, August 24, 2012

• Evening Roving Interpreter — Be on the lookout for your Interpretive Naturalist, Jennifer, at the Main Gate, Campground Control Station, or Campground. Find out what she’s carrying and get event fliers.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

• 1:45 pm — Pool Break. Creature Feature. What creature is that? Find out what Naturalist Jennifer brought with her today on the Pool Lawn. If you are swimming, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house to re-enter the pool!
• 6:30 pm — Hoosier Quest Patch Program. Discover! Connect! Explore! Learn more about these great project- based programs that you can complete at any of the State Parks & Reservoirs. Meet at the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 7:00 pm — Our National Symbol. What do you know about this symbolic bird? Join us to learn more about the Bald Eagle and its lifestyle. Meet at the Campview Shelter in the middle of Campground A.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

• 10:00 am — Worship Service. Rob Parker from Life Community will be sharing a message at the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 11:30 am — The Masked Bandit. Watch out for this thief! Chances are you have seen evidence of one. Meet on the back patio of the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 1:45 pm — Pool Break - Owls vs. Crows.True or false? Get on your feet to show what you know! Swimmers, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house to re-enter the pool!

DNR reminds hunters about baiting laws for dove and waterfowl

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Before dove and waterfowl hunters take to drought-affected fields this hunting season, they should take time first to review baiting laws.

Baiting can be a complicated issue. It can become more complicated in years in which drought conditions have pushed many farmers to destroy their standing agricultural crops. It's imperative that hunters keep in mind what is legal and what is not legal during waterfowl and dove hunting seasons.

What is legal?

You can hunt waterfowl on, over, or from:

• Standing crops or flooded standing crops
• Standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation
• Flooded harvested croplands
• Lands or areas where grains or top-sown seeds have been scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural practices.

You can hunt doves on, over or from:

• Standing crops
• Lands where seeds or grain have been scattered solely as a result of normal agricultural practices
• Lands planted as wildlife food plots
• Lands planted as pasture improvements or for the purpose of grazing livestock.
• Standing or manipulated natural vegetation
• Agricultural crops that have been manipulated.

What is illegal?

You cannot hunt waterfowl in:

• Areas where grain or seed has been top-sown.
• Crops that have been harvested outside of the recommended harvest dates.
• Unharvested crops that have been trampled by livestock or subjected to other types of manipulations that scatter, distribute or expose the grain.
• Freshly planted wildlife food plots that contain exposed grain.
• Areas where grain is present or stored.
• Croplands where a crop has been harvested and the removed grain is redistributed or “added back” onto the area where it was grown.

You cannot hunt doves in:

• Areas where grain, seed, salt or feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered.
• Areas where grain is in piles or other concentrations.
• Freshly planted wildlife food plots that contain exposed grain.

**Reminder: It's legal to hunt doves on, over, or from manipulated agricultural lands. It's NOT legal to hunt waterfowl on, over, or from manipulated agricultural lands.

Below are a few potentially common scenarios for the upcoming dove/waterfowl seasons.

• If a farmer mows his agricultural fields in September due to crop insurance payments, a hunter cannot hunt it for waterfowl because waterfowl cannot be hunted over manipulated agricultural lands. However, this field can be hunted for doves.
• If a wildlife food plot is planted a few weeks before you are going to dove or waterfowl hunt, can you hunt it? Yes, if the grain is not exposed.
• You decide to put out grain to attract birds. It has been eight days since you last put out grain. Can you hunt this area? No. An area is considered baited until 10 days after all the grain has been removed from the area.

View Hunting.IN.gov for more information.

For more information: Michelle Cain, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, (317) 234-8240, mcain@dnr.IN.gov.

TinCaps Claim Series Finale, 6-3

From the Fort Wayne TinCaps:

DAYTON, Ohio - Facing a three-game sweep at the hands of the Eastern Division's last-place team, the Fort Wayne TinCaps outdueled the Dayton Dragons, winning 6-3 on Monday night at Fifth Third Field. Fort Wayne's bullpen provided seven innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits, as the TinCaps salvaged the series.

Frank Garces, who had won eight of his last nine starts, allowed three runs over his two innings of work, which was his shortest outing of the season. He left in line for a loss, his team trailing, 3-1. Fort Wayne (29-21, 60-60) pulled to within one, at 3-2, in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Mike Gallic.

In the top of the sixth, Dayton (21-27, 51-67) starter Stalin Gerson (6-8) began to falter. He allowed back-to-back singles to Yeison Asencio and Lee Orr to begin the inning. Austin Hedges then laid down a bunt, which Gerson fielded, but his throw sailed over first baseman Sean Buckley, allowing Asencio to score and tie the game at three. Kyle Gaedele then walked, and Gerson was removed from the game in favor of reliever Carlos Gonzalez.

