The Mail-Journal, Volume 16, Number 26, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 July 1979 — Page 13

SUMMER

Natural outdoor wonderland at Tri-County game preserve

Question What lias3.466acres, nine natural lakes. 25 man-made impoundments and its main purpose is to provide a natural setting for hunters and fisherman and other outdoor lovers'.’ Answer: The Tri-County Pish and Wildlife area Located off of SR 13 between Syracuse and North Webster on CR 900. the wildlife area is under the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and its property manager is Arnold Karr, The area is ol importance because the Continental Divide runs through the property with the water in the northern part of the reserve draining through a series of lakes and streams into the Great Lakes while the water in the soul hern part goes into Lake Webster, the Tippecanoe

'‘ ' I I dflfl ~<< <y SHELTER AND FOOD — The dead trees id the background provide food for woodpeckers and nesting sites for tree swallows. Most every plant life on the Tri-County property is of some value to some biird or mammal.

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River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. § The original purchase of the area occured in 1951. Acquisition funds’ through the years have been obtained through three methods: monies received via hunting and fishing licenses, federal aid received by the state through Pit I man-Robert son funds which are 11 per cent excise tax funds from the sale of sporting arms, ammunition and other assorted hunting aids; and from funds raised through the purchase of fishing equipment known as the Dinged-Johnson fund. The nine natural lakes range in size from two to 25 acres while the man-made lakes are a bit smaller, in the one quarter t 0.15acre category. The upkeep of the

grounds is maintained throughout the year with shrub planting done on the contours of hills to prevent soil erosion and to provide winter cover for wildlife. Over 50 acres of corn and sorghum are planted each year by state employees to provide adequate supplies of winter food for wildlife while the planting of pine and autumn olive trees are done to fill in areas void of cover area. The highest usage of the area is designed for hunters and fishermen, with sightseeing, mushroom and berry picking, outdoor photography and School and group tours among the other popular activities commonly seen in the area. For fishermen's information, there is a limit on 14-inch largemouth bass with bag limits set by the state. A fishing license is required. In 1974 northern pike were introduced to six of the natural lakes and Karr hopes in the near future to introduce Canadian geese to the area As far as equipment goes, only electric motors are allowed with gas motors especially being prohibited The reason for this states Karr, "is that it makes tor quieter and cleaner lakes. " Karr also noted that fishermen like their surroundings to lx 1 as natural as possible without interference from boaters who like to stir up the waters. There is a wide variety of nongame animals including songbirds and many assorted mammals. Game animals include deer. duck, pheasant, quail, rabbit and all types of fish native to the Lakeland area. This includes the northern pike men tinned earlier Hunting is allowed by permit only during the tall when t he season t>pens. In the center of the property sits a 10 acre nature preserve There is a one-third mile trail with 25 stations that mark various tree species A self guiding brochure can be picked up at the registration box. . Fisherman, hunter, or just a plain nature lover, t he Tri-County Fish and Wildlife area has much to offer.

Newly formed Tippy Skiers present first show of season

The Tippy Skiers of Lake Tippecanoe held their first ski show of the season on Saturday. July 7. at 7 p.m. in front of the dance hall on the south shore of the lake. The events and those participating were as follows: Salute — Kara Heiney. Lisa Snavely, Tammy Abernathy. Amy LaSalle and Anne Williams Double around the boat — Vince Williams and Steve’Wilson Shoe ski — Kevin Jones Jump rope — Dee Hinesley and Ken Jones Disc — Colin Condos Human ski — Kara Heiney. Bill Jared and Kevin Butcher Junior barefoot — Rick Gagne Skit skat - Doug Keipper Knee ski — Bob Bostick and Tim Brown Pyramid — Kevin Butcher, Meachie Minear, Vince Williams, Bill Jared and Nancy Snavely

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OFF TO THE LIBRARY— This group of youngsters was caught the other day on their way to the Milford library. Reading is just as fun in the summer as it is any other time of the year. Pictured from left to right are Mary Ray, Kristina Dimick, Shanna Dimick, Jacob Miller, Jason Miller and Roberta Flannery.

*\ \ j m 1 fl Wi HERE WE ARE — Property manager Arnold Karr points to the site where the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife area headquarters are located. The map above indicates the 34 natural and man-made lakes on the 3,466 acres of the preserve.

I ■. L .. - * • •*' ** A *■ NATURAL VARIETY — The effects of nature on the Tri-County Fish and Wild fife area are well illustrated in the picture above. The front portion is being invaded by water plant growth, the result of a flood to the area a couple years ago. Dead trees are evidenced before finding the actual shore of the lake. J X pair of boaters cast their lines into the cool depths in the center of the photo. dwarfed by the massive size trees in the background.

