Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Six Wells County athletes named to AP football team

INDIANAPOLIS — Southren Wells’ senior Kyle Jones and Norwell senior Jeff Shatto topped a group of six Wells County athletes who were named to the Associated Press Football Team for 2010.
Jones was named to the Class A defensive team as a linebacker. Shatto was named to the Class 3A offensive team as a tight end.
Bluffton senior quarterback Cameron Gerber and senior wide receiver Nick Landrum were named to the Class 2A honorable mention list.
Southern Wells’ senior offensive lineman Andrew Runkle and junior linebacker Seth Biberstine were named to the Class A honorable mention list.

8th-grade Norwell girls whip DeKalb
The Norwell 8th-grade girls’ basketball team defeated DeKalb 46-18 on Tuesday at Norwell.
The Crusaders held DeKalb to 6 points in the second half. Hanna Smith and Liara Isnogle led the Crusaders each with 12 points. Monica Frauhiger and Paige Markley each had 6 points. Chloie Williams added 4, while Erika Thornton, Madi Stinson and Sarah Bauermeister each finished with 2 points. Smith also had 4 rebounds. Isnogle had 6 steals and Stinson 3.

Norwell girls’ softball camp slated
Registrations are being accepted for the fourth Norwell Girls’ Softball Christmas Vacation Camp on Dec. 28-30 in the auxiliary gym at Norwell High School.
The camp is open to girls in grades 2-8 in the Northern Wells school district. Camp sessions will be held from 12-2 p.m. each day. Cost is $30 with a $5 discount for siblings.
For more information and to download the registration form go online at www.NorwellKnightsSoftball.com or e-mail camp director Scott Hanni at scott.hanni@nwcs.k12.in.us.

SDSU headed to Poinsettia Bowl
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego State Aztecs have accepted an invitation to play in the hometown Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23 against Navy.
San Diego State finished the regular season 8-4 under second-year coach Brady Hoke, who had been courted by Minnesota for its vacant job.
“I was never offered the job,” Hoke said after the bowl bid was announced prior to Wednesday night’s men’s basketball game against Saint Mary’s.
SDSU athletic director Jim Sterk said he thinks Minnesota’s courtship of Hoke has ended. Sterk said SDSU is putting together a retention package for Hoke and his assistants that should be finalized in the next few weeks.


Correction to 8th-grade Tigers’ scoring
In Tuesday’s News-Banner, an error was made in the individual scoring for the Bluffton 8th-grade boys’ basketball team. Instead of Kobie Lucabaugh, it was Kevin Moser who scored 10 points to lead the Tigers. The News-Banner regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience it caused.

DNR adds LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to gypsy moth quarantine

Indiana DNR Release:

Gypsy moth, an invasive forest insect that defoliates and kills more than 300 kinds of trees but prefers oak trees, has been found in LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.

As a result, Robert E. Carter Jr., director of the DNR, signed an emergency rule late last month declaring these counties quarantined for gypsy moths, on the recommendation of state entomologist Phil Marshall, to slow the spread of the insect.
To date, nine counties in northern Indiana are quarantined for gypsy moths. The other counties are Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, LaGrange, Noble, Porter and Steuben.

In addition to the state quarantine, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will also add LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to the federal gypsy moth quarantine. Both state and federal quarantines have the same requirements, to help prevent confusing the public and businesses.

In essence, both quarantines state that movement of any regulated item out the nine counties is a violation of both the state and federal quarantines unless there is a valid compliance agreement in place issued by the appropriate agency. Compliance agreements allow businesses to move regulated items out of the quarantined counties under specific conditions. Homeowners making household moves out of the quarantined counties can use the USDA APHIS self inspection procedures and form to comply with the quarantine. The form and instructions are at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/fs_dont_move_gypsy_moth.pdf

Regulated items include certain kinds of trees such as cut Christmas trees, nursery stock, logs, slab wood, recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, tents, mobile homes, and other outdoor household articles that might conceal gypsy moth egg masses.

