Tuesday, October 4th, 2022

Annual migration has begun

See them now before it's bye-bye birdies

By Hank Nuwer

CELINA - Bird migration, depending upon the species, begins in Mercer County from September and is usually over by November's end. Birds respond to shorter days with diminished light, cooler temperatures, and dwindling crops for a food source. Good parents, they wait until their young mature.

Scan the skies for these beauties.

Submitted Photo

Great Blue Heron

Not all of these tall, wide-winged birds migrate. Some, like Canada geese, stay here in winter. Those that do migrate may go as far as the Gulf States. You'll find them motionless in water with eyes upon their prey.

Photo by Randy Bennett.

Submitted Photo

Sandhill Crane

These gorgeous birds are marked in the eye area by a brilliant red splotch that ends at the start of their beak. They are gregarious and like to hang out in flocks. The female's call is twice as long as the males. They return just before March 1.

Photo by Ken Bigham

Submitted Photo

Green Heron

Local wetlands provide plenty of hiding places in thick vegetation for this dazzling bird. It is one of the smaller herons. They migrate in large flocks

any time between the final days of August and early November.

Photo by Randy Bennett

Submitted Photo

American White Pelican

Although once scarce as hen's teeth, improved water quality at Grand Lake has made them an exciting species to see. They are one of North America's larger birds with wingspans up to nine feet. Some migrate as far away as Mexico.

Photo by Randy Bennett

Archive of October 4th, 2022

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Finding the openings

Parkway picks up sweep victory over St. Marys

ROCKFORD - It appeared at first that the St. Marys-Parkway volleyball matchup was going to be a back-and-forth encounter.

Parkway won the openi [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Village considers Indiana firm to tackle sludge

FORT RECOVERY - Village officials plan to enter into an agreement with Kainos Ag of Muncie, Indiana, to reduce sludge in the village's wastewater treatment lagoons using a plant-based product.

Officials hosting hurricane victim aid

CELINA - Mercer County Fair officials are hosting a supply drive to help Hurricane Ian victims in Florida.

Starting Monday, they began accepting an array of household, cleanup, personal and animal items that will be hauled to Green Cove Springs, Florida, on Saturday afternoon.

Wilson Shoe Store marks 70 years on the right foot

CELINA - One of downtown Celina's longest running businesses, a veritable institution for generations of shoe-buying families, is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a customer appreciation sale running through Oct. 15.

Lament for the king of the playground

While in Spain to speak at a conference, I ponder the grand white oak on the perimeter of Celina City Schools that has stood at least as many years as I have been alive.

Dominant Cardinals beat Trojans

NEW BREMEN - With two weeks until the start of the volleyball tournament, New Bremen looked to be in postseason form on Monday.

The Cardinals dominated Arcanum over the first two sets before a slightly more competitive third, earning a 25-6, 25-6, 25-14 sweep over the Trojans at the Nest.

Area Roundup

Area girls golfers fail to advance

Compiled By Gary R. Rasberry and Tom Haines

The Division II girls golf season ended for area teams after no local players were able to advance to state after competing in the district tournament on Monday at Sycamore Springs in Arlington.

National Pork Month

Winner's Meats does farm to table

OSGOOD - When Robert Winner founded Winner's Meats in 1928, he started out processing beef and pork in his barn for neighbors and friends.

Nearly a century later, the Winner Corporation, doing business as Winner's Meats, has become one of the few agribusinesses that can claim to be farm-to-table.