18 minute read
Voices
Hunting Maintenance During the Summer
We welcome the voice of Mike Neilson, longtime Danville High School teacher and longtime hunting enthusiast. He’s shared his hunting experience in book form with Class Dismissed: I’m Going Hunting! (2004); We’re Gonna Need More Arrows!: Hunting Adventurs Around the Country and Around the World (2009); and Pig Tails and Other Hunting Adventures (2014)
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By Mike E. Neilson
Welcome to summer. And while most outdoor enthusiasts are thinking watersports and fishing, I am thinking about the fall hunting season. Now is the perfect time to check out all your hunting gear that was thrown in a closet, tote, garage, or basement, never to see the light of day until a week before opening day. Yep, I’m talking about clothes, stands, flashlights, firearms, bows and arrows, and especially boots.
The dogdays of summer are perfect for taking the bow out to the backyard or the range and fling a few arrows. Check your bow strings, look for wear and tear, wax them and if needed, now is the time to replace them. Knock off the dust to your shooting style and keep that muscle memory strong. In July I start shooting broadheads at my targets. Not many, but enough to simulate a hunt. I like to think that the first shot in practice might be the only shot all day (or even all season), so I practice with purpose. I will also pause a few minutes before taking another shot. And don’t forget to practice from an elevated stand if that’s your preferred method of hunting. Finally, and I can’t emphasize this enough for new shooters, practice on 3-D targets that simulate the game you are after. When the moment of truth arrives, you want to be as comfortable and as confident as possible.
The same idea holds true for gun hunters, whether that be muzzleloader, shotgun, rifle, or pistol. Practice does make perfect. At the very least, take the guns out of the safe and give them a good looking over and cleaning. (If you don’t have a gun safe, get one!) Muzzleloaders are notorious for being dirty and fouled. This also ensures you do not have a charge already in the barrel as well. Nobody wants to go afield hoping their sights or scope is still on from last season. Find a gun range or safe place and fire off a couple of rounds. Again, think about not only checking your sights for accuracy but also how you will shoot in the field. Practice shooting from shooting sticks, freehand or from a sitting position, from rails and yes, if you can, from an elevated position.
(Next week is part 2 of 4. It will break down a list of maintenance goals for your gear.)
A Note From Bee
Everywhere I look I see VBS banners. That’s a good way for children to spend part of their summers.
Churches do not limit participation in VBS activities to just members of their church. I haven’t been a VBS volunteer for about twelve years. I started volunteering at White Lick Presbyterian Church in Brownsburg some fifty plus years ago. Our neighbor Bruce Brown, the pastor invited us to come to VBS. His wife, I who was Catholic, and another neighbor who was Methodist volunteered to work in the kitchen.
VBS in those days was in the morning for two weeks because most of the mothers were stay-at-home. I even took my granddaughters some 25 years ago to White Lick. By that time VBS was in the evening and probably only a week. Again I volunteered for kitchen duty.
My daughter had three sons. The youngest is now 17. They lived in Jamestown and went to Jamestown Christian Church. When the youngest was about three the call went out for volunteers for the three-year-old group. So I upped again. This was rather a rowdy group. Even though there were only about six of them there were two of them we had to watch very closely because they would run away. There was also a very sweet little girl who always wanted to hug me but she had head lice. It sounds strange but every evening before I went to VBS I put listerine in my hair. I had read that lice do not like the smell of listerine. When I came home I put listerine in my hair for 30 minutes and then washed it out.
My volunteering days at VBS are over. I just donate money.
Bee Jones
A Brush With Olympic Glory
Co-Captains of the 1936 Central Normal College basketball team, Edward “Jingles” Englehart (top) and Harlan “Cub” Wilson.
By Judy Pingel
The 1936 Olympics. Berlin, Germany. Hitler’s Germany. What could be the connection with Danville, Indiana and Central Normal College?
The 1936 CNC basketball team was good. Very good. They had an undefeated regular season against teams from schools like Franklin, Taylor University, Oakland City, Valparaiso, Hanover and Butler. Often the margin of victory was over 20 points (This, at a time when it was unusual for the final score to only be in the 20 point range, and a score of over 40 points was considered a “barn burner.” Defense was the name of the game).
