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Birds make Santa Claus Museum their home

Birds make Santa Claus Museum their home

This is a story you hope has a happy ending, but at the very least, you admire the efforts of those who look out for wildlife.

It's about the old Santa Claus Church, a hole that needed to be patched and the sudden realization that the hole served as an entry point for a mama bird and her new youngsters.

Read about it in the Santa Claus Museum and Village blog.

Seminar to keep producers current on crop management

Seminar to keep producers current on crop management

Crop producers from around southwest Indiana are invited to attend a free Purdue Extension crop workshop March 6 in Bretzville covering field crop management and herbicide-resistant plants.

The Southwest Indiana Crop Seminar will run from 12:25 to 4:45 p.m. at the Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds, 4157 S. state Route 162, about six miles south of Jasper.

"We want to give local crop producers an opportunity to meet with industry professionals and academic specialists to discuss topics that might affect this year's crop," said Kenneth Eck, Dubois County Extension educator.

Topics and their presenters are:

Traps yield no emerald ash borers in area

Traps yield no emerald ash borers in area

A survey conducted over the past seven months of the 13 southwest Indiana counties in which emerald ash borer had not been previously detected showed no signs of the invasive insect that kills ash trees.

As part of the survey, traps were strategically located in five southwestern counties—Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick.

“The 82 purple traps placed on the designed grid did not capture any of the beetles,” said Phil Marshall, state entomologist.

Visual surveys were also conducted by DNR experts during spring and summer in the eight other southwestern Indiana counties (Crawford, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Martin, Perry, Pike and Sullivan). No new EAB infestations were detected.

Harvest Fest at Monkey Hollow Winery this weekend

Harvest Fest at Monkey Hollow Winery this weekend

The grapes are picked and it's time to celebrate autumn at Monkey Hollow Winery.  Their Harvest Fest takes place Saturday, October 13.

There will be live music from 12:30 to 6 p.m. featuring classical guitar, folk, country and rock music.

Pumpkin crop strong despite drought; tips on finding a good one

Pumpkin crop strong despite drought; tips on finding a good one

From Purdue University

Indiana's pumpkin crop for the most part has fared well despite the drought that has gripped the Midwest, and consumers should have an abundance of healthy pumpkins to choose from this autumn.

Initially, there were fears that the crop would not germinate properly because of the drought and heat, said Dan Egel, a Purdue Extension plant pathologist. But the pumpkins did germinate, and the dryness actually protected them from many of the diseases that afflict them in wetter years.

Pumpkin patch opens Saturday at Family Roots Nursery

Pumpkin patch opens Saturday at Family Roots Nursery

A new pumpkin patch opens this Saturday along the Dubois/Spencer County line.

There’s no charge to tour the grounds at Family Roots Nursery and see the fall flowers including homegrown mums and pumpkins.  You can see thousands of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, colors and sizes.

Pumpkins start at $.33 each & go up to $25. Sampling of Apple Cider takes place all fall as well.  Several local made baked goods & home décor are also available for visitors to purchase.

It's Fair time in Spencer County

It's Fair time in Spencer County

Get ready for five fun-filled days of food, livestock shows, 4-H exhibits, and community pride.  The 2012 Spencer County 4-H Fair opens Friday in Grandview and runs through Tuesday, June 26.

4-H projects will be on display every day of the Fair.  Entertainment will include Tractor Pulls, Music on outdoor stage, car show, Karaoke, and more.