“DNR’s gypsy moth management program has followed the USDA Forest Service protocol, which has efficiently slowed the spread and development of gypsy moths within the state,” Marshall said. “Because of the success of this program, DNR has not previously added counties to the gypsy moth quarantine since 2000.”

For more information on the federal compliance agreement, contact USDA APHIS at (765) 497-2859. For information on state gypsy moth quarantine regulations, call (317) 232-4120.

For more information on GM and the quarantines, see
http://www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo
http://www.gmsts.org
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/gypsy_moth/index.shtml

Salamonie seniors lunch features dried flower crafts, Dec. 6

Indiana DNR Release:

Individuals age 50 or older are invited to enjoy putting their creativity to work as they make a dried flower craft at the Dec. 6 seniors lunch at the Salamonie Interpretive Center.

The program kicks off with the meal at 12:30 p.m. The meat dish will be provided by Upper Wabash Interpretive Services (UWIS). Seniors should bring a dish to pass, their own table service and $1 donation to help defray the cost of the provided meat dish.
To help the staff determine the correct amount of meat, those interested should register by calling UWIS, (260) 468-2127, or visiting the interpretive center, 3691 S. New Holland Road, in Andrews by Dec. 4.

The interpretive center and gift shop’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This barrier-free building features exhibits, floor-to-ceiling windows in the wildlife viewing area, and staff to answer questions. 2011 annual passes and boat launch permits are now available for sale.

The center is in Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, Highway 105, in western Huntington County.

For more information on other UWIS programs, see www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis. Visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/upperwabash.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Crusader boys top DeKalb
Norwell’s 7th- and 8th-grade boys’ basketball teams swept their counterparts at DeKalb Middle School Tuesday evening.
The 8th-grade Crusaders were led by Garrett Mohler’s 22 points in their 46-32 victory. Mohler netted 5 3-point shots and was 3 for 6 at the foul line. Piercen Harnish scored 10, Reggie Hayes 5, Brandon Burch 4, Andrew Oakes 3 and Adam Nahrwold 2.
Balanced scoring from the 7th-grade squad resulted in a 36-17 win.
Hunter Ingle led the team with 8 points. Carson Lockwood, Kalen Johnson and Bray Wilson each had 6. Brody Myers added 5, Derek Macon 4 and Drew Dobbles 1.

Norwell girls’ softball camp slated
Registrations are being accepted for the fourth Norwell Girls’ Softball Christmas Vacation Camp on Dec. 28-30 in the auxiliary gym at Norwell High School.
The camp is open to girls in grades 2-8 in the Northern Wells school district. Camp sessions will be held from 12-2 p.m. each day. Cost is $30 with a $5 discount for siblings.
For more information and to download the registration form go online to www.NorwellKnightsSoftball.com or e-mail camp director Scott Hanni at scott.hanni@nwcs.k12.in.us.

Tigersharks dunk Jay
The Bluffton High School boys’ swimming team defeated Jay County 99-86 Tuesday evening in Bluffton.
Taking first place in their events for the Tigers were: Luke Bertsch, 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:10.15; Jason Prible, 400-meter freestyle with a time of 5:18.36; Sam Walburn, 100-meter backsroke with a time of 1:09.71; Matt Dann, 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:27.86.
The 200-meter medley relay team of Aaron Lautzenheiser, Skyler Schwartz, Keaton Osborn and Mitchel Meitzler took a blue ribbon with a time of 2:22.16.
Ben Miller took first place in the diving competition with a 174.9 total. Florian Summer came in third, while Brendan Baumgardner placed fourth.
Lautzenheiser was the top finisher for the Tigers in the 200-meter freestyle, placing third with a time of 2:35.51. Prible finished second in the 200-meter individual medley, Walburn was second in the 100 meter freestyle and Bertsch was earned second place in the 50-meter freestyle.
The Tigers’ relay team of Bertsch, Prible, Dann and Walburn placed second in two other races: the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle relays.

