Indiana Department of Natural Resources press releases from hunting licenses to announcing a new DNR director

From  Indiana Department of Natural Resources press releases

Deer licenses for sale

Don’t wait until right before deer season, purchase your 2020-21 deer hunting license now. Season dates and answers to deer hunting FAQs can be found at deer.dnr.IN.gov. Deer licenses can be purchased at an authorized retailer or online at on.IN.gov/inhuntfish. You must sign up for an Access Indiana account this year before purchasing your license online – we recommend setting up your account ahead of time to avoid any delay.
Changes to online license system portal
Signing in to buy hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses looks a little different now. A new state online portal called Access Indiana, which allows citizens to interact with all facets of state government through a single login, has been implemented. Presently, there are 18 services that users can enter through Access Indiana. Individuals who already have an online account to purchase licenses should have received an email with helpful account information. New DNR customers will be directed to create an Access Indiana account before supplying additional DNR-specific account information. New customers will then be able to complete their DNR profile and purchase a license. If you haven’t already purchased your hunting license for this fall, we recommend creating your Access Indiana account today. Find instructions for getting started online. For additional assistance with user names or passwords, call 800-457-8283 for Access Indiana customer support. DNR is unable to assist with user names and passwords. More information about the Access Indiana portal, answers to FAQs, and other helpful information is available online.
Deadline for reserved hunt applications Aug. 17
Don’t forget that applications for reserved hunts, which includes State Park Deer Management hunts, must be submitted through the online portal by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17.  For more information, go to: on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. Please note that only one application per hunt is allowed. No changes can be made once the application is submitted. In the system, hunts without a registration fee will follow the same process as those with a fee. For hunts with no fee required to register, applicants will be asked to “Add to Cart,” “Proceed to Checkout,” and “Place Order.” If the transaction total is $0, the applicant will not be asked to enter credit card information. Applicants must click “Place Order” to submit their application. To view draw hunt results, applicants can log in to their online services account or click “View hunt draw results” at: on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. Once logged into the online services account, hunters should select “Click here” under Reserved Hunts to see the status of registered hunts. The link will only show upcoming hunts that an individual has registered for. Logging into an account online is required to see the full history of past hunt registrations, including those from previous years.

Hunting & Trapping Guide available in late August

The new DNR Hunting & Trapping Regulation Guide will be available in late August. Pick up a copy at your local retailer or a DNR property. The new guide will also be posted online at hunting.IN.gov.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
If you don’t already have your Harvest Information Program (HIP) number for the 2020-21 migratory bird seasons, register now online or by calling 866-671-4499. It’s easy to register online, and there’s no cost for using either method. 
Hunting seasons starting soon Gray and fox squirrel hunting season begins Aug. 15 and runs through Jan. 31, 2021. Hunting seasons for rail (sora only), mourning doves, and snipe open Sept. 1. Check out this year’s season dates for early migratory gamebirds and remember to purchase your hunting license.
Avoid late summer fish kills in your pond
Late summer is one of the hardest times for fish in your pond. Temperatures are peaking, and this can cause some biological changes in the water. These changes could result in less oxygen, causing fish to suffocate. Proper pond aeration and avoidance of chemical usage in your pond during late summer are key techniques to ensure the fish in your pond survive. To learn more about fish kills and techniques to avoid them, visit our pond management page or check out our pond management guide.
What’s biting?
Although the 2020 Indiana State Fair (and the Fishin’ Pond) is canceled, you can still go fishing and reel in a tasty catch. August is a good time to fish for channel catfish at our reservoirs, especially in the evenings or at night. Several of our urban stocking locations still hold plenty of catfish. For flathead fishing, try fishing with live bait along a river bank or on a boat at night. Flatheads will also bite during the day. August is also a great time for stream fishing – hot temperatures and less rain make rivers and streams more accessible and easy for wading. When the day is hot, fishing in a creek can be a great way to cool off. It’s hard to top fishing for smallmouth bass while wading in a beautiful Indiana stream. Bluegill and redear sunfish are also still biting at lakes and ponds across the state. Get out and enjoy at a spot near you.
Visit a range during National Shooting Sports Month
August is National Shooting Sports Month, a month celebrating the shooting sports industry and providing an opportunity for gun owners to get involved in recreational shooting. Indiana DNR has 12 public shooting ranges and 10 archery ranges that anyone is welcome to enjoy. Try out your equipment at the range today.
Reminder: Turkey brood reports still needed
Each summer, Hoosiers are asked to count the number of young wild turkeys (poults) with turkey hens in what are termed “brood surveys.” These surveys provide the Division of Fish and Wildlife with information about turkey poult survival and help us decide on action plans for wild turkey management.
Hens without poults can also be reported through this survey.
So far, citizens have reported more than 500 observations. We need 2,500 more to reach our goal of 3,000 turkey brood observations. Anyone can report turkey sightings between July 1 and Aug. 31 at: on.IN.gov/turkeybrood.
Dan Bortner is new DNR Director
Dan Bortner, who has served as director of Indiana State Parks since 2005, is the new director of the DNR. We look forward to working under his leadership to continue to improve our fish and wildlife areas, public access sites, and other public lands for fish, wildlife, and people.  
Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund at Work: Aquatics
Indiana waters are home to nearly 30 different species of darters. Darters are members of the perch family, which contains the more recognizable walleye, sauger, and yellow perch. Darters look similar to these well-known sportfish; however, they don’t get as large. Few darters grow larger than three to four inches.  Three of Indiana’s 10 state endangered fish species are darters. Variegate darter, gilt darter, and channel darter were once much more widely distributed, but are now each restricted to only one unique river system in Indiana. The channel darter inhabits deeper waters of the mainstem Ohio River, and monitoring populations in this vast habitat requires some unique techniques. A Missouri trawl, specifically designed to sample smaller fish, is pulled by boat along the river’s bottom to net this tiny species for study. Many darters require special sampling practices to monitor their populations and determine their abundance. Monitoring of Indiana’s endangered darter species is made possible by donations to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund.  

