The above picture from wikipedia shows that the American Badger is native to northwest Ohio. Yes, there are a few around, but they are nocturnal somewhat and are shy and never stray far from their hole in the ground, so you don’t see them very often.
The American Badger is a significant predator of snakes, including rattlesnakes and in some places might be protected all the time.
See Ya!
Me and This Dope Crap
By: Stan Jordan
Just recently I wrote a column on the medicinal use of marijuana. I have not changed my mind, I’m in favor of using marijuana if it can help people. But do it within the law. Any medicine that will help someone with seizures should be made available or some help that we don’t know 
about yet.
But, I am against any use of marijuana or any other drugs just for a high or recreation.
Dope usage in America is almost sky high. It is a lot worse than we realize. You know all about the hard stuff we get from the southern countries, but there is a dozen of chemicals that you can buy and make your own stuff.
When you read the government reports on drug usage it just about blows your mind. I’m not going into the type or levels of all this stuff all the way from heroine down to some people even drinking radiator fluid.
There is a program in most big cities so users can get clean, free needles. I have been told of the good parts of this action, but I don’t agree with it. To me that almost agrees that shooting up is almost alright. I know some police officers say it has its merits.
Just a few weeks ago on a Friday night, there was some action on SR 49 right in front of my place. This guy got sick in his car and called the EMS. Well, they come out and transport him to Hicksville and they got him straight in. The very next day he went to Bryan and overdosed and died.
All of the time and help of the EMS meant nothing to him, and that is the same in a lot of cases.
As I understand there is a drug carried by some of the first responders called Narcan, that sometimes will bring back someone who has overdosed.
As I understand if the first responders have this drug in their bag and use it on an overdosed person there is no charge – tax payers paying for this to bring back a druggie, so he can shoot up again. Somehow this just don’t sound right.
See ya!
• The oldest and most used one liner in the world is:
One fellow asked the other, “Who is that lady I saw you with last night?”
“That was no lady, that was my wife.”
• This blonde fell down a hole. The one said, “It sure is dark in here.”
The other blonde said, “I don’t know, I can’t see.”
• Some people cause happiness where ever they go, others when ever they go.
• Blondies IQ came back negative.
• I was going to look for my missing watch, but I couldn’t find the time.
• A father and son were walking down the street. The son says, “Dad, did you know in some countries you don’t know your wife until you are married?”
Dad said, “Son, they are all that way.”
• The wise old owl, sat in the Oak.
The more he heard, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Now wasn’t that a wise old bird.
• There was a blonde who just so sick and tired of all the blonde jokes. One evening she went home and memorized all the state capitals.
Back in the office the next day some guy started telling a blonde joke. She interrupted him with a small announcement. “I’ve had it up to here with these blonde jokes. I want you to know that this blonde went home last night and did something that probably none of you could do! I memorized all the state capitals.”
One of the guys, of course, said, “I don’t believe you! What’s the capital of Nevada?”
“‘N’” she answered.
• I know a blonde who didn’t like to cook out of a cookbook because each page said, “Start with a clean dish.”
This blonde was going to make chocolate mousse for her husband, as soon as he makes the oven bigger.
• The first grade talent show is fast approaching and Johnny has still not decided what he will do. Little Mary is going to do a piano solo, Timmy will recite a poem, but Johnny can’t come up with anything. Finally, his frustrated teacher is relieved when he tells her he has worked out his act.
Come the night of the concert, all the proud parents fill the hall and watch as Mary, in her prettiest dress, tinkles the ivories to rapturous applause…
Then Timmy steps out in his best suit and recites his poems to the delight of the audience…
Finally, out comes Johnny, in check shirt, and denim overalls. He steps up to the microphone and says…
“Ladies and Gentlemen, my uncle owns a farm and every holiday I visit him there. Tonight, I would like to share with you my impression of some of the many sounds I hear on my uncle’s farm.
Here is the first… ”JOHNNY! GET OFF THAT DAMN TRACTOR!”
The Latest On The Wildlife
By: Stan Jordan
I had a nice visit the other day with a grandma that I have known since 1960. She told me that she has a grandson in Marion, OH that reads our paper every week, especially Stan Jordan’s articles on the area wildlife.
The American Beaver is a lot more common in this area. I mean, in a circle of Antwerp, 25 miles in any direction, I have reports of Delaware Bend over in Defiance County, all the way west to up past Bull Rapids area, and many miles also of the St. Joe River.
Since about 1950, the white tailed deer have migrated from the north and pretty much cover all of Ohio and Indiana. You can say that they have become a problem. The state of Ohio has tried a number of ways to control the deep population, but without much success.
The coyote was introduced now also to help control the deer, but I think we just have more coyotes, but I have not heard of any trouble with the coyote.
The red tail fox is quite common in this area and I think it always has been.