Gonzalez uncorked two wild pitches, which brought both Hedges and Gaedele in to score, and gave the TinCaps a 5-3 lead. While Fort Wayne was building its comeback, the bullpen was compiling scoreless innings. James Jones (2-3) worked three scoreless frames, Johnny Barbato twirled two more scoreless innings and Matt Stites retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, earning his 12th save.

The TinCaps added their final run of the night in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Travis Jankowski. Five of the six runs scored by Fort Wayne were unearned runs, due to three errors committed by the Dragons.

Fort Wayne has the day off on Tuesday, and will begin a three-game series at Lansing on Wednesday night. The scheduled starters are Colin Rea for the TinCaps and Aaron Sanchez for the Lugnuts.

N-B Video: Chandler Harnish celebrates first Colts victory

Chandler Harnish and his fans and friends relax after a 38-3 pre-season victory Sunday, Aug. 12. Learn more in the Monday, Aug. 13, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

N-B Video: Colts kick off season with 38-3 win

Colts' rookie offensive guard Jason Foster, a teammate with Norwell graduate Chandler Harnish, talks about his teams pre-season victory Sunday. Learn more in the Monday, Aug. 13, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

N-B Video: Norwell graduate reflects on first professional game

Chandler Harnish helped the Indianapolis Colts win their first pre-season game 38-3 Sunday, Aug. 12. After the game, Harnish talked with the media, including the News-Banner's Paul Beitler, about tossing the football professionally for the first time. Learn more in the Monday, Aug. 13, News-Banner. (Video by Paul Beitler)

N-B Video: Getting ready for kickoff

Bluffton head football coach Casey Kolkman talks practice, strategy and more a week before his team, as well as the other Wells County teams, start football season. (Video by Paul Beitler)

4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training September 7-9

Indiana 4-H and the Department of Natural Resources will be hosting a 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training, September 7-9 at Ross Camp near Lafayette.

Individuals 18 and older are invited to attend the training and become certified instructors in one of seven areas.

The specific disciplines include: Archery, Muzzleloading, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, and Coordinator.
Qualified instructors will lead the sessions which will focus on how to teach the various safety skills to youth.

Registration for the training is $150. This fee will be sponsored by Wells County 4-H if adults plan to help with the Wells County 4-H Program in 2013.

Registration is due August 24th.

For more information and a registration form, contact the Wells County Office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, 1240 4-H Park Road, Bluffton, IN 824-6412 e-mail rsherer@purdue.edu.

New waterfowl hunting zones go into effect

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

The first changes in Indiana’s waterfowl hunting zones in more than 25 years will be in effect for the start of the regular waterfowl seasons this fall.

There still will be three zones, but they will be renamed as North, Central and South. The South Zone will represent a significant geographic expansion and replace the previous Ohio River Zone.

Changes to the zone boundaries are designed to improve hunting opportunities by better relating duck migration, and therefore season timing, to the geography of the state, said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps.

The North Zone boundary is essentially unchanged, with the exception of moving Roush Fish & Wildlife Area into the North. The North Zone boundary segregates the natural lakes and wetlands part of the state into its own zone.

The North Zone boundary follows a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along U.S. 224; south along S.R. 5; and east along S.R. 124 to the Ohio border.

The Central Zone is that part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary and north of the South Zone boundary.

The South Zone boundary follows a line extending east from the Illinois border along U.S. 40; south along U.S. 41; east along S.R.58; south along S.R. 37 to Bedford; and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.

The South Zone extends north to Terre Haute and includes all or parts of 29 counties. It takes in DNR-managed properties such as Fairbanks Landing, Glendale, Sugar Ridge and Wabashiki FWAs; and Hardy and Patoka lakes.

“Changing zone lines in southern Indiana will allow us to capture a fundamental geographic split by bunching the lower Wabash River, as well as much of the White and Muscatatuck rivers, with the Ohio River in the southernmost zone,” Phelps said.

The new zones were derived by looking at not only geography, but also at climate patterns and, most importantly, long-term waterfowl migration data.

These new zones will be in effect for regular duck, coot and merganser seasons, as well as regular goose seasons.

The regular-season waterfowl dates, as proposed to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by the Indiana DNR, are listed below. The dates are not final until approved by the USFWS in mid-to late September. Look for another announcement around that time that will either confirm or amend these dates. Historically, they have been accepted as proposed.

The DNR’s recommended dates for ducks, coots and mergansers are:

• North Zone: Oct. 20 to Dec. 9 and Dec. 22-30
• Central Zone: Nov. 3 to Dec. 25 and Jan. 14-20
• South Zone: Nov. 3-4 and Nov. 24 to Jan. 20

The daily bag limit for ducks in all zones is six, including no more than four mallards (of which no more than two can be hens), four scaup, three wood ducks, two pintails, two redheads, one canvasback, one black duck, and one mottled duck. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers, separate from ducks, is five, of which no more than two can be hooded mergansers. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Though the prairies are drier than last year, the estimate of the total duck population is the highest since the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat survey began in 1955 (48.6 million ducks). Green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, northern shovelers, gadwall, and redheads are all at or near record population levels, and mallards and canvasbacks are well above their long-term average. Scaup populations are at the long-term average for the first time in several years, and have increased 60 percent since 2006.