FC records 11th death associated with COVID-19; positive test results up in both FC and UC

By John Estridge

From information released by the Indiana Department of Health and the Union County Department of Health

Franklin County has five new positive COVID-19 test results and an 11th death, according to the Indiana Department of Health website.

No new information on the death has been released by the Franklin County Health Department.

FC now has 229 positive COVID-19 results.

Union County went up three positive COVID-19 test results to 33. UC has not recorded any COVID-19-related deaths.

This was released recently by the UCDH.

Who needs to quarantine?

Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

This includes people who previously had COVID-19 and people who have taken a serologic (antibody) test and have antibodies to the virus.

What counts as close contact?

You were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes

You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19

You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)

You shared eating or drinking utensils

They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

FC July marriage licenses

Supplied by the Franklin County Clerk’s Office

Raven Bailey Reinhardt, 22, and Kody Alan Sparks, 23.

Philip James Banks, 53, and Heather Christine Cummins, 45.

Crystal L. Brennan, 40, and Walter J. Bolser, 43.

Taylor Shea Dyonna Jordan, 23, and Dustin Anthony Keller, 26.

Jessica Mason, 26, and Francisco Hernandez Ramos, 31.

Kenda Nobbe, 21, and Owen Lecher, 20.

Kayla Marie Ward, 23, and Anthony Quentin Edge, 26.

Marylyn Tierney, 84, and Charles Back Jr., 75.

Michaela Knight, 31, and Evan Lecher, 40.

Michelle Lyn Jordan, 46, and David William Knecht, 55.

Dawn Marie Davidson, 35, and Clayton Dale Kinnett, 35.

Nicholas Paul Moore, 34, and Autumn Shae Steele, 25.

Blane Paul Chain, 44, and Angie Renee Bourquein, 45.

Bailey Fletcher, 21, and Shawn Gripshover, 21.

Audrey Ann Hall, 23, and Connor Yates Bell, 23.

Jared Austin Davis, 25, and Caitlyn Michelle Bowman, 24.

Cody Brian Schwab, 25, and Taylor Mae Kruthaupt, 23.

FC property damage accidents from July 29 through August 3

Information provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department with the opening paragraph by John Estridge

Deer are apparently out in force in Franklin County this time of year even before the rut. Good luck to everyone during the rut.

July 29

At 4:39 a.m., Michael Voelker was operating a vehicle east on Wolf Creek Road when the vehicle struck a deer that was crossing the road. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kyle Hartman investigated the accident.

About five hours later at 9:32 a.m., Kenneth Schrank of Ingalls, Indiana was operating a vehicle westbound on Duck Creek Road. He had just traversed the Duck Creek and McGuire Ridge roads intersection when a blue truck came towards Schrank’s vehicle left of center. Schrank swerved to the right and struck a mailbox. FCSD Deputy John Roberts investigated the accident.

July 30

Skyler Hinkle, Connersville Avenue, Brookville, at 6:21 p.m., was westbound on St. Mary’s Road when he swerved his vehicle left of center to miss tree debris on the road. He then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to rollover multiple times. FCSD Deputy Arin Roberts investigated the accident.

