TinCaps Announce 2013 Field Staff

From the Fort Wayne TinCaps:

The Fort Wayne TinCaps, in conjunction with the San Diego Padres, announced their 2013 field staff today. Manager Jose Valentin and Pitching Coach Willie Blair will both return to Parkview Field, while former major leaguer Morgan Burkhart will begin his first season as hitting coach. Athletic Trainer Ricky Huerta will join the club for his first season in Fort Wayne.

Valentin, 46, led the TinCaps to the Midwest League Championship Series in a 74-win campaign during his managerial debut season. The veteran of 16 major league seasons was named the Low-A Manager of the year for 2012 by Baseball America in his first season on the bench. He sent three players to the Midwest League All-Star game and had two players named as Midwest League Post-Season All-Stars, marking the first time Fort Wayne placed multiple players on that list since 2003. He also managed Yeison Asencio, the first-ever Midwest League batting champion in the 20-year history of the franchise. The Manati, Puerto Rico, native played finished his major league career with a .243 batting average, 816 runs batted in and 249 home runs. In addition to playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Valentin also spent time with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, before retiring in 2009.

Blair, who spent 12 seasons in the major leagues with eight different teams, will lead Fort Wayne's pitching staff for a third consecutive year. During the 2012 season Blair oversaw the development of relief pitcher Matt Stites, who was named the Low-A All-Star relief pitcher of the year by Baseball America. Blair, a Paintsville, Kentucky, native and Morehead State University graduate, also guided Adys Portillo, who was 3-11 with a 7.11 ERA in 2011, to a 6-6 record with a 1.87 ERA in 2012 that netted the pitcher a July promotion to Double-A San Antonio. The TinCaps' staff ERA of 3.59 was fifth-best in the 16-team Midwest League.

Burkhart replaces former major league outfielder Jacque Jones as Fort Wayne's hitting coach. The 40-year-old Burkhart is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. During his major league career, Burkhart played for the Boston Red Sox in 2000 and 2001, and for the Kansas City Royals in 2003. Most recently, he served as the manager of the Windy City ThunderBolts, an independent team in the Frontier League. Prior managerial experience also includes three seasons at the helm of the independent Calgary Vipers.

Huerta, who served as the trainer for the Arizona League Padres last season, joins in the TinCaps in that same role. The 26-year-old Los Angeles native will be entering his fourth season with the Padres organization. 

The 2013 season marks the 15th consecutive year of Fort Wayne's affiliation with San Diego.

“Talk” to DNR Christmas tree expert on Facebook, Dec. 5

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Facebook followers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources can “talk” online with Forest Education Director Sam Carman about Christmas trees on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 2-3 p.m., on the DNR’s Facebook wall.

Participants will learn how to choose a fresh Indiana Christmas tree and keep it fresh throughout the holidays. Followers will be able to ask questions online during the hour-long chat.

Future topics, instructions on how to join a conversation on Facebook, and commenting guidelines are posted at dnr.IN.gov/7315.htm.

To join a chat, go to the DNR’s Facebook wall, facebook.com/INdnr, and click “like” (if you aren’t already a “friend”).

Participants may begin typing in questions during the time slot. The DNR expert will answer questions as time allows.

Salamonie Lake hosts Senior Monday lunch, Dec.3

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

People age 50 and over are invited to the monthly Senior Monday Carry-in Luncheon on Dec. 3 at noon at the Salamonie Interpretive Center.

The interpretive center is in Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area in Andrews. Visitors should note the new noon meal time.
Huntington County Master Gardeners will lead a gourd Christmas craft session after the meal.

Attendees should bring their table service, a prepared dish to share and $1 donation to help defray costs of the provided main dish. Advance registration is required.

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

For more information on other UWIS programs, see dnr.IN.gov/uwis or Facebook.com/UpperWabash.

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

Norwell honors basketball teams past

Members of Norwell's 1973 and 1988 boys' basketball teams were honored before the varsity boys' game Saturday night at Norwell.

Members of Norwell's 2011-2012 boys' basketball team, which finished runner-up in the Class 3A state finals, receive their runners-up state rings, during the same game.

Wells County Extension Office calendar

• November 27 — Council on Agriculture, Research, Extension and Teaching, DeKalb County Office Building, 215 E. 9th St., Auburn IN, 7 p.m.
• November 28 — Wells County 4-H Jr. Leaders, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7-8:30 p.m.
• December 6 — Wells County 4-H Council, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7  p.m.
• December 10 — Wells County 4-H Association, Council, Leaders & Livestock Superintendents, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, Carry In Supper, 6 p.m.
• December 11 — 4-H Scholarship Workshop, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7-8 p.m.
• December 13 — Ag Outlook Breakfast / Program, Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton, 7 a.m. No fee. Register to attend: 824-6412
• December 13 — Private Pesticide Applicator Training, community Center, 4-H Park, 9:30 AM. $10 fee. Register by calling: 824-6412

Duck stamp art on display at Salamonie Lake

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Winning artwork from the 2012 Indiana Junior Duck Stamp Contest will be on display at Salamonie Interpretive Center through November.

The display features 12 first-place winners from four age categories.

More than 450 students in grades K–12 entered artwork for the contest, which involved drawing a native North American water bird, including ducks, geese or swans. The concept was for the students to learn “conservation through art.”

The Salamonie Interpretive Center is in Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area, Highway 105, in western Huntington County. The center is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Salamonie Interpretive Center hosts holiday decorating party

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Join the Salamonie Interpretive Center staff on Nov. 17 to help decorate the Interpretive Center for the holidays.

The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center will provide lunch and the decorations. Donated decorations will also be accepted.

Register by calling (260) 468-2127.

The center is at 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, in Salamonie Lake’s Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area, off Highway 105, in western Huntington County.