Salamonie Lake to hold day camp

Salamonie Lake is holding a winter day camp for children ages 7 to 11, Dec. 27-29.

Each day provides a variety of activities during the 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. camp. People can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, movie time, snacks, crafts and games.

Activities include building a life-size replica of an Eastern Woodland wigwam, learning to shoot a bow and arrow, discovering how to track an animal through the woods, starting a campfire with a bow and drill, daily crafts, hikes and more. Participants should bring warm play clothes, an extra pair of shoes and gloves.

Activities are guided by interpretive naturalists trained. A snack will be provided. Children need to bring a sack lunch with drink each day.

The camp requires a $45 participation fee. Fees will be adjusted for families with multiple children attending. Parents will be asked to fill out a participation form.

Call Upper Wabash Interpretive Services at (260) 468-2127 to register. Visit www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis for more information.

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

Nascar champions from Homestead weekend share Eldora speedway connections

Rossburg, OH – Tony Stewart’s drive to victory at Homestead Miami Speedway and the resulting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crown Sunday night, capped off an exciting NASCAR championship weekend that resulted in a trio of title holders sharing an Eldora Speedway connection.

As owner of the southwestern Ohio speed plant, as well as a frequent competitor and victor on the one-half mile clay oval, Stewart was quick to point out that Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Nationwide Series) and Austin Dillon (Camping World Truck Series) have also made their presence known at Eldora.

Stenhouse’s name was etched into the Eldora Speedway history books in 2007 during the annual Four Crown Nationals when he bested the United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget field, while Dillon’s claim to fame came during the 2010 World 100 for Late Models. At that time, in only his second appearance on the Eldora clay, Dillon topped the 134 car field with quick time honors. He eventually finished 13th in the 100-lap chase.

Race officials say Stewart’s accomplishments as an Eldora driver are even greater with victory stage appearances as the result of feature wins in Sprint Cars (winged and non-winged), Midgets, Modifieds and Late Models. Additionally, they say, Stewart has prevailed over Eldora’s marquee Prelude to the Dream three times since its inception in 2005.

It may very well be that the Prelude event could offer an opportunity for the trio of NASCAR champions to return together as Eldora competitors in 2012. While Stewart has not released invitations to the annual June charity event as of yet, Stenhouse, Jr. and Dillon have to be considered as likely candidates to get mail from the three-time Sprint Cup champion as invitees.

In addition to the talent-laden Prelude to the Dream invitational (June 6) and World 100 (September 7 & 8), Eldora’s key events in 2012 include the Dirt Late Model Dream (June 8 & 9) and the Kings Royal weekend (July 13 & 14). The ticket sale campaign for these events begins Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 10 a.m. by going online to www.eldoraspeedway.com.

Baer Field Speedway to hold awards ceremony

The Speedway will hold its award ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, at the American Legion Post 241, 7605 Bluffton Rd. Dinner will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and music and door prizes will follow the ceremony. Cost is $15 per person. To register, click here. Register by Nov. 23.

TinCaps coaching staff revealed

From the Fort Wayne TinCaps:

The Fort Wayne TinCaps, in conjunction with their major league affiliate San Diego Padres, announced the 2012 Field Staff today.

Former major leaguer Jose Valentin was named manager of the TinCaps, replacing Shawn Wooten in the dugout. Valentin was drafted by the Padres organization in 1986 and traded to the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 1992. Included in the deal was former major league slugger Gary Sheffield. Valentin made his major league debut on September 17, 1992.

Valentin, from Manati, Puerto Rico, played for 16 seasons in the major leagues, finishing his career with a .243 batting average, 816 runs batted in and 249 home runs. In addition to the Brewers, Valentin also spent time with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, before retiring in 2009.

"Jose Valentin will join a long list of successful Fort Wayne managers that includes Gary Jones, Randy Ready, Doug Dascenzo and Shawn Wooten," said Randy Smith, Vice President of Player Development and International Scouting for the Padres. "I am excited about what Jose will bring to the TinCaps and Padres organization. I have known Jose since he was 16 and was first beginning his playing career.

In 2004, Valentin became owner of the Santurce Crabbers of the Puerto Rico Baseball League and he has spent the last several years as an instructor at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School in Gurabo.

Valentin will be joined in the dugout by pitching coach Willie Blair, who was in the same role with the TinCaps in 2011. Blair spent 12 seasons in the major leagues with eight different teams, finishing with a career mark of 60-86. The hitting coach for the TinCaps is still to be determined.

"Jose played with passion and terrific instincts for 16 years at the major league level and I am confident he will develop our young players in the same mold," Smith added. "Jose and Willie give us a great tandem and represent the organization well."

Last year, under Blair's guidance, the TinCaps pitching staff finished with a 3.99 earned run average during the regular season, 1,117 strikeouts which was fourth-best in the Midwest League and the 11 shutouts hurled by TinCaps pitchers was third-best in the league.

In addition to Blair, the Padres announced that Dan Turner will return to Fort Wayne as the TinCaps trainer. Turner will be in his second full season in Fort Wayne and fourth in the San Diego system.

Hunters asked to complete online state forest survey

Hunters can help monitor the abundance and distribution of deer and other wildlife species in State Forests by completing an online survey after each hunting trip to a State Forest this year.

“Hunters are uniquely skilled observers in the outdoors and are in a position to provide feedback that can help us better manage the resources of our State Forests,” said John Seifert, director of the DNR Division of Forestry.

Hunters are asked to go to dnr.IN.gov/forestry/7245.htm every time they return from a hunting trip. Multiple hunting trips made on the same day would ideally warrant separate visits to the website to complete a survey. State Forests in Indiana are listed at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/3631.htm.

This anonymous survey will be available all year online and is open to all hunters who hunt in the State Forests. Completion will take a hunter a few minutes.

More instructions are listed at the website.

Note: The DNR Customer Service Center and the DNR Deer Hotline, (812) 334-3795, will not be open on Friday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

For more information: Scott Haulton, Forestry Wildlife Specialist, (317) 234-5725.

November extension calendar

• November 14 — Northeast Indiana 4-H & FFA Career Development Event (Forestry, Crops & Entomology), Whitley County Fairgrounds, Columbia City, Registration, 5 PM; Judging, 5:30 PM
• November 15 — Holiday Happenings entitled A Safe & Happy Holiday, program sponsored
• by Wells County Extension Homemakers, Community Center, 4-H Park, 6:30 PM. Pre-registration appreciated. Cost is $5.00. Local artist Nancy Wagner will be painting an autumn scene on slate which will be auctioned off at the end of the evening. Holiday candy making by Kay Prosser and holiday safety tips from Bluffton Police Department and Bluffton Fire Dept. Call Wells County Extension Office 260-824-6412 for registration form.
• November 16 — Career Expo Set Up, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 2:00-4:30 PM
• November 17 — Wells County Career Expo, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 8 AM-2 PM
• November 17 — Wells County Extension Advisory Board, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 6:30 PM
• November 21 — Wells County 4-H Association, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7 PM

Salamonie Interpretive Center to offer day camp

The Eastern Woodland Indians Salamonie Winter Day Camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, Wednesday, Dec. 28, and Thursday, Dec. 29. Children ages 7 to 11 are invited. Features include games, crafts, movies, hikes, archery, and artifacts. Participants should bring their own lunches. Hats, gloves, coats and an extra pair of shoes or boots are necessary.

Cost is $45 per child. Pre-registration is required, and a 2011 health/media release form is required. The forms are available at www.IN.gov/dnr/uwis.

To register, call 260-468-2127.