18 minute read
Voices
A view of Hendricks County during the 2020 Road Rally. Now in its 7th year, the Road Rally is a fundraiser for the Hendricks County Museum. The event is limited to 30 cars.
Exploring Hendricks County
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By Jackie Horn
And They’re Off!
Last October, after six months of living in Hendricks County, John and I knew where places were like the library, grocery stores, and carryout pizza. We knew the larger towns in the county but we weren’t familiar with the outlying areas. We needed to explore our new home. Then we saw the announcement for “The Road Rally.” The Hendricks County Historical Museum was holding a road rally as a fundraiser. The registration fee was just $10. After the COVID lockdown, the idea of getting out and doing ANYTHING with other people was exciting. Learning about the area was a bonus. But a road rally? That sounded like great fun! We signed up.
The idea of the road rally is to follow course instructions and finish the route with your recorded miles matching the organizers’ mileage. To make it more interesting, participants answer a cleverly written trivia quiz about sites along the way. A team requires at least two members, one driving while the other navigates and records the answers.
We arrived at the parking lot across the street from the museum in Danville at 8:00 on Saturday morning. We paid our entry fee and mingled with the other teams while waiting for the rally to begin. At a short “drivers’ meeting”, the officials were introduced and the rules were explained. Teams were given written driving directions and a trivia quiz, instructed to return to their vehicles and line up. The first car rolled out around 8:30. Cars were released at timed intervals until the last vehicle pulled out of the parking lot.
It was a diverse group that hit the road; families, groups of friends and couples, sedans, minivans, SUVs, and a Corvette. We were all after one thing... VICTORY... and an entertaining way to spend a Saturday morning.
The course led us all over the southwest corner of the county. We saw some beautiful autumn scenery and enjoyed discovering the back roads. John and I returned to the start/finish line with time to spare. We crossed the street and moseyed through the Historical Museum. The museum’s collections are quite extensive and the volunteer was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Back at the rally point, all the teams had returned. It was time to announce the winners. One team received a special award for logging an extra 30 miles! They had missed a turn. The rally results were close and after a tiebreaker, first, second and third places were awarded. I don’t remember who won. I do know the team that placed third, the Horns!
This year the Hendricks County Historical Museum’s 7th Annual Car Rally is scheduled for Saturday, October 9. There is a $10 entry fee which benefits the museum. Prizes will be awarded for first through third places. Pre-registration started on September 15. Participants can sign up at the event but entries will be limited to 30 cars. To avoiddisappointment, consider registering before rally day. For more information, check out their website at hendrickscountymuseum. org, call (317) 718-1453 or (317) 793-4398.
Enjoy a ride with your favorite person(s), take in the beautiful fall scenery, support the museum, and maybe take home a prize too!
Jackie Horn and her husband, John, transplanted from Warsaw to Plainfield to be near family. An Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist, Jackie is a retired substitute teacher who continues to teach (and learn) about all things outdoors. John is a retired CNC programmer and the photographer on the team. The Horns enjoy traveling, walking, hiking, kayaking, and bicycling.
Remembering Who’s Behind the Blush
By Krishna Lathish
If you can’t leave the house without highlights, it’s a problem.
In recent years, we feminists have boldly responded to our detractors, who claim we’re painting our faces for attention, by asserting that we don’t do it for you. Our rosy cheeks and spider leg lashes are for us to admire, and when we look in the mirror, we are rewarded with our own carefully crafted countenances.
It’s a sound idea; the misogyny affected can and should enjoy things without the damper of the watchful male gaze, and the success of makeup artists like Bretman Rock attests to the fact that makeup is an art form that should be respected.
However, what we may not have expected is for the patriarchy to listen. Corporations fell right into step; you can’t stretch a foot without hitting a company trying out “Femvertising.” What I urge you to do, in this era of girlbosses and gatekeeping, is to not be fooled by glitter pink assertions. These companies don’t care about you - by slapping a “She can do it!” on the same standards that always have been, these companies continue to destroy our self image while furthering their bottom line. Our resistance is crucial, and it starts by looking in the mirror, warts and all.