Slalom and barefoot — .Dan Drook Four barefooters (behind one boat > — Steve Wilson, Bob Bostick. Doug Keipper and Tab Casber Tipsy skiers — Vince Williams, Kevin Butcher and Bill Jared Guest barefooter - Warren Tucker from Australia Guest tricker — Kim Contos Clowns — Kevin Jones and Kent Butcher Finale — Sheri Paton, Marc Reagin, Courtney Contos. JayGagne, Jason Pierce. Bill Auxier and Rick Gagne The club is newly formed and has about 50 members. Kevin Butcher is the president. Meetings are held each Saturday at 10 a m. For information on membership call George Paton 111. r 2 Leesburg.

Wawasee sturgeon reality .or myth

A sturgeon is any of several large, primitive food fishes, having rows of spiny plates along the body and a projecting snout; valuable as a source of caviar and isinglass (a form of gelatin prepared from the internal membranes of fish bladders). Sturgeon have been known to reach a length of seven feet, but in the Syracuse and Wawasee Lakes area, sturgeon tales have been floating around since 1840 and even bigger sturgeon have reportedly been found in these waters. In the water, this fish looks like a log that has found its final resting place and some say this log' actually swims away. The most remarkable account of a sturgeon sighting in the area comes from an incident that occured on the waters of Lake Wawasee. Jim Jones, pilot of the lake's largest steamer, "Anna Jones." was fishing through the ice when he spotted a fish so large that it darkened most of the light

illuminated by the bright waters below the ice. It scared the man so bad that he reportedly ran home, straight as an arrow. Those who knew Jim claim he was afraid of no man or beast, so either Jones got something in his eye that day or there may be a mini Loch Ness monster patrolling the depths of Lake Wawasee. The first sturgeon reportedly speared in the area occured in

Travelers can guard against illness

Any number of infectious diseases may plague a traveler. For sure protection, see that immunizations for all communicable diseases are up-to-date for each member of the family before starting the trip. These should include immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, and. for children, whooping cough. Ask your physician about your family's immunization needs, and also about any special protection you might need before traveling into certain areas. The American Medical Association reminds that if a member of the family is taking any special medicine prescribed by a physician, make certain to have an adequate supply for the entire trip. Take an extra copy of the prescription, so that it can be replaced if the bottle breaks or is lost. Your health and the way you feel during your holiday is probably the most important factor in determining the success of your trip. In the excitement of vacation preparations, do not overlook any aspect of the family's 163,926 boats registered in Indiana in '7B The state of Indiana registered 163,926 boats in 1978, an increase of nine-tenths per cent over the previous year, according to figures just released by the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers. This places Indiana 22 in total number of boats registered among the fifty states and U.S. Territories. There were 8,034,905 boats registered nationally last year, an overall increase of seventenths per cent. In addition, 49,183 larger boats were documented, an increase of nine per cent over the year before. Registration figures showed the total number of inboard, including inboard outdrives, in the state to be 79,358 and the total number of outboard boats, 82,943.

Wed., July 18,1979 - THE MAIL-JOURNAL

CATTAIL COVER — The marsh surrounding the lakes in the TriCounty region provide adequate cover for birds and small animals that habitate the area. Tri-County property manager Arnold Karr stands amidst the tall, thick growth.

“> - BLASTED ENTRY — In order to improve access to surrounding waters on the Tri-County property, several channels had to be blasted through brush and marsh areas. At most bodies of water a channel is provided for easy boat entry. There are some, however, that still need to be completed.

1855 when four men. Renfro. Kitson. Etter and Snyder nailed one in the channel between Lake Syracuse and Lake Wawasee. near the railroad bridge. In the 19205, verified by a photograph, an injured sturgeon was found by Miss Chariotte White. The size of this cold blooded vertebrate measured seven feet (and three inches! Sounds like it could have given Kareem Abdul-Jabbar quite a

health that may cause problems during the trip. This may mean a trip to the dentist to guard against toothaches. and a copy of your prescription for eyeglasses, in case of loss or breakage. In planning where to go. the family should consider allergies and possible reactions to high altitudes High elevations, excessive heat, and high humidity sometimes can make a stay uncomfortable for persons with heart trouble or difficulty in breath ing. Check with your doctor about any special problems con

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fight on the basketball court This particular specimen supposedly was found floating on the lake, dying. The fisKjT~water wings, located just behind the gills may have blocked t his opening and the creature suffocated to death, surmised one fellow. While we have heard of no modern day sightings, there may still be sturgeons in the lakes around here. If you see one. let us know'

cerning a member of the family who has been ill, or i$ an older person. Planning fijr special limitations in advancle will assure everyone of a mpre enjoyable vacation aS In 1643 on Manhattan Island, there were over 20 different nationalities and sects, speaking 18 different languages.

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