High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, April 16
GIRLS TRACK: FW South Side at Norwell, 4 p.m.
TRACK: Southern Wells at Blackford, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF: Blackford, Marion vs. Bluffton, postponed; Columbia City at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Mississinewa at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Jay County at Bluffton, 4:30 p.m.; Norwell at South Adams, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; Norwell at FW Snider, 4:30 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5 p.m.; FW Wayne at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southwood at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Adams Central at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
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Friday, April 17
GIRLS TENNIS: Columbia City at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Bluffton at Southwood, 5 p.m.
BASEBALL: Southern Wells at Blackford, 5 p.m.; Norwell at FW Elmhurst, 5 p.m. (rescheduled from Monday).
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Huntington North, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Blackford, 7:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Jay County at Southern Wells (rescheduled from Tuesday), 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: FW Elmhurst at Norwell, 5 p.m.
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Saturday, April 18
BOYS GOLF: Norwell, Southern Wells at Bellmont Invitational, 8 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS: Norwell at Mt. Vernon Invitational, 9 a.m.
BASEBALL: Oak Hill at Bluffton (DH), 10 a.m.; Heritage at Norwell, 10 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Heritage at Norwell, following varsity game.
TRACK: Norwell at FW Bishop Luers Relays, 9:30 a.m.; Bluffton, Southern Wells at Churubusco Invitational, 10 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Wapahani at Southern Wells (DH), 9 a.m.; South Adams at Norwell, 11 a.m.

Tree Cities dot Indiana map

Cities and towns of all sizes across Indiana are putting their knowledge of the benefit of trees to seed … or seedling.

The Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry (DoF) has recognized 64 Indiana cities and towns as Tree Cities USA, a program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
The newest Tree Cities in Indiana are Alexandria, Fishers, Rensselaer and Rising Sun.

Others on the list include Anderson, Angola, Auburn, Avon, Beech Grove, Bedford, Berne, Bloomington, Carmel, Chesterton, Columbia City, Crown Point, Culver, Decatur, Delphi, Dyer, East Chicago, Edgewood, Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Fortville, Fremont, Geneva, Goshen, Greencastle, Greendale, Greenfield, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Huntington and Indianapolis.

Rounding out the list are LaPorte, Lafayette, Madison, Michigan City, Middlebury, Mishawaka, Montpelier, Mount Ayr, Muncie, Munster, Nappanee, New Harmony, Noblesville, North Manchester, Richmond, Rochester, Russiaville, Salem, South Bend, Syracuse, Terre Haute, Tipton, Valparaiso, Vincennes, West Lafayette, Westfield, Whiting, Winamac and Zionsville.

In 2008, Indiana Tree City municipalities and non-profits planted 15,036 trees, removed 5,621 dying or dead trees, and pruned 20,792 trees.

"These communities are working aggressively to improve their environmental and economic health by caring for their urban forest,” said John Seifert, State Forester.

Electric utilities and universities were honored by two companion programs of the Tree City USA program. Tree Line USA recognizes electric utilities that perform proper tree care on trees in their area as they strive to remove tree and power line conflicts. Tree Campus USA is a new program for colleges and universities that recognizes campuses that have committed to managing their trees and involving students in the process.

Indiana’s Tree Line utilities are Indianapolis Power and Light, Mishawaka Utilities, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and, most recently, Vectren Energy.
Indiana University and Indiana State University are the state's first Tree Campuses.
For more information on any of these programs, contact Pam Louks, State Urban Forestry Coordinator at (317) 591-1170 or urbanforestry@dnr.IN.gov.

Indiana ranks 23rd out of all the states and the District of Columbia for number of Tree Cities. The first Hoosier tree city was Bloomington in 1984. The state's largest Tree City is Indianapolis. The smallest in the state is Mount Ayr, population 147.

Nationwide there are more than 3,300 Tree Cities, with more than 125 million combined residents.

National Volunteer Week and DNR opportunities

National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, is a great time catch the giving-back fever that's sweeping the country. Chances are there is a way to donate your interests, time and talents to benefit our natural resources and have fun in the process.

The DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs provides numerous types of opportunities, such as greeting interpretive center visitors, serving as a campground host, demonstrating a craft or skill, assisting with special events, maintaining trails, or monitoring bluebird boxes. Helping control invasive plants such as garlic mustard is another possibility.

If you don't like working outdoors but would like to help the natural resources in another way, many DNR properties need help entering computer data, to free up those whose specialties call them outdoors.
The Natural Resources Education Center at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis seeks gardeners and painters to spruce up for its May 15 open house. From April 20-24, about 10 people will be needed each day. Call (317) 562-1338 or send an e-mail to nrec@dnr.in.gov if you can help.

If you have some free time and a willingness to work, chances are the DNR can use your skills and services.
“Volunteering can help you get to know other property visitors and staff," said Ginger Murphy, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. "Volunteering also gives you a great sense of accomplishment. You know you are helping manage and conserve our natural and cultural resources.”

A brochure describing volunteer opportunities at DNR properties is at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2443.htm. Visit www.dnr.IN.gov/parklake and click on “How You Can Help” to download a volunteer application form. For more information about volunteer opportunities at specific properties, call the office at a DNR property near you.

SKYHAWKS CONTRACTS WITH BLUFFTON PARKS AND RECREATION TO OFFER SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS FOR KIDS

Goshen, IN, April 14, 2009. Skyhawks Sports Academy is proud to announce it has contracted with the Bluffton Parks and Recreation to offer sports camps for kids this summer. Rob Yoder, the Goshen-based franchise owner of Skyhawks Sports Academy announced that Bluffton Parks and Recreation will be offering the following sports camps for kids in the Bluffton community; Mini Hawk Multi Sport (Soccer, Basketball, and T ball) for ages 4-7yrs, Tiny Hawk Multi Sport (Soccer, Basketball, and T ball) for ages 3-4 yrs, SNAG Beginning Golf for ages 5-8 yrs. You can find a complete listing of Skyhawks summer programs at www.skyhawks.com.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Bluffton Parks and Recreation to offer fun and safe programs for the kids in The Bluffton area. Also, since we hire all of our staff locally, this creates a great opportunity for those people looking for summer coaching jobs who have a passion for working with kids,” says Yoder.
If you would like more information about Skyhawks visit them online @ www.skyhawks.com
or call 574-536-1733

B&G Soccer

B&G Club soccer will go through April 30
The Boys and Girls Club will offer soccer with Aldo from March 3 to April 30.
Those in grades first through third will practice from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Those in grades fourth through sixth will practice on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The club is located at 1410 Wayne Street. For more information call 824-1570.

Mighty Wrestlers

Wells County Wrestling Club members Draven and Prairie Filhart-Stoltz, who were competing in the intermediate and bantam divisions at the Norwell Open Freestyle wrestling meet on March 28, placed sixth in their respective weight classes. (Photo submitted)

Wells County High School Sports Calendar

Wednesday, April 8
BASEBALL: Bluffton at Bellmont, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Bluffton at Bellmont, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Bellmont at Bluffton, 5 p.m.
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Thursday, April 9
BASEBALL: Blackford at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; FW North Side at Norwell, 5 p.m.; Southern Wells at Wes-Del, 5 p.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at Oak Hill, 5 p.m.; Blackford at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
SOFTBALL: Blackford at Bluffton (V/JV), 5 p.m.; Yorktown at Southern Wells, 5 p.m.
JV SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Bluffton, cancelled.
TRACK: Madison-Grant at Bluffton, 5 p.m.; Marion at Norwell, 4:30 p.m.; Southern Wells at Eastbrook, 4:30 p.m.
———
Friday, April 10
SOFTBALL: Southern Wells at Blackford, 5 p.m.
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Saturday, April 11
BOYS GOLF: Southern Wells at Triton Invitational, 8 a.m.
JV BASEBALL: Norwell at FW Elmhurst (DH), 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL: Norwell at Southern Wells (DH), 10 a.m.