The wild turkey was introduced to this area a few years ago and in certain areas it has done well. Like north of the Maumee River. Down in the Sherwood area a fellow told me he has more turkeys in his yard than sparrows.
The Bald Eagles are in our area. Fact is, they cover a lot of Indiana and Ohio. There are only two types of eagles: the Bald and the Golden Eagle. I am glad to report that we find a new nest every once in a while. They have long since been taken off the endangered list.
We have a good supply of coon, opossum, rabbits and other smaller animals. We occasionally see a snowy owl. They are not native to this area, but I think the food supply causes them to migrate. I think the wild rabbit feeds a lot of birds and other animals
We here in the tri-state area are very lucky. We have lots of wild animals and birds and fauna. You just have to slow up a little and see them.
See ya!
A Day In The Park
By: Stan Jordan
Saturday, August 12th is the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce’s A Day In The Park.
The first thing that morning is the Pancake and sausage breakfast at teh EMS building. That is from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A free will donation.
Then bring your lawn chair and sit along Main Street and enjoy the big parade and that starts at 10:00 a.m.
After that, journey down to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park and the festivities start at 11:00 a.m.
As I understand Tim Copsey has been selected as the Gem of Antwerp. I certainly agree with the Commerce’s selection. Tim had been very active in Antwerp’s betterment for a long time.
Sam Rivers, Indian Agent Chapter 44: Another Bear Attack
By: Stan Jordan
Holy Moley! Hunter shot that big bear with his 45-70 but that bear didn’t go down. Billy siad, “I know he hit that bear I could see the dust come off his fur.”
Then Billy threw his gun up to his shoulder and aimed at the bear’s chest. But the gun didn’t go off – he had never loaded his rifle!
By now Hunter had put another shell in his rifle and shot the bear in the chest at about 20ft. The bear just crumpled to the ground. He didn’t stagger at all. The bullet must have hit him in the heart.
Hunter loaded his rifle quickly and said, “Everyone stand still. He might attack us yet.” But after a bit Hunter went forward and nudged the bear with his rifle barrel. The bear was dead all right and the boys breathed and relaxed.
One of the braves wanted the bear’s claws. Another wanted his teeth. But Hunter said, “Billy and I will ride back to to teh agency and get the team and wagon. You boys watch the bear so that no woles will get him.”
Hunter and Billy made good time back to the agency. They hitched up the teams and wagon, and loaded a couple of planks to help load the bear on the wagon. It took a little longer to get back to the kill, but everything was fine when they did arrive. They set the wagon and then hitched that big bear to the team and pulled him right up those planks onto the wagon and he was loaded.
They arrived back at the camp and the other fellows had the tri-pod erected and with all the braves and soldiers it didn’t take long to have the bear dressed out, cleaned, and hung up. Rooster had made soup and biscuits and coffee and now they fried up some thin strips of bear meat. But the Indians took some and hung it over the fire adn let it roast. They know a lot more about bear meat than the soldiers.
A couple of the braves said they would take the bear skin adn clean it up and make a rug for the twins. They said something about a lot of history is in the bear skin.
The evening got a little cool, but they made the fire a little bigger adn everyone sat at the fire and talked. Billy talked a little about the railroad system back east. He says it will be great to go where you want to. He talked about school and how the day’s work was. Even some girls in college, yes he knows one, and she is a little special. Even the natives giggles about that after they understood the situation.
Gen. Kearney told Billy all about the new tribe from the Calamus River. All their names and how to get there. He told Billy all about the progress these natives have made and all the training and help we have given both tribes.
See ya!
The Maumee River Raft Race
By: Stan Jordan
Dan and Traci Bowers, owners of Advanced Chassis operation over on Victory Lane, held their annual Maumee Raft Race Saturday, August 5th. There were about thirty people and a few pets at the affair.
Let me tell you about the start in my on-looker vision.
Dan took me down to the river in his four wheel drive truck. Now all of this was at the marina at the east end of Riverside Veteran Memorial Park.
There were four canoes, some bigs ones and a smaller one, there were six kayaks, four big floats and a couple of smaller one man and one dog floats.
There were six young fellows from South America who are trainees at a dairy farm over in Van Wert County. They were on a big six man float that Dan had purchased for the affair. Let me tell you, those boys came to have a good time.
Dan’s pick up truck was equipped with a 110 volt outlet so Traci had an air compressor that blew up all the floats. Let me tell you, that’s roughing it, they don’t.
There were men, women and pets and I remember on little blonde headed out about 10-12 who reminded me that I was all over that area of the river when I was about that age. In the summer you can wade all the area from the east end to where Snooks wires cross the river, without getting your knees wet.
It isn’t much of a race, it’s just an afternoon of fun and good cheer on the river. Dan figures it’s about a journey of about 13 miles by river. It ended about four miles to Dan’s house.
I really enjoyed watching the start of the race. That whole area brought back a lot of memories.
Dan, I thank you for bothering with me.
See ya!