At that time, thee was no season-ending tourney like there is today. To be showcased for selection on the Olympic team, collage and AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] teams participated in Olympic Trials. Olympic athletes had to be amateurs, and that usually meant college players, but also included AAU teams. Those AAU teams would be considered “semi-pro” today. Large companies formed teams of their employees to compete. Often men were hired for their athletic abilities rather than their knowledge and skills. As long as they were an actual company employee, they were allowed to play on the company team.
Big companies, with thousands of employees fielded teams, often with players from across the country and not just “local boys.” Many of those team members never actually saw the inside of the factory or office building of the company that hired them, but hey were still considered “just regular employees.” They were following the rules - OK, maybe bending them a little bit - but still classified as amateurs. Legal? Yes. Fair? Well, maybe - or maybe not.
The CNC team entered the Olympic Trials and advanced to the Midwest District Finals in Chicago after defeating the University of Cincinnati. Facing another Indiana team, Ball State, they doubled the score on the Muncie tea and moved on to play Northwestern University. It was a close game, but the Danville boys moved one step closer to the chance to represent the U.S. at the Olympics.
The final game at the district level (I believe that today, that would be considered the “Sweet Sixteen”) was against the Chicago team from De Paul University. The game was close throughout, but at the end, De Paul was ahead by 5 points and moved to the Regional Finals. No Olympics for the small town boys, but still a great season against many schools that are still in existence over 80 years later.
Of the dozen or so players who made the 1936 Olympic team that went on to win the gold medal at the Berlin Games, only one was a college player. The rest came from AAU teams sponsored by large companies. But the boys from CNC gave it a good shot, a huge accomplishment for small independent college team.
Editor’s Note:
Sewell Leitzman was Athletic Director of Central Normal College from 1931 to 1941. A native of Hendricks County, he graduated from Clayton High School. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Central Normal; attended Butler and Notre Dame, and earned his masters and doctorate from Indiana University. In addition to SEWELL LEITZMAN taking the team to the Olypmic trials, he coached the team to intercollegiate championships in 1935-36 and 1936-37.
Members of the 1936 basketball team were: Daniel Ballard - Senior Edward “Jingles” Englehart Co-Captain - Junior Jean “Frankie” Franklin - Senior Calvin “Cal” Guillion - Junior Roger “Rog” Laramore -Senior Charles “Charley” Morris - Junior Gerald “Roude” Roudebush- Sophomore Hubert “Scotty” Scott - Freshman Harold “Wally” Wallace - Freshman Dave Williams - Freshman Harlan “Cub” Wilson, Co-Captain- Senior __________________________________________
ASK MR. TRAFFIC
By Chet Skwarcan, PE, President/ Founder of Traffic Engineering, Inc. Chet@TrafficEngineering.com
Flexible Work Hours and Daily Choices
A Free Solution to Relieve Traffic?
What is the long-term solution to traffic problems? We can’t keep building more lanes — that’s hardly a longterm solution. And although adding lanes increases capacity and makes the roadway more attractive, this attractiveness also brings back all those people who were avoiding it. There goes a good part of the added capacity…
At the risk of oversimplification, we need sustainable ways to transport large groups of people and we need to spread out the traffic. Or, as my uncle would say, “Lorem ipsum.”
This past year has shown solutions do in fact exist. The events of 2020 accelerated developments that otherwise would have taken years. Online meetings and working from home are suddenly accepted. Some employers offer flexible working hours to reduce rush hour traffic. Not everyone has to be in the office at the same time (especially you, Larry).
In 2020 we were forced to address the reason for the trip and reduce trips accordingly. This trend needs to continue...
And acknowledging that “space” for mobility is limited, how can the space be best distributed? Cars, trucks, delivery vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians all require space.
Even self-driving cars need space. They do, however, provide some relief. They have the ability to link up with adjacent self-driving vehicles forming a type of car train — following one another with just a few feet between them. They can also prevent accidents and take over parts of the journey allowing you to do something else — especially if you are stuck in traffic.
Self-driving cars also learn how traffic signals behave, are aware of traffic conditions, and choose the best route to get to your destination. Or, in my experience, may even suggest an alternate destination. Last Thursday for example, I thought I was supposed to go to work, but I guess I was actually supposed to go bowling. Oh well, I always wanted to go bowling (how did it know?).
In most areas, roadway capacity is only a problem for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening. So, how can we spread out the traffic? Well, it’s a lot cheaper than building new roads or adding lanes. As mentioned above, employers can offer flexible working hours. And personally, simply choosing to shop and travel during “off-peak” hours. Repeat after me, “Lorem ipsum.”