July 31

At 2:35 p.m., Jacob Garrett, North County Road 650 East, Batesville, was pulling into Morris Road from Pine Road. He told FCSD Deputy Brad Lecher he looked both ways before taking off from the stop sign; however, he did not see a second vehicle, driven by Robert Jewell Jr., East 11th Street, Brookville. Jewell was traveling north on Morris Road. Garrett said he pulled into the path of Jewell before being struck.

Just six minutes later at 2:41 p.m., Olivia McWhorter, Tyner, Kentucky, was operating a vehicle northbound on Indiana 1 North. A vehicle operated by Jeremiah George, Saltwell Road, Brookville, was stopped in the northbound lane of Ind. 1 waiting for a car in front of him turning left. McWhorter’s vehicle rear ended George’s vehicle. FCSD Deputy Jason Richardson investigated the accident.

Later the same day at 7:34 p.m., Thomas Smith, Pennington Road, Metamora was operating a vehicle east on U.S. 52 when he struck a deer in the road. FCSD Deputy Arin Bowers investigated the accident.

August 1

At 7:30 p.m., Maholli Offill, Dixon Road, Cedar Grove, was operating a vehicle southwest on Big Cedar Road when the vehicle lost traction and drove off the road, going over a culvert. Offill then drove the vehicle back onto the road. FCSD Deputy Dylan Enzinger investigated the accident.

August 2

At 4:50 a.m., Briann Hecker, East Fifth Street, Brookville, was operating a vehicle south on Blue Creek Road when she came upon a curve and was unable to navigate the curve. She ran off the south side of the road and struck a tree. FCSD Deputy Tyler Ford investigated the accident.

August 3

At 4:49 a.m., Barbara Ailes, Connersville, was operating a vehicle south on Ind. 1 North, when she approached the top of a hill near the intersection of Ind. 1 and Rhein Road, a group of deer attempted to cross the road at the same time. She hit one of the herd. FCSD Deputy Tyler Ford investigated the accident.

Liberty Town Council handles several different topics and problems at Monday night, August 3, meeting

By John Estridge

On Monday, Aug. 3, it was a quintessential small-town, town council meeting, with some of the problems found in trying to govern a small town.

And Liberty Town Council members were back in their own customary digs at the Union County Courthouse Commissioners’ Meeting room after moving to the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department for several meetings during and right after the shutdown.

Topics of conversation included: unkempt properties, how a person outside the town limits could tap in to the town’s wastewater system, putting new stop signs on a town street and making sure people wanting street closures for events have insurance and hold the town harmless.

Street and Utility Supervisor Matt Reuss said there is a property on West Union Street that needs to have the grass and brush cut back. However, the property is so bad he needs to take a backhoe in to clean up logs, trash, old tires and a swing set among other items buried in the unkempt brush before anything can be done to the property.

Reuss and his employees have cleaned properties before, but he said this might be the worst property they have tackled. In taking a backhoe to the backyard, should he go down the driveway and remove part of the fence or should he come in from an adjoining property?

No one could answer that query.

Acting president Keith Bias said officials need to start taking before and after photos to add to the files. Because right now it is the residents’ or property owners’ word against the town’s word, he said.

Bias suggested they get county Area Plan Director Jeff Mathews and county Sanitarian Ron Parker involved in the process and seek guidance from them.

Clerk/Treasurer Melissa Shepler said there may be push back from the people who live in the house. Bias said he did not have sympathy for them.

“What is fair for one is fair for all,” Bias said.

Reuss said he is going to find a fee schedule for all the equipment they will need such as the backhoe, chainsaws and dump trucks to put on the bill. The cost of clearing the property will be put on the property taxes as a lien on the property.

According to Reuss, the town recently cleaned a property near Liberty Elementary School, and the brush alone took up two dump trucks.

Earlier in the meeting, council was going to amend the abatement ordinance, but Shepler said it was decided to dismiss the proposed amendment. Town attorney Walt Chidester said the town does not have to keep going back to a property and give notice each time the town goes in to clean it up or mow it over the summer. Once it is done, the town employees can then go in and do what needs to be done whenever it needs to be done.

Another situation was a person on Old Brownsville Road wanted to tap into the town’s sewage system. Reuss said the resident is technically outside the town limits. Thus, the person will have to pay out-of-town fees on the sewage portion of the town’s billing. Also, the person will have to install a pump station and grinder pump to make the connection work correctly.

Reuss said the person is technically within the Brookville Lake Regional Waste District area of service. However, the BLRWD does not offer sewage service in that area. Thus, BLRWD Director Ted Stubbs told Reuss the BLRWD had no problem with the town giving service to the resident.

However, Reuss is not acclimated to the specifications for grinder pumps. Stubbs said he will assist Reuss in inspecting the lift station and grinder pump once they are put in place. According to Shepler, the tap-in fee was approved by LTC members in 2015. At that time, the tap-in was $890. However, the price tag on a lift station and grinder pump could be around $8-10,000, officials said. Chidester said they should make the homeowner aware of how much everything is going to cost so that person does not have sticker shock.