For Canada geese, white-fronted geese, and brant, the proposed dates are:

• North Zone: Oct. 20 to Nov. 11, Nov. 22 to Jan. 6, and Jan. 19-23
• Central Zone: Nov. 3 to Dec. 25 and Jan. 7-27
• South Zone: Nov. 3-11 and Nov. 24 to Jan. 27

The daily bag limit this year for Canada geese during the regular season has increased from two to three. The daily bag limit for white-fronted geese has increased from one to two. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

“In addition, because of a change in the white-fronted goose management plan, we are able to align the seasons for white-fronts with the Canada goose season,” Phelps said.

“Because brant are rarely taken in Indiana, we also aligned that season, so that all dark geese have the same season.”

These changes simplify goose regulations in Indiana while adding opportunity in the form of higher bags for geese that regularly occur here.

The proposed late season for Canada geese is Feb. 1–15. The counties authorized for a late season are: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, LaGrange, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells and Whitley.

A permit is no longer required to participate in the late season for Canada geese. Geese harvested during this season no longer need to be taken to a check station. The daily bag limit during this season is five Canada geese, with a possession limit of 10.

The proposed statewide season for light geese is Oct. 20 to Jan. 31. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 (snow and/or Ross' geese in aggregate). There is no possession limit on light geese.

The proposed light goose conservation order is Feb. 1 to March 31, statewide, except for those counties that have a late season on Canada geese. For those counties with a late season on Canada geese, the proposed light goose conservation order season is Feb. 16 to March 31.

The light goose conservation order has no bag or possession limit. A free permit is required. Details will be available later in the winter.

The DNR’s recommended dates for youth waterfowl season are:
• North Zone: Oct. 13–14
• Central Zone: Oct. 27–28
• South Zone: Oct. 27–28

Bag and possession limits are the same as the regular seasons. The youth waterfowl season is open to youths 15 and younger, accompanied by an adult.

DNR’s recommended dates for extended falconry season for ducks, coots and mergansers are:

• North Zone: Sept. 27–30 and Feb. 14 to March 10
• Central Zone: Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 and Feb. 17 to March 10
• South Zone: Oct. 27–Nov. 2, 2012 and Feb. 17–March 10, 2013

For more information: Adam Phelps, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, at (812) 334-1137, or aphelps@dnr.IN.gov.

Ouabache State Park to hold its own Olympics

The state park will hold several competitions on Saturday, Sept. 29, to honor the Olympic spirit. Click here to learn more.

Salamonie Lake hosts preschool program about spiders, Aug. 15

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to a fun educational program about spiders at Salamonie Lake Interpretive Center, Aug. 15.

The program runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Children and their parent or caregiver will look outdoors for spiders, enjoy a craft and wrap friends in a web. Parents and caregivers are expected to stay with their child throughout the program.

The program starts at the interpretive center, with activities planned both indoors and outdoors. Participants can bring their lunch to eat together afterward.

The program costs $2 per child. The standard property entrance fee will be waived for program attendees.

Participants should register in advance by calling (260) 468-2127 or visiting the interpretive center, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, 46702.

Future preschool program dates include Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12.

See dnr.IN.gov/uwis for information on other programs by the Upper Wabash Interpretive Services. Visit UWIS on Facebook at Facebook.com/upperwabash.

Salamonie Lake is at 9214 West-Lost Bridge West, Andrews, 46702.

Weekend events at Ouabache State Park

Friday, August 10, 2012

• Evening Roving Interpreter — Be on the lookout for your Interpretive Naturalist, Jennifer, at the Main Gate, Campground Control Station, or Campground. Find out what she’s carrying and get event fliers.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

• 1:45 pm Pool Break - Creature Feature — What creature is that? Find out what Naturalist Jennifer brought with her today on the Pool Lawn. If you are swimming, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house to re-enter the pool!
• 7:00 pm Hoosier Quest Patch Program — Discover! Connect! Explore! Learn more about these great project- based programs that you can complete at any of the State Parks & Reservoirs. Meet at the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 8:30 pm Perseid Peak — Join Laura Ainslie for a constellation explanation before heading outside for nature’s own meteor show. Meet at the Campview Shelter in the middle of Campground A, then journey to the open grass area across from the Pool.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

• 10:00 am Worship Service — Chris Daughtery from Life Community will be sharing a message at the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 11:30 am The Best Dam Builder — What do you know about this rodent? Meet on the back patio of the Campview Shelter located in the middle of Campground A.
• 1:45 pm Pool Break - Foxes and Squirrel — Are you quick enough for this potentially wild game? Swimmers, make sure to get your hand stamped before you leave the bath house to re-enter the pool!