A Squirrel About Town
By Archy
“Did you watch the fireworks, Archy?”
I knew the squirrel was a fan of the Fourth of July, his ancestors being witnesses to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“Yes,” he replied, “the trees provide an excellent view. Quite impressive, albeit noisy. Still, it lacked the sublime noiseless display of the meteor shower of 1833, according to my several-great grandfather, who resided in one of the trees surrounding the court house at that time.”
I remembered one of The Republican’s ancestors, The Advertiser, published a letter in 1855 from a man who was an eye witness to what was considered one of the greatest astronomical spectacles in history. Scientists estimated there were 150,000 meteors, about 30 per second, at the peak of ths display. Archy picked up his story. “Grandfather was watching that man as he came outside of the inn on the northeast corner of the square and viewed the meteor shower. After a few minutes, you could hear people screaming and yelling that it was judgement day. Some stood shaking in the cold while others fell to their knees and prayed. Many thought the world was ending.”
Archy’s grandfather was in good company. Abraham Lincoln recalled that day during some of the darkest days of the Civil War, saying “Gentlemen, the world did not come to an end then, nor will the Union now.”
“Harriett Tubman saw it, too,” the squirrel added. “She said it showed her to always follow the Northern Star to freedom.”
I got that disorientling feeling I always feel when I become aware of where I am in the ocean of history.
“I wonder what those people in 1833 would think if they could see what their world looks like today?” I asked. Archy thought a moment before answering. “They would probably think it was the end of the world,” he said.
Savor the Joys of Growing Salvia
By Colletta Kosiba Hendricks County Master Gardener
What is the plant that is blooming in hues of purple in the highway medians and in front of housing additions? Can I add it to my garden? Yes, you can! It’s purple salvia. The tubular blooms attract lots of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators! Salvia love full sun and heat. Plant them once and they will return every year.
Salvia blooms are popular with pollinataors.
Blooming June to September, in late summer,they start to look unkept. Time for a light shearing: simply cut those stems all
the way down to the ground. Hey, they will still flower even if you don’t. But you’ll get more blooms and the plant looks better.
Salvias are very low maintenance, easy-to-grow and very deer resistant.
For hummingbirds, salvia’s nectar is a treat. If you grow annual red salvia, you’ll have the treat of watching these tiny birds.
Annual Saliva I always plant an annual red salvia for my humming birds. It’s easy to grow too.
Do check to see if an insect is eating holes in leaves when you first plant it, some insecticide dust takes care of that. Only maintenance required is breaking off the spikes when they are bloomed out. Many more blooming spikes will appear! Sadly, the frost will do it in. Plant some! It is so much fun to see the humming birds take a sip of nectar.
Why does a hummingbird hum? Because it doesn’t know the words!
Got Questions? Call The Home-Landscaping-Garden Help Line and Master Gardeners will answer your questions every Tuesday, May 18 to Sept 28. Hours 9:00-Noon and 1-4:00 p.m. call 317-745-9260 (Hendricks County Extension)
A Bark From the Past: Henry
[Editor’s Note: The Republican’s first four-footed correspondent was Henry. A mixed breed rescue dog, Henry would make observations about being a dog in a small town. The articles, which ran in 2006 - 2010, have been languishing in the computer’s memory and we thought a new audience might enjoy some canine commentary.]
I’ll never understand why people don’t take lessons in how to live from us animals. My humans seem to always be in a hurry. They hurry to get ready to go to work in the morning. Then, they hurry to fix supper when they get home. On the weekends, they hurry to do stuff they didn’t get done during the week because they had to hurry to work.
They go outside once in a while, and they think they are slowing down. But they’re just hurrying in a different way. They take walks, but they walk too fast and they talk about what they have to do when they get home.
When my humans let me outside, the first thing I do is stand still and look and listen. Well, actually, the first thing I do is pee. But then, I stand still and look and listen.
We animals know how to watch for stuff. You have to stand still to watch for stuff. That way, other things around you will move. But if you’re moving, then they’ll stand still, and you won’t see them!
Yesterday, I saw a robin hunting for worms. They are so much fun to watch! They hop, hop, hop around the yard. When they see a worm moving, they cock their heads sideways! My human said that robins are listening for worms. But that’s not right! When dogs or humans or other animals listen for something, they turn their ears toward the sound. But birds don’t do that. It’s just that they can’t see straight ahead like we do. So when the robin turns his head toward the ground, he’s not listening for worms. He’s just watching real close with one eye. How much noise do humans think a worm makes?