Knights swimmers fall to Carroll
The Norwell Knights swim teams were defeated Tuesday evening in a dual boys’ and girls’ meet at Carroll.
In the girls’ match-up, Carroll won 179-118. Kimberlee Bussey won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.6 seconds and Dani Thomas won the 100-yard butterfly in 1:03.86. Also placing first for the Knights was Brooke Cossairt in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Carroll boys thumped the Knights 193-74. Carroll swept first place in all events with the only second-place finishes coming from Cole Ackley in the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Andrew Serafini, Alex Cushman, Joe Raber and Alex Mills.

Saints’ Brees draws S.I. honor
NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Brees was honored as Sports Illustrated’s sportsman of the year for his championship on the field and his charity off it.
Brees became the award’s 57th recipient when the magazine made the announcement. The quarterback led the long-suffering New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl title in February, lifting the spirits of the hurricane-battered city.
But the cover story notes he’s done much more than inspire with his brilliant play. Since Brees joined the Saints in 2006 months after Hurricane Katrina, his foundation has worked with nearly 50 New Orleans schools and organizations to aid in recovery.

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, Dec. 2
SWIMMING: Bluffton at Muncie Southside, 5:30 p.m.; Norwell at Marion, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING: Woodlan at Bluffton, 6:30 p.m.; Heritage at Southern Wells, 6:30 p.m.; New Haven at Norwell, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 3
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at South Adams, 6 p.m.; Adams Central at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Whitko, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 4
SWIMMING: Bluffton at Marion Relays, 9 a.m.
WRESTLING: Southern Wells at Frankton 6-way, 9 a.m.; Norwell at Huntington North Invitational, 9 a.m.
JV WRESTLING: Southern Wells at FW Bishop Dwenger Invitational, 8:30 a.m.; Norwell at DeKalb C-Team Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Southern Wells, noon; Norwell at Homestead, noon.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Jay County at Bluffton, 6 p.m.

Free hunter safety course upcoming

FORT WAYNE — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Allen County 4-H Shooting Sports program will host a free, two-day hunter safety education class at the Allen County Extension Office.

The course will be Feb. 5 and 12, from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Participants must attend both days. The course will take place at the Allen County Extension Office, 4001 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne (on the east side of IPFW Campus). Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required. Please bring your own sack lunch.

Topics to be covered at the course include hunting heritage, early firearms history, firearms safety, hunter responsibility, wildlife conservation and management, wildlife identification, care of game, specialty hunting (muzzleloading, handguns, bow hunting), survival and first aid and water safety.

Persons born on or after Dec. 31, 1986, must successfully complete a hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license. Anyone age 12 and under must be accompanied during the course by a parent or guardian.

Instructors for the course are certified by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Nominations sought for state's Trails Advisory Board

Indiana DNR Release:

Individuals who blaze the state's trails—or who know someone who does, should contact the DNR regarding five open positions on its state Trails Advisory Board (TAB).

These volunteers, who are expected to serve a three-year term, must be involved with a trails-oriented organization that represents one of the following trails-user groups:

–Environmental Groups
–Mountain Bike
–Trail Support Groups
–Users with Disabilities
–Hiker

Not only does the TAB advise DNR director Robert E. Carter Jr. on trails-related issues, the board's existence meets a federal eligibility requirement that allows the state to receive funding from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The fund source is a yearly portion of federal taxes on gasoline purchased by off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles. The state uses these funds to acquire and develop multi-use trails for both motorized and non-motorized use.

Nominations and letters of support indicating why a nominee best represents a particular trails-interest group will be accepted by the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation until Jan. 7, 2011.

To receive nomination instructions or learn more about the board, see www.IN.gov/dnr/outdoor/ and click on ”Indiana Trails Advisory Board, " which is below the photos on the website.

Interested parties can also obtain the instructions and additional information by contacting David Cox at (317) 232-4067, dcox@dnr.IN.gov; or by mail or in person at DNR Outdoor Recreation, 402 W. Washington St. Room W271, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2782.