That sharp cat eye is impressive, sure - there’s no doubt that it took practice and hard work. But is it necessary for that trip to Walgreens? Why, truly, do you have to cover up that pimple when you’re at home all day? No matter which way we cut it, the beauty industry relies on our insecurity.
It’s understandable to want to look our best for the occasional party, but when we can’t face ourselves without a dab of concealer or a little color correction – that’s how their profit margins widen. Their strategy is all in the self: sell you back your own face, with you believing that your self-hatred is all in the name of feminism, and they can brand themselves bastions of self-empowerment without ever having to take responsibility for the fragile self-esteem of millions.
Self-love is resistance, as many revolutionaries have said. You should be proud of your face, with and without makeup. Wear that fierce cut crease and boy beat with pride, knowing that it adorns an even more beautiful temple.
Krishna Lathish is a Senior at Avon High School. A childhood spent with her nose in books eventually led her to want to write. She hopes to attend college and majorin journalism/media studies and become a literary editor or journalist.
A Note From Bee
It appears that there is an awful lot of bad in the world today. I think the media (that is not the case with The Republican) adds to that feeling. I have had many instances when strangers have been so kind to me.
Several years ago I was responsible for helping my bachelor Uncle Ed stay in his own home. We had a very bad ice storm and his sidewalk was coated with a thick layer of ice. Uncle Ed lived on the near south side of Indianapolis and we lived in Brownsburg. We could not help him because the roads were treacherously slick. I called a neighbor of Uncle Ed’s and she suggested that I call a local drugstore. They often knew people who could help me. They put a call out while I waited on the phone. Someone stepped up and said he would do it. I got his name and address and he told me he would call me with a price when he was done. He quoted me a price and I gave him $25 more because he was willing to trust me.
Another instance involved Aunt Trudy in California. she had developed dementia and her neighbor Bobby watched out for her several times a day. We had met him when we visited Aunt Trudy. When he decided to move he called us and suggested a lawyer friend of his. Bobby knew Aunt Trudy could no longer stay by herself. The lawyer refused any payment.
I have been blessed with many strangers helping me and in turn I have tried to “Pay It Forward”.
Bee Jones
A Squirrel About Town
By Archy
Judging by size of a squirrel’s ear, I was not expecting Archy to be wearing airpods. Yet there he was, nodding his head and swishing his tail to an inaudible tune.
“Sorry,” he said, taking the devices out, “I was just listening to Joplin.” “Janis or Scott?” I asked. “The former this time,” he replied, adding, “They really have quite a bit in common, you know. Much of their music was about freedom. It seems some of your people are suffering from a bad case of the freedoms.”
It was true. The word was being tossed around quite a bit these days.
“It’s another of your human contridictions,” he mused. “They seem to think freedom is an entitlement. Few seem to realize that it comes with limits and responsibilites. If this were a free society, there would be no need for laws, it would be unregulated militia, you might say.”
I realized the word freedom was being used by both sides of many arguments.
“You’ve seen the copies of manumission papers filed in the Recorder’s office,” the squirrel said. Did that piece of paper make the person named on it free? Did another piece of paper, a bill of sale, make them slaves to begin with? Or was it the society that allowed there to be slaves and freedmen?”
For a portion of our history, the term “free country” seemed to be in in contradiction with reality.
“Seems your people are going through another ‘house divided” moment, Archy said. “And it didn’t end well the last time.”
I asked the squirrel what we could try to make this turn out differently.
“Reason never has failed men,” Archy said, “but men have often failed reason.”
Turn Your Fall Leaves into Free Fertilizer
By Colletta Kosiba Hendricks County Master Gardener
Free fertilizer! Don’t give it away
It won’t be long and you will see bags of leaves sitting by the curb waiting for a ride to the landfill. I’ll tell a secret: that is free fertilizer!
Make the most of the leaves in your yard this year instead of discarding them in the garbage.
After the kids or grandkids have had their fun playing in piles of leaves, run the lawn mower over them to chop them into little pieces that break down quickly. It is best if you mow before there is a big dry pile, a large pile may take several passes with the mower. (Joe has had to make a 2 or 3 passes here when he gets behind the chore.)