Free beginner waterfowl hunting workshops offered

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is offering three free waterfowl hunting workshops, two this month and one in October.

All are on Saturdays. The first will be at Farmland Conservation Club (Winchester), Aug. 18, from 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. The second is at Glenns Valley Conservation Club (Martinsville), Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The third is at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (Linton), Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The same material will be covered at all events—there is no need to attend more than one.

The workshops are for novice waterfowl hunters and those who want to try waterfowl hunting for the first time. All ages are welcome.

“We have had a wide range of ages, from 8 to 73,” said DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps. “All beginners are welcome.”

Parents who already hunt waterfowl are welcome to bring children, but the material is tailored for beginners; experienced waterfowl hunters are unlikely to learn much from the workshops.

“We have had well over 100 people at previous events,” Phelps said. “Feedback from participants has been excellent and helped us fine-tune the presentations for this year.”
Partly because of such feedback, this year’s workshops will include some information on duck hunting but focus on goose hunting.

“Canada geese are definitely the easiest place to start hunting waterfowl, because they are abundant, they frequently use private land, and they are easy to identify,” Phelps said.

Presentation topics will include waterfowl hunting regulations; goose and duck identification; and equipment and techniques, including a show-and-tell segment. Waterfowl hunting equipment, including blinds, waders, clothing, decoys and gadgets, will be displayed and discussed.

“Despite all the equipment you can use, we stress that you can hunt geese and ducks with a minimum outlay, so we focus on what you must have,” Phelps said.

All workshops are free, but registration is required. To register for or get more information for the Winchester site, which is at 1464 N 500 W, call Wilbur Wright FWA at (765) 529-9581. For more information on the Martinsville site, which is at 7115 Waverly Road, call Josh Griffin at (812) 526-4891. To register for Martinsville, call (765) 349-2060. For more information on the Goose Pond site, which is 1815 S.R. 59 S in Linton, call Adam Phelps at (812) 334- 1137. To register for Goose Pond, call Goose Pond FWA at (812) 659-9901.

DNR Law Enforcement and Fish & Wildlife personnel will be available to answer questions at all sites. Lunch will be provided at the morning workshops. Goose sausage will be available to sample.Workshops will vary, but all will occur at least partially outdoors. Participants should consider bringing a lawn chair and weather-appropriate clothing (a jacket or raincoat).

N-B Video: Norwell football prepares for new season with new No. 1 quarterback

The News-Banner's Paul Beitler talks with Norwell High School senior Nathan Shelton about the 2012 football season. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Extension calendar

• August 2: State Fair Foods and Horticulture Exhibits Due at County Extension Office, 7-8 AM
• August 3-19: Indiana State Fair
• August 10-12: Wheels of Yesteryear Antique Power Show
• August 11: 4-H Day at the Indiana State Fair
• August 16: Northeast-Purdue Ag Center (NEPAC) Field Day- Columbia City- 8:30 AM- 1:00 PM- Lunch included. (Pesticide Applicator Credits Available)
• August 16: 4-H Fair Review, 4-H association, Council, Leaders of Volunteers, Community Center, 7 PM
• August 20: Wells County 4-H Association, Community Center, 4-H Park, 7 PM
• August 21: State Fair Projects ready for Pick Up
• August 22: Preserving Nature’s Bounty, 6:30-8:30 PM, 4-H Community Center, $3 Registration due at Noon, Please Call 824-6412 to register
• August 24: 4-H Record Books Due from Leaders for County Award Judging

Ossian Conservation Club releases calendar

August 11 — the Ossian Conservation Club will host the Indiana Bowhunter Association’s Ray Minton Memorial Youth Camp for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana. This will be the 10th year the O.C.C has hosted this event and will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call John Peck at 622-4365.

August 12 — the Ouabache Archers will have a Bow shoot at Ossian Conservation Club. Several new Rinehart 3-D Targets! 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All are welcome.

A Hunter Education class (which is free) will be held at the Ossian Conservation Club on August 18th and 19th, Saturday & Sunday, 2012. The Saturday class will start at 8:00 AM and end at 5:00 PM with a one hour break for lunch. The Sunday class will start at 12:00 PM and run until 4:00 PM. There will be range time at this class if weather permits. You will have to pre-register by calling Mike Pinkerton at (260) 824-0692.

August 26 — the Ossian Conservation Club Shotgun Shooter’s informal Shotgun Shoot, regular clays, middies, Minnies and rabbit targets. 12:00 p.m. till 4:30 p.m. Bring the whole Family. Public is welcome.