And we animals know how to listen a lot better than humans do. When I went out yesterday, I heard a nuthatch bird. That’s my favorite bird to hear. It goes “wuk-wuk, wuk-wuk.” It sounds more like a tree toad than a bird!! I wonder if my human heard that?
And then, there’s the sleep thing. Humans don’t sleep nearly enough. If you watch us dogs and cats, we sleep a lot. That’s the natural thing to do. The problem is, humans have to work, so they can’t nap as much as they need to. I think every place humans work ought to have a long nap time at least twice a day. I bet that the humans would feel better and be happier. And they’d get just as much work done as they do now, when they’re tired and grumpy! And I bet it would be better work, too!
Don’t even talk to me about eating. Humans are so careful about the foods that they feed us. Then, they eat all the wrong stuff on their own! My humans went to the fair last night. When they got home, they smelled like poop and deep-fried everything! Can’t humans smell themselves? If they could, they wouldn’t be able to stand their own smell most of the time. They should at least roll in something!
Look, we dogs usually live at least fourteen or fifteen years. That’s over a hundred for humans. If humans lived more like us dogs, they’d live a lot longer! So, here it is, humans. Eat less, sleep more, and scratch your ear with your foot. That’s it! When are you going to smarten up?
What Are You Reading?
In this age of social media, the pages of a book can still provide a sanctuary, an education, and an inspiration. Let us know what books are on your reading list and why you do or do not recommend them. You can leave your comments on our Facebook page, or send them to betty@TheRepublicanNewspaper.com.
My book recomendation: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmer. I read this as an audiobook from the library with the author narrating. Robin studied botany and is a professoron the east coast. Robin weaves her personal story with botany and indigenous plant knowledge as she has Native American heritage. It was an easy read and kept me interested for the entire book.
Sarah Wolf
Thought for the Day: Your dog won’t criticize you if you make a fool of yourself. He’ll just make a fool of himself, too!
This old-fashtioned popcorn wagon was a popular stop duringSwap ‘n Shop days at Danville in the 1960’s and 70’s.
As of July 1, 2021, popcorn became the official Indiana State Snack. To mark this auspicious occasion, let’s take a look at popcorn’s popularity in Hendricks County.
Many stores carried ready-made popcorn balls among their holiday stock. In 1886, the East Side Grocery carried the ready-made treat with the Christmas goods that would “make the children leap for joy.’’
Popcorn was on the menu at many a party. At Chrissie Manning’s 6th birthday party in 1887, “The little folks enjoyed the music, cake, ice cream and popcorn immensely.”
Halloween was another time when popcorn balls were included. At Miss May Hadley’s Halloween party in 1898, one of the games was to see who could eat a ball of popcorn, dangling from a string, in the shortest time.
For New Year’s 1910, Mr. and Mrs. William Carrier presented the working force of the First National Bank with a popcorn cake.
The “Hello Girls” (telephone switchboard operators) received many treats from patrons for the holidays and other occasions. In March of 1912, Mrs. Mary Mitchell gave the girls popcorn balls, sent in appreciation of their work the night after the primary election.
A federal government bulletin published in 1913, was quoted contending a popcorn breakfast food “is more nutritious than a good many prepared breakfast foods on the market and much more economical.”
A recipe found in the Dec. 12, 1895 issue of The Republican gave instructions on making popcorn pudding:
“Pop some corn nicely, then roll it as fine as you can. Take a pint of the corn to a quart of sweet milk, add a small piece of butter, a teaspoonful of salt, beat 2 eggs with enough sugar to sweeten the milk; mix all together. Bake 20 minutes”
Even restaurants include popcorn as a treat. In 1917, E.D. Crawley added a $600 popcorn and peanut roaster to his equipment.
Louise Creigh had a snack shop in the Hoosier Hotel building in 1938 that carried fresh home-made candy, Kitch’n Cook’d Potato Chips and French Fried Popcorn.
If you yearn for an old-fashioned treat, we leave you with Beulah Conn’s recipe for Pop-Corn Balls from Danville’s 800 Recipes, published in 1907:
“One quart molasses, two cups granulated sugar; let boil fifteen minutes, then add butter size of an egg. When it crisps in water, add one teaspoon [baking] soda. Take from fire and stir into popcorn. Grease fingers and make into balls”
John Ruskin
