N-B Video: Girls at basketball camp meet BHS basketball star

Abby Ault (formerly Abby Salscheider), former Bluffton High School and Michigan State University basketball standout, shares memories and more with a group of 69 girls, including several members of the Bluffton High School girls basketball team, during the BHS basketball summer camp. (Video by Paul Beitler)

Ouabache planning weekend of programs

Looking for something to do this weekend? Celebrate Ouabache State Park and get outdoors. Click here to learn more.

N-B Video: Norwell High School announces new boys' varsity baseball coach

Video by Paul Beitler

"Forests At Work" DVD now available

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

“Indiana Expeditions: Forests At Work”, a show that highlights Indiana’s forest resources, forest management, wood products, urban forestry and many other topics, aired recently on public television (and continues to air periodically). This hour-long show was a collaborative production between the DNR-Division of Forestry and WFYI public television in Indianapolis and was funded entirely through donations.

We now have DVDs containing the show as well as a great deal of extra content. We’re selling these DVDs at a cost of $10 each, with the proceeds going toward producing additional DVDs. We hope to generate enough income that we can continue to have a supply for sale as well as eventually being able to provide copies free of charge to schools, libraries, etc.

Attached is an order form for the DVD if you would like to purchase one for your interpretive programs. Please feel free to reproduce this form and make it available to the public. If you would like to view portions of the show and some of the extra content, you can do so by going to the following website: http://www.wfyi.org/IndianaExpeditions/ForestsAtWork.asp.

To download the DVD order form, click here.

Pierce captures USSA Sprint Feature

From Anderson Speedway:

Aaron Pierce took the lead on the eighth lap and led the rest of the way with JoJo Helberg glued to his rear bumper to win the United States Speed Association’s 50-lap feature at Anderson Speedway on Saturday.

The early lead was taken by Kyle Feeney chased by Travis Welpott, Pierce and Helberg. On the fourth lap Pierce got inside of Welpott entering turn one and a lap later Helberg followed suit around Welpott on the back straight.

On the eighth circuit Pierce used an inside move to get around Feeney entering turn one to grab the top spot. Helberg got inside of Feeney coming off the second corner.

For the next 40 laps Helberg was able to close on Pierce but was unable to find a way around to take the lead. Feeney finished third followed by Welpott and Kevin Feeney.

Pierce lapped the entire field except for Helberg.

“I knew JoJo (Helberg) was pretty good and it was important to get in front of him,” Pierce said. “I had to keep him behind me. You can’t made a mistake here.”

Pierce won the Glen Nielbel Classic at Anderson Speedway in April in the first pavement sprint car race sanctioned by USSA.

Two weeks after having all kinds of mechanical problems during the Champion Racing Association Sportsman race, Ryan Amonett rebounded to win the McGunegill Engine Performance Late Model feature.

Amonett, helped by an invert of the eight fastest qualifiers, started from the pole position and led all 35 laps for the victory. He first had to hold off Brandon Phillips for 28 laps and then Daniel Hemric over the final seven circuits.

Hemric spun on lap 27 and had to go to the tail, but before one lap could be completed Josh Cave and Josh Poore made contact in turn two which caused a four-car tangle.

On the restart Hemric lined up third behind Amonett and Phillips. Hemric got inside of Phillips on the front straight and started to put pressure on Amonett. Behind the two front runners Phillips and Poore swapped the third position with Poore claiming the spot on lap 31. Brock Anderson came home in fifth.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit this year, but we’re finally getting things together,” Amonett said. “I knew Daniel (Hemric) was behind me and I was just trying to hold my line through the corners.”

Chis Weddel made it three Thunder Roadster wins in a row passing Scott McGinnley with an inside move entering turn one on the 20th circuit to record the victory.

McGinnley took the lead from the start chased by Nate Shrout, Doug Dugger, Darrell Brown and Weddel. Brown and Weddel got inside of Dugger going down the back straight on lap six and four laps later Weddel got inside of Brown.


When Shrout got loose in turn four on lap 16 Weddel got to the outside and started closing on McGinnley. Following Weddel and McGinnley to the checkers were Brown, Shrout and Dugger.

Jerry Dane recorded his fifth feature win in the G.W. Pierce Front Wheel Drive Oval action but he had to hold off a determined Jeff Saxon.

On the final lap Saxon got inside of Dane entering turn one, but exiting the second corner, Dane was able to pull away for his fourth consecutive win. Ron Phipps came home in third with Trevin Henson and Nick Warner rounding out the top five.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Saturday, June 23 with McGunegill Engine Performance Late Models, WMDH ThunderCars, Thunder Roadsters and Legends.

For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic starts Ouabache SP’s 10-day 50th anniversary, June 28

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Patriotic music performed by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at Ouabache State Park on June 28 will kick off the park’s 10-day 50th anniversary celebration.

The 7:30 p.m. concert, which honors Independence Day, is just the beginning of a series of activities and special attractions that runs through July 8 in recognition of the park’s half-century in Bluffton.

Ginger Murphy, DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs assistant director for stewardship, will address the crowd during the concert’s intermission to officially recognize the anniversary.

Upper Wabash Interpretive Services, the group of DNR naturalists that serves the park, and other area DNR properties, will host all activities.

• June 28 Fort Wayne Philharmonic, 7:30 p.m.
• June 30 Bison from the Brink, 10 a.m.; Cornhole tournament, 1 p.m.
• July 1 Live Bald Eagle, 1 p.m.; Park’s 50th Celebration, 2:30 p.m.
• July 2 Meander with Millie the Pioneer Granny Doctor, 10 a.m.
• July 3 Live Screech Owls, 7 p.m.
• July 4 Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt, 1 p.m.
• July 5 Kunkel Lake Exploration Hike, 10 a.m.
• July 6 Life of Charles Deam, 7 p.m.
• July 7 Make a Birthday Card for Smokey Bear, 5:30 p.m.; Bicycle Decorating, 6:15 p.m.; Smokey Bear Parade, 6:45 p.m.; Smokey’s Birthday Bash 7 p.m.
• July 8 Owl Calls, 11:30 a.m.

”Pioneers” kids day camp at Ouabache

From Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Children will learn about life on the Indiana frontier at Persistent Pioneers Day Camp, June 19-21, at Ouabache State Park.

The day camp is open to children ages 7-11, and runs from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Activities include pioneer games and songs, canoeing, a visit with a pioneer granny doctor, candle dipping and weaving. A certified shooting sports instructor will teach participants how to shoot a bow. On the last day, a Dutch oven lunch will be prepared.

The camp’s activities are guided by interpretive naturalists trained to provide a safe and fun learning environment. Children need to bring a sack lunch with drink each day. A snack will be provided.

The camp costs $50. Fees will be adjusted for families with multiple children attending. Families can also ask about single- or two-day registrations.

Day camp participants are only required to pay the $5-per-in-state-vehicle entrance fee once. Park admission will be allowed on the remaining days with a paid receipt.

Guardians must fill out health and media participation forms for their children.

To register, call Upper Wabash Interpretive Services at (260) 468-2127.