Indiana youth turkey season, April 18 & 19

Indiana’s 2009 spring turkey youth season takes place April 18 and 19. The special season is open to hunters age 15 or younger. Youth hunters are limited to one bearded or male wild turkey.
To participate, a youth hunter must be accompanied in the field at all times by an unarmed adult who is at least 18 years old. The youth must be in possession of either a youth consolidated hunting license or an apprentice turkey license. The adult does not need a license.

An apprentice license is available to youths who have yet to complete the requirement of hunter education. All persons, regardless of age, are limited to three apprentice licenses in their lifetime.
Legal weapons include 10-, 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge shotguns, bow and arrow, or crossbow. All turkeys must be properly tagged and checked-in at an official turkey check station. A list of check stations is available in the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Guide or online at www.wildlife.IN.gov.

Youth turkey hunters killed 956 turkeys during the 2008 youth season and 736 turkeys during the 2007 youth season.

Extension Calendar

April 7 – 4-H BB & Rifle Club Awards Night, Community Center, 6:30 PM
April 8 – 4-H Frozen Foods Pick Up, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 2 - 5 PM
April 8 – “Gardening with Native Plants” presentation by Ben Hess, Community Center, 9 AM Open to the public
April 9 – 4-H Rabbit Workshop, Community Center, 7 - 8:30 PM
April 9 – Wells County 4-H Dog Obedience Club, Community Center, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
April 10 – Good Friday - County Offices Closed
April 11 – 4-H Park Spring Clean Up Day, Bluffton, 8:30 AM - 12 Noon
April 13 – Hunter Education, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 5:30 - 9 PM
April 14 – Hunter Education, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 5:30 - 9 PM
April 14 – Wells County 4-H Foundation, Community Center, 4-H Park, 7 PM
April 14 – Ag Tour for 4th Graders - 4-H Park
April 15 – Hunter Education, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 5:30 - 9 PM
April 15 – Kids Health & Safety Fair, Bluffton Elementary School, 8:30 AM - 3 PM
April 16 – Kids Health & Safety Fair, Bluffton Elementary School, 8:30 AM - 3 PM
April 16 – Wells County 4-H Dog Obedience Club, Community Center, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
April 17 – Northeast Indiana 4-H & FFA Dairy & Livestock Judging Contest, Wells County 4-H Park, 8:30 AM - 3 PM
April 18 – 4-H Park Spring Clean Up Day, Bluffton, 8:30 AM - 12 Noon
April 20 – Wells County 4-H Association, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7 PM

Sunrise Without Snow

This shot of the sunrise over Lake Michigan is provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources photo gallery. Obviously it was shot when there was no lake effect snow in the sky...

Ossian Conservation Club Events

Ossian Conservation Club Inc., a not for profit corporation located at 9950 N 100 E, Ossian, has announced the following April events. For more information call 622-4712 or 622-6810 or go to www.ossianconservationclub.com.
April 18 — Nelson’s Port-A-Pit Chicken, Pork Chops and Ribs at Villa North in Bluffton from 11 a.m. till gone. No pre-sold tickets. Cost is $5.50 for half a chicken or pork chop, and $9 for a slab of ribs. For dessert try our old style sugar corn made in a cast iron kettle. Cost is $2 and $4 a bag. Proceeds will to go to the new furnace, window, and siding fund.
April 19 — Ossian Conservation Club Shotgun Shooter’s informal Shotgun Shoot from 12 p.m. till 4:30. Regular clays, middies, minnies and rabbit targets. Bring the whole family. Public is welcome.
April 26 — Ouabache Archers at Ossian Conservation Club from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30. Several new Rinehart 3-D targets. All are welcome.
Many of our supporters were disappointed that we didn’t have a raffle last year, so this year we will be selling raffle tickets on a Ruger 10-22 rifle. This is a “Distributor’s Special” Model GRL-THB with a MSRP of $545. Tickets will sell for $1 each or six tickets for $5, and will be sold at all of the fund raisers and events this year and also from club members. For tickets or more information call, Dave Saalfrank at 622-7107 or Rose Ann Barrick at 622-4733. The drawing will be at the Oct. 2 meeting at the Ossian Conservation Club.

DNR extends emergency flood relief rule

Indiana DNR Release:

DNR director Robert E. Carter Jr. has extended for another year an emergency rule that temporarily suspends permit requirements for certain construction activities and debris removal caused by flooding.
The original rule was issued last summer in the wake of extreme flooding in southern Indiana but was extended several times to aid flood-damaged counties.

The latest extension, which takes effect April 6 and expires March 31, 2010, was reauthorized for two reasons.

One is to allow time for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal program, to complete dozens of flood-related projects it began under its Emergency Watershed Protection program. The other reason is to provide the DNR an opportunity to review and evaluate current rules to determine if changes are needed.

Under normal conditions, the construction activities and debris removal addressed by the emergency rule would require a permit under Indiana Code 14-28-1. The reauthorized emergency rule provides an exemption to that permit requirement for the following types of projects:

Reconstruction of bridges and culvert crossings damaged by floodwaters;
Removal of logjams and debris from the channel of a waterway;
Stabilization and repair of stream banks eroded by floodwaters.
Scenic Rivers and salmonid streams are not covered by this temporary rule, but projects can be authorized with additional review. Some of these projects also may require authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and possibly both.

Some conditions apply under this order in regard to the equipment and methods used in reconstruction, debris removal and stabilization. For example, replacement bridges or culvert crossings must be at least the same size and as effective as before the flood damage occurred; appropriate control measures must be installed to prevent the flow of sediment-laden water into the waterway; and certain plants may not be used for re-vegetation.
The original emergency rule was issued June 11, 2008, for 29 counties in southern Indiana. Extensions were authorized in July and August 2008, to add 21 more flood-damaged counties before it was extended statewide in October 2008. That final extension expired March 31.

A complete list of emergency rule guidelines is available at in.gov/dnr/water/ (click on the link marked Emergency Rule-Flood Extension or the link marked Logjam FAQs).

New online DNR photo gallery serves public, media

Indiana DNR Release:

The Department of Natural Resources has launched a new online digital photo gallery of popular images as a service to the public and the news media.

Any of the 70 gallery images can be downloaded and used within guidelines listed on the site. Potential uses include computer desktop backgrounds, school reports, personal enjoyment and to support news media reports of DNR programs. For most personal or editorial uses, there is no charge.

To access the gallery, go to dnr.IN.gov, click on Divisions in the left column, click on Communications, and then click on the DNR Photos link. The main photo page describes the legal uses of the images, and how and when to provide credit to the DNR. Directions are provided for requesting high-resolution images and for purchasing high-quality prints.

The site includes attractive shots of Indiana nature scenes, wildlife, people in outdoor activities, some state-endangered species and bald eagles.

Other timely highlights include images of the emerald ash borer and gypsy moth insects, the State Fair, the Brown County State Park mountain biking trails system, the banding of falcons, and sandhill cranes visiting the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area.

The gallery will be updated periodically with fresh images.

Buy an adventure at a state park this summer

Indiana DNR Release:

Catch the adventure tourism craze at Indiana State Parks this season.
This season you won’t have to go far from home to experience a unique opportunity with your family or friends.

The Indiana State Parks offer five unique adventure experiences. These include everything from private tours through unique cave systems to having lunch with a raptor.

To learn more or to purchase, see www.innsgifts.com.