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Outdoor briefs: April 20, 2014 [Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind. :: ]
[April 20, 2014]

Outdoor briefs: April 20, 2014 [Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind. :: ]


(Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 20--Jim Parham elected to state board The Alliance for Indiana State Parks and Nature Preserves has elected Jim Parham, chief operating officer at Hirons, to the board of directors.



Parham has been actively involved in nature preservation efforts throughout his career in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., including having worked with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service and Indianapolis Parks.

The Alliance, an independent nonprofit organization, supports the needs of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as well as its state parks and nature preserves. The Alliance works in cooperation with the natural resources agency, local partner groups and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.


Open house May 10 for new bald eagle Patoka Lake is inviting anyone interested to an open house 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 10 at Patoka Lake Visitor Center to meet the new ambassador bald eagle for educational programming.

Refreshments and light snacks will be served. There will be games for children, and people can get their photos taken with the eagle and her handlers. Donations will be accepted for the photo opportunities and will go toward the care and well being of the young, non-releasable raptor.

Tree planting set for Ravinia Woods The public can participate in the Indiana Tree Project's third annual tree planting April 29 at Ravinia Woods at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.

The event starts at 10 a.m. Organizers expect to plant 8,000 to 10,000 trees on 10 to 12 acres, according to Bourke Patton, executive director of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.

"In just three years The Indiana Tree Project has helped plant more than 30 acres of trees," Patton said in a news release. "These trees and the land they are planted on are a gift from our generation to future generations of Hoosiers." The Indiana Tree Project is a joint effort between the foundation, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division, and the citizens and businesses of Indiana.

The project is dedicated to expanding Indiana's native hardwood forests by planting 1 million new trees by 2016 to mark the bicentennial anniversary of Indiana statehood.

A $10, tax-deductible donation to the Indiana Tree Project covers all costs to plant one tree that will last for generations. The program not only plants trees but also acquires new public land. As one acre is planted, a new acre is permanently protected through acquisition.

The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation asks participants to register by April 25 by emailing [email protected] or by calling 317-234-7718 with their name, phone number, email and the number of adults and children attending.

Registered participants will receive a confirmation with driving directions to the planting site.

The event is weather dependent. If the planting is delayed, registered participants will be contacted with an alternate date.

Information on The Indiana Tree Project is at theindianatreeproject.org.

State employees honored for work The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife honored several employees with Awards of Excellence for 2013.

Dan Jessup, hatchery manager at Cikana State Fish Hatchery in Martinsville, earned Biologist of the Year for improving hatchery productivity, for overseeing a program that teaches inmates at Terre Haute's federal prison to grow fish that are used to improve urban fishing, and for teaching aquaculture to the Indiana National Guard in an effort to help Afghanistan recover from war.

Greg Leer, a laborer at Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area in Mongo, earned Field Technician of the Year for his experience, leadership and dedication to improving wildlife habitat. In his 37-year career, Leer has planted more than half-a-million seedlings, and helped establish and maintain hundreds of acres of grassland.

Bill Bean, regional supervisor of north public lands stationed in Peru, earned Mentor of the Year for his willingness to share his wisdom and advice with everyone in the Department of Natural Resources, even those who are not technically under his supervision.

Gary Langell, private lands program manager stationed in Bloomington, earned Program Manager of the Year for his "can-do attitude," problem solving, professionalism and his ability to handle a wide range of responsibilities.

Denise Reust, office manager at Roush Fish and Wildlife Area in Huntington, earned Secretary of the Year for raising money for property events, thereby decreasing the cost to the state of Indiana, and for training employees across the state on purchasing procedures.

Members of the fisheries districts 4, 5 and 6, the southern fisheries research team, and big rivers unit were recognized for sampling Patoka Lake for bass, a project that included 72 locations on the 8,800-acre reservoir.

___ (c)2014 the Herald-Times (Bloomington, Ind.) Visit the Herald-Times (Bloomington, Ind.) at www.heraldtimesonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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