Adventure Indiana | Summer 2013

SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA’S ADVENTURE MAGAZINE

FREE

SUMMER 2013

Wide Open Throttle Page 16

Also in this issue FISHING Page 6

Caving Page 12

DEMO DERBY Page 22

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ON THE INSIDE

CREDITS Publisher E. Mayer Maloney, Jr. Editor Kathryn S. Gardiner kgardiner@hoosiertimes.com 812-331-4289

On High Page 10

Marketing Shaylan Owen sowen@schurz.com 812-349-1400

Wide OpenThrottle

Editor’s Adventure

Advertising Angie Blanton angie@tmnews.com 812-277-7243

Page 16

On the cover Photo by Darryl Smith

Page 4

Summer Bass

Bones and Boats

Page 6

Page 12

The Glow in Global

Frisbee on Par Page 20

Page 14

Road Rage Redefined

AdventureTool Kit

Page 22

Page 26

Adventure Calendar Page 27

Crreek Park ey C Delan

YOU’VE Y OU’VE GOT GOT THE NEED, WE’VE GOT THE SPEED!

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EDITOR’S Gymnastics for Grownups PICS | Darryl Smith

I

f you have to call your mother to ask if you ever did gymnastics as a kid, it’s probably just safe to say you never did gymnastics.

So, I never did gymnastics.

Therefore, I was suitably daunted and nervous walking into the new Monroe County YMCA Gymnastics Center, a warehouse-sized expanse of blue mats with a foam pit in the corner.

At the very first practice, they had us leaping, tumbling and trying a little bit of everything from round-offs to uneven bars to beam to vault. If you’ve ever watched the Summer Olympics, then you’ve seen these events, and at the gymnastics center, you get to put your hands and feet on the real deals. (Spoiler: I am no Gabby Douglas.)

At first, doing a handstand seemed an impossible task. I bent my arms and my body too much; I was not “straight like a pencil,” as I’d been instructed to be. A bit of conditioning each night worked to help us strengthen our cores and develop the muscle memory for the “hollow body” position so crucial in gymnastics.

During the eight-week session, each practice was an unpredictable mix of experience

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levels—novices like me, men and women who were dynamos in their youths, and those who have developed or refined their skills as adults—but one constant was fun. And laughing—the good kind. I messed up frequently (which, in gymnastics, can result in a spectacular flail of limbs and an awkward landing), but it felt like a safe space to do so, in every way. I was flailing amongst friends, and those friends valued effort, not perfection.

But, I’ll be honest, even effort took effort at times because the vault flat-out scared me. Running headlong to jump on something that will pop me up into the air, where I must then land in a suitable handstand had a certain flirting-with-disaster feel to it. But what’s an adventure without facing— and then running toward and leaping on—your fear? And

Watch Kathryn conquer(ish) the vault. See the video by downloading the free HTlivepage app. Then, aim your smartphone or tablet camera at the photo above.

I did it. It wasn’t pretty, but then, pretty is not the point and my classmates cheered my victory just the same.

By the end of my session, a handstand felt gloriously possible, and I had a far greater appreciation of the athleticism of gymnasts. Also, I can do a mean cartwheel, which probably shouldn’t be confused with a good cartwheel, but it’s still darn fun.

The Monroe County YMCA has new sessions starting all the time, and drop-in classes are always available—they pack in a lot of action for your buck. Get in there and take a tumble. The floors are all padded and sometimes landing in the foam pit is the best part.

Graceful mostly in spirit,

Kathryn S. Gardiner, Editor

ˆ Back row: Instructor Caroline Mullis, Kalani Craig,

Lauren Hofmeister, assistant instructor Emily Turpin Front row: Cindy Linsenbardt, Kathryn, Kacie Cole, Lindsay Pipher 5

Summer

ass B Heltonville fisherman angles for good waters

6

WORDS | Laura Gleason PICS | Darryl Smith

“I love being able to be out on the water, it’s just a calming thing.”

– Rob Moser

ob Moser still has the fish his dad had mounted for him when he was 11.

“Looking back now, it’s not that big of a fish; it’s probably about three pounds; but back then it was huge,” said Moser, an avid fisherman from Heltonville, Ind. Nowadays, it takes a larger fish to impress Moser, who works as an engineering technician at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. He’s very pleased with an 8-pound bass. “That’s a pretty good one around here. In the south, that’s probably pretty common,” he said.