Another tap-in with the cost of $1,955 was approved for Lot 6 at the Wynds DP property.

Also, Shepler said she attended a conference for town clerks a few weeks ago. One of the topics of conversation is what happens if a pedestrian becomes injured on a street the town has closed for an event.

An example in Liberty is Market Street for the Liberty Festival. The attorney at the conference said if the town allows the closure and a person falls and is injured while walking along the street, the town may have to pay subsequent bills.

The ordinance was approved.

Thus, the town is going to have all clubs, organizations and others to show a proof of insurance, and sign a document holding the town harmless in case of an accident. County attorney Jim Williams wrote the ordinance and Chidester read it and approved it.

Finally, a stop-sign ordinance was approved for the intersection of Meridian Street and Brownsville Avenue. Some residents requested the stop signs because some people were driving too fast on the town street, they said. Others are not happy with the new stop signs.

Apparently, it is being played out on social media.

LTC will meet again in two weeks at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 17.

FCHS girls golf competes in first athletic event since the shutdown in March

Camryn Brewer (left) and Gracie Graf were team medalists with 85s at the annual Joe Moehring Girls Golf Tournament in Richmond on Monday, August 3.

Submitted by the FCHS Athletics Department

It was the first athletic contest for a Franklin County High School athletic team since the shutdown started in March.

FCHS girls golf went to Richmond Monday, August 3, to open the 2020-21 school-year athletics with a second-place finish at the Joe Moehring Girls Golf Tourney. The Lady Cats finished in second place behind the host Richmond Red Devils.

The Lady Wildcats will be back in action Tuesday, August 4, at the Union County Tourney.

Wildcat Golfer Results:
Gracie Graf – 85
Camryn Brewer – 85
Nicole Mears – 91
Crystal Calihan – 98
Kelsie Brackney – 116

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrest report from July 30-August 2

Information supplied by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department

July 30

Timothy B. Estridge, 47, East Fourth Street, Brookville, was arrested at 7:05 p.m., at the intersection of Oxford Pike and Flinn Road, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Robinson and charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.

August 1

Elizabeth R. Whipple, 32, Stipps Hill Road, Laurel, was arrested at 2:23 p.m., at an address on Stipps Hill Road by FCSD Deputy Jason Robinson through an Arrest Warrant.

August 2

Gary L. Allen, 35, Beacon Road, Metamora, was arrested at 2:50 a.m., at Oldenburg by Batesville Police Officer Travis Cook and was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.

Larry R. Wolff, 68, Bank Street, Brookville was arrested at 4:35 p.m., at his residence by Brookville Police Department Officer Ryan Geiser, and was charged with Domestic Battery.

FC’s COVID-19 numbers skyrocket to 224, 19 more than Sunday; UC numbers do not change

Information from the ISDH

Franklin County’s number of COVID-19 positive test results skyrocketed between the Indiana Department of Health’s Sunday, August 2 numbers and Monday’s August 3 numbers.

Nineteen new positive results were tallied, bringing the total to 224. But fortunately, the number of deaths remained unchanged at 10. Union County’s numbers stayed the same at 32.

One person has filed for the UCCCJSD Board of Trustees

Information provided by the Union County Clerk’s Office.

As of Friday, July 31, one person has filed for Union County College Corner Joint School District school board. It is Barry Edwards Sr., for the Harmony Township position.

Wednesday , July 22, was the first day to file to be a candidate for the Union County College Corner Joint School Board. The last day to file is Friday, August 21, at noon. 

Each candidate can pick up a Petition of Nomination form at the Union County Clerk’s Office. The petition must be signed by 10 registered voters residing within the boundaries of the school corporation of the State of Indiana. A candidate for school board must have resided in the school corporation for at least one year, be a registered voter of the township that is up for election and not have a felony conviction. Townships up for election this November are the following: Harrison Twp., Center Twp., which includes the Town of Liberty; Harmony Twp and Bath Twp. For any more questions one may have, call the school administration office or the county clerk’s office.

U.S. 27 paving project between Liberty and Richmond scheduled to start paving portion; completion is planned for mid-November

By John Estridge

U.S. 27’s paving project between Liberty and Richmond should be completed by mid-November.

Indiana Department of Transportation released that information Monday morning, Aug. 3.

According to Greenfield District Communication Director Mallory Duncan, the paving project is on schedule. It is estimated to cost around $5.8 million. The contractor is finishing up the patching portion and will move to milling and paving the end of August/early September.  The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-November, she said.