Indiana Conservation Officers will host an elevated hunting platform safety demonstration in Johnson County on Sept. 12.  Participants should meet at 1 p.m. at the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area office parking lot at 7970 S. Rowe Street in Edinburgh. Staff will then direct attendees to the demonstration site within the property.

The event will feature instruction on safe and proper techniques for using various elevated hunting platforms, including ladder stands, fixed‑position stands, climbing stands, and saddle systems. Attendees will also have the chance to practice connecting to a tree stand safety line and safely ascending and descending a tree under supervision.

Highlighting why these skills matter, Lt. Travis Stewart of the DNR Division of Law Enforcement said, “Proper tree stand safety is essential. Once your feet leave the ground, staying connected to the tree is non-negotiable. Most tree stand accidents occur because hunters aren’t wearing a harness. Remaining clipped in from your first step up to your final step down is the simplest and most effective way to prevent a fall.”

All equipment used during the demonstration will be provided. Participants are not required to bring personal gear.

Run Or Walk In The Run The Falls 5K

Norton King’s Daughters’ Health will host its 28th annual Run the Falls 5K on Saturday, September 26 at Clifty Falls State Park. The event supports their prevention and wellness programs.

The 3.1-mile road course is open to walkers and runners of all ages. On-site registration and packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. at the Clifty Falls State Park pool and the race begins promptly at 8 a.m.

The cost is $30 and includes a long-sleeved shirt if registration is completed by Sept. 15. After the early-bird deadline, the $30 fee no longer includes an event shirt. To register, visit runsignup.com/race/IN/Madison/RuntheFalls.

Man’s Body Recovered from Big Cedar Lake

At 2:30pm on Aug. 28 the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call reporting a missing swimmer near the 1800 block of East Schug Road.

Conservation Officers responded and used side-scan sonar to locate the victim in about 40 feet of water. Members of the Conservation Officer SCUBA Team recovered the individual at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The victim has been identified as Andreas Lohmar, 62, of Columbia City. The incident remains under investigation.

‘till next time, 

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com  Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.