The small shredded pieces improve soil fertility as it decomposes. A high level of organic matter in your soil will improve the lawns growth. Plus, a five percent increase in organic material quadruples the soil’s ability to store water!
Don’t bag your leaves for the landfill - dampen them and leave them in the bags. Store and they slowly turn into leaf mulch!
Leaf mulch buffers soil temperatures so the soil is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, thus protecting grass.
It is amazing to see the shredded leaves literally disappear into your lawn. If you catch the shredded leaves, use the mulch on gardens or use around your landscape plants.
You can plow or till whole or shredded autumn leaves into the garden soil. The leaves will decompose by spring planting time if mixed with a little granular fertilizer to speed the process.
Gardeners with a lots of yard room can pack leaves, either shredded or whole, into large plastic yard bags, wet the leaves, seal the bag, and store them, in a couple of years they have rich leaf mulch. Don’t forget to add leaves to the compose pile if you have one.
This year join me in keeping fall leaves, out of the land fill. Use leaf mulch “garden gold” to add natural nutrients back into the soil.
What did one autumn leaf say to another? I’m falling for you!
Hunting Tips & Reflections
By Mike E. Neilson
Mike Neilson, longtime Danville High School teacher and longtime hunting enthusiast is sharing his hunting experience with our readers. He’s also shared his knowledge in three books, available on Amazon. com.
Flexible Deer Hunting
I hate it when the deer don’t follow the script and decide to take other trails and funnels rather than the ones I’m perched over, hoping to get a nice close shot. Some hunters in the same scenario will continue to hunt the same stand, hoping against hope, that the deer suddenly change their pattern and decide to walk by. I like to be flexible and check out potentially better locations and, if warranted, move my stand to increase my odds.
The savvy deer hunter realizes that there are a myriad of variables that can and will affect how deer live in the area you hunt. As a hunter, many of these factors are out of your hands but what you can do, what you should do, is to be flexible and roll with the punches. Let me explain.
The farm where I hunt is a patchwork of trees, creeks and agriculture fields. When the farm is in corn, the deer like to hang out in the corn once it gets high enough to hide a deer. There are very few tracks in the woods, but the edges of the fields are littered with prints. So, while the corn is standing, hunting the edge can be a smart bet. But once the corn is harvested, the deer dive deeper into the woods. Hunting the edge can still be effective but there are better options.
Similarly, when then field is in soybeans, the deer like the edges until the beans start to turn yellowish-brown. Once the beans begin to dry, the deer seem to slip back into the deeper woods. This seems to be a consistent pattern in my area. The deer come back to the field after harvest and after the acorns have played out.
Speaking of acorns, the nut crop can also influence when and where the deer are. This season, the acorn crop is in great shape and during early squirrel season, I noticed that some of the trees were already casting nuts down, no doubt helped by the squirrels and the birds. My observations is that the deer just love those white oak acorns and will congregate around that food source until the nuts are gone. Then the pattern changes because of food sources.
Hunter activity also plays a big role on when and where the deer like to be. The more folks afield, the spookier the deer seem to be. Bucks and does find those out-of-the-way places, thick, nasty cover and right up close to homes and houses. Sneaky little devils! I’ve seen deer stretch out with their neck and chins to the ground in low cover to avoid detection and let unsuspecting humans walk right past them. Farms that have a lot of hunters seem to push deer my way and farms that don’t allow hunting seem to become refuges for the local deer and other game.
One area that I’ve had the most consistent luck in seeing and harvesting deer has been around water, specifically creeks. The deer of course, need water, but the creek (or crick; your choice) almost always provides cover in the form of woods and tall grasses. Great bedding areas, great hidey holes.
Some factors are out of our control like moon phases and the rut. All I can say about full moons and hunting is boo! However, if I think the deer are feeding by the light of the moon, I’ll sometimes forgo a morning hunt and concentrate on a late morning/early afternoon sit. Sounds crazy but the deer will sometimes get up for a mid-morning snack. Same thing for the dark of the moon, it seems the deer are more active at dawn and dusk during this phase.
