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Numerous public commenters speak in support of Neill, Potts in BloomfieldThe Bloomfield Board of School Trustees met for their regular monthly meeting last week with a full audience in attendance. The meeting, in fact, was shifted from its typical location of the media center to the cafeteria to accommodate the larger crowd...
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UDWI REMC partners with Mainstream Fiber Networks to expand rural broadband accessAccording to a press release issued April 16, 2024, UDWI REMC and Mainstream Fiber Networks announced their partnership in the largest fiber project for the cooperative’s service territory. As part of the partnership, the release states, Mainstream will focus on establishing broadband connections to unserved and underserved areas within UDWI’s service area, specifically taking a county-wide approach. ...
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Farmer’s Market 5K springing into action May 4The Linton Farmer’s Market will host a 5K Farm Fresh Trail Run on Saturday, May 4 at Shakamak State Park with a 2.5K walk also available for those wishing to participate. Registration will open at the event at 7 a.m. with the race kicking off at 7:30 a.m.. Runners and walkers are welcome to start and finish their race anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 12 p.m....
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Bloomfield holds on for win over Eastern GreeneOn Thursday, Apr. 25, the Bloomfield softball team used a grand slam and a two-run home run to hold off Eastern Greene 7-6. The Lady Cardinals are now 4-5 while Eastern Greene is 4-7. In the top of the first, Eastern Greene senior Bailee Tieman hit a single to score senior Jessica Hovious for the 1-0 lead...
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High-powered offense lifts Miners to two straight winsAfter a 7-6 victory over Evansville Christian on Thursday, the Linton baseball team scored 20 runs against Orleans for their second straight win. The Miners are 5-5 on the year. Against Evansville Christian, a big night from senior Jamison Fields helped propel the Miners as the senior posted three hits and two RBIs on the night...
Ayrton's first squirrel hunt
Posted Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 12:44 AM
As a boy my first introduction to hunting was the pursuit of squirrels. I was nine years old and had just been gifted my first gun, a 20 gauge single shot shotgun.
My grandfather had told me stories, for years, about some of the memorable hunts he had been a part of, hunts that made me long for the days I could join him. August 15, 1989 would be that date. Squirrel season has started on August 15 for as long as I can remember.
Even though it was legally unnecessary, for my safety he had me wear an orange vest for visibility. So there I was, orange hat with "Buckfever" written across the front, orange vest (the kind with a game pouch in the back), blue jeans, and snow boots ready for our adventure. Ten shiny new shotgun shells adorned the shell holders on the front of the vest. After breakfast was served, and Mamaw Joyce bid us good luck, we headed for the tree-line to the east in pursuit of my first squirrel.
I don't remember exactly how many squirrels we shot that morning or which tree I shot my first squirrel from, but what I do remember is the sense of pride and accomplishment all those years ago. What I do remember though, if I think about it hard enough, is the taste Mamaw's fried squirrel and gravy from that evening.
Throughout the next few years me and my Grandpa had many memorable squirrel hunts and I've not missed a year since. There are animals I would rather hunt than squirrel, but no other hunt signals the beginning of fall and hunting seasons than the bushy tailed rodents.
This year was a big moment for me and my youngest son Ayrton. Ayrton turned nine in May and received his first gun from his Papaw. His first hunt wasn't for squirrel but rather the spring turkey season. Ayrton wasn't able to get a turkey this spring so the first shot fired from his gun during a hunt would have to wait until squirrel season.
As the summer days trickled by and the nights became cooler he and I started making plans for his first squirrel hunt. Living on my Grandpa's old homestead I was fortunate to be able to replicate my first hunt for Ayrton.
The day came and we loaded up our guns and headed over that same hill that my Grandpa and I did 26 years earlier. It wasn't long before we were underneath the tree of an actively feeding squirrel. Try as we might we couldn't find an opening in the tree canopy, for him to get a shot, and in an attempt to locate the squirrel he saw us and scampered off.
While watching that squirrel run off I looked to the west and saw another squirrel moving down a limb and I moved Ayrton in it's direction. Stealthily walking along the trail, Ayrton made his way to the tree and promptly harvested his first squirrel. Actually it was his first harvest from any hunt. He picked up the squirrel and exclaimed "This is awesome!"
We finished the day with three squirrels total, one for him and two for me. Later that week I was cooking fried squirrel for him when he got off of the school bus. He ran into the house, smelling the aroma in the air, anticipating the rewards of his hunt. Sitting down to dinner that night he commented on how delicious it was and I was delighted in knowing he was gaining an understanding of a connection to the land and where his food came from.
Jon is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 21. He can also be reached via email at jonpswaby@gmail.com.
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