Let’s face it, we live in Indiana, the weather is nothing, if not unpredictable. Frosts, snows, heatwaves, Indian summer, drought, floods, and rain all are out of my hands but can affect how the deer like to move. A seasoned (or lucky) hunter will take advantage of these situations and hunt areas accordingly. I’ve never had much luck hunting in torrential downpours. Light rain or drizzle seem to be fine (except washing away a blood trail). After rain and snow events pass, they seem to get the deer up and moving but hot temperatures seem to keep them in their beds longer. Cold fronts can get the deer up and moving too, especially feeding before a storm rolls through.
Ah, the rut. The need to breed. The boon and bane of deer hunters. I’ve seen some pretty crazy deer activity in the rut. I’ve almost been run over by a less-than receptive doe being chased by a couple of amorous bucks. I’ve also seen the woods go absolutely vacant as well. Look for escape routes, little valleys or ridges that can offer cover to deer and be vigilant. Deer can be super sneaky in the rut or just blind and stupid, plowing through the woods with little regard as to what is happening. I once had a nice 8-point buck walk within 20 yards of me as I stood in the middle of the woods. The buck was so oblivious because of the rut, had I not already taken my buck, this one would have done nicely. Of course, that doesn’t happen that often and never with a camera to verify.
So fellow deer enthusiasts, stay flexible. The stands I have out now for early season will move as the deer movement changes. When the fields are harvested, I’ll be a bit deeper in the woods. When gun season comes in, I might opt for a stand with a better, wider view. I’ll let situation dictate where and when to go. Best of luck this season.
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.]
Woof! Do I have some interesting stuff to tell you about today! No, kidding, this is really useful information! My humans took me for a ride the other day when they went out to Miss Sue’s house to get some eggs. Miss Sue raises sheep and chickens! And the eggs come from the chickens!
These chickens were very pretty. They come in all kinds of colors and patterns. And some of them have feathers on their feet! All the birds I have ever seen didn’t have feathers on their feet. There were a couple of male chickens that were strutting around like they owned the yard, and, I guess, in a way, they do. But I couldn’t figure out why they were called roosters. Roosting is sitting on a tree limb at night or sitting on eggs, isn’t it? Well, these roosters weren’t doing either of those things, and probably wouldn’t, from the way they were acting.
Some of the chickens lay eggs that are brown, like the eggs my humans used to get at the store, but some are light blue! And are they ever pretty! That is, the shells are light blue. The eggs look like regular eggs inside. Anyhow, I thought you might like to know about the egg thing, in case you didn’t realize that they come from the inside of chickens. I’m not going to tell how they get out of the chickens, and you wouldn’t believe it anyway.
You know, I guess I should have figured out about eggs. I have found pieces of egg shell in the yard from where birds had dropped them out of their nests, so the eggs my humans eat must come from some bird or other. It just never occurred to me that the birds that laid them could be kept as pets. But, that’s exactly what they are at Miss Sue’s house. They all have names and can be held and petted. It’s just that, if you look at a robin and the size of its egg, then look at an eatable egg, I thought the bird who laid them ought to be lots bigger than those chickens.
Miss Sue and her family also have some sheep, and are they cool! Their fur is curly, like a poodle’s, and a couple of them had big curved horns growing out of their heads. Those were the male sheep, called rams, and I bet it’s because that’s exactly what they do with those big horns! They are neat animals, but they have the strangest bark! They stutter!
After my humans got their eggs, we left, and on the way home, they talked about how much fun it would be to have their own chickens! But, because we live in town, we can’t have any chickens. And maybe that’s good. They would have to live in the yard, and their pen would take up an awful lot of nice digging space. And they’d probably put it right over some wonderful archaeology! I also don’t need any more competition for my humans’ attention than I already have with my brothers and sisters and the cats. So, Miss Sue, you just keep those chickens busy laying the eggs that my humans eat. (Every once in a while, they give me a scrambled egg, and it’s yummy!)
Walt Whitman
Thought for the Day: The gas crisis effects everything around us, including the abundance of food we all take for granted. Conserve, for all our sakes!
Jonathan Swift