Moser focuses on bass fishing because of the challenge it presents.

“Sometimes you can go all day and just get a few bites. The challenge is to figure them out, figure out what they want to feed on,” Moser said.

Mastering piscine psychology takes patience and attention to detail.

“It’s just through a lot of trial and error, eliminating water and letting the fish tell MORE | Page 8

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THE REST | From Page 7 you what they want. If you get a few bites on something, or you see a certain pattern, you can get clues, just by deduction,” Moser said.

“Eliminating water” means that if you’re fishing in a certain area or at a certain depth and the fish don’t appear to be active, you adjust your strategy accordingly. “If you’re fishing shallow and you’re not getting bites, you try deep water,” Moser said.

Hear Rob Moser talk about his childhood of fishing and his first tournament. See the video by downloading the free HTlivepage app. Then, aim your smartphone or tablet camera at the photo above.

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his kind of perceptiveness pays off at bass-fishing tournaments, where many competitors are all fishing the same lake.

“Generally it’s a team event.

You have a five fish limit, so it’s the heaviest five fish that you can weigh in at the end of the tournament,” said Moser, whose current record is around 25 pounds.

Serious bass fishermen accrue points for victories during

ˆ Just before sunrise, more than 30 fishing boats gather near the boat ramp at Cutright SRA on Lake Monroe before the start of the USA Bassin’ fishing tournament. the year to qualify for a spot at larger competitions.

The U.S.A. Bassin Classic is one of the premier events of the year, and winning it would be the culmination of a lifelong dream for Moser.

The event takes place on Kentucky Lake and there are typically around 300 boats, representing teams from around the country. hen he’s not at competitions, Moser and his father, Bob Moser, can often be found at Patoka Lake, Lake Monroe, or Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area. “I love being able to be out on the water, it’s just a calming thing,” Moser said.

In spring and early summer bass are spawning and the larger females are eagerly looking for food. “Generally you’ll catch your largest fish during that time,” he said.

When asked for advice about how newcomers can take up fishing as a hobby, Moser recommended spending time with people who are already immersed in the sport.

“If they have a family member that’s interested in it, try to get a family member to take them fishing.

They can read about it as much as they want, they can get magazines, and they can check out area events like tournaments. Go to the weigh-ins and get to know some people there,” he said.

ˆ Competitive fisherman Gabe Blanton changes to an imitation worm as he and fishing partner Rob Moser test the waters to find what the bass are biting on at Lake Monroe. Moser and Blanton participate in USA Bassin’ tournaments throughout the region.

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ONHIGH Aerial silks take fitness to new heights WORDS | Kasey Husk PICS | Darryl Smith

A

“You are focused on the micromoves and mastering the skill and you don’t realize you are using a lot of strength by being suspended a few inches off the ground.”

– Ebeth Feldman

›

Graceful in the air, Laura Pence performs with aerial silks

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nyone who has ever dreamed of running away to join the circus now has the chance to channel his or her inner aerialist while also sculpting muscle and body.

At Flight Club Fitness’ aerial silks class, students can learn to suspend themselves upside down as much as 20 feet in the air—or much lower for beginners—using only a long swath of fabric and the strength of their own bodies.

It’s a “total body workout and total mind workout” that doesn’t feel like a workout, say Flight Club’s founder and its instructor, both former circus performers themselves.

“It’s a fun way to exercise without realizing you are exercising,” says founder and co-owner Ebeth

Feldman. “You are focused on the micro-moves and mastering the skill and you don’t realize you are using a lot of strength by being suspended a few inches off the ground.”

Flight Club offers classes for both children and adults at Twin Lakes Recreation Center.

F

eldman, a former Bloomington resident, initially took up the flying trapeze as a hobby, but it became her full-time employment when she was laid off from her job and she “ran away and joined the circus.”

Feldman originally got the idea to combine fitness and aerial acrobatics in the circus, where she saw “old school” performers push through the pain of injuries. She started looking for ways to make it “healthier and not as damaging.” She launched Flight Club Fitness in California in 2010 to teach trapeze, but decided to pilot the business’ first classes specifically geared toward combining fitness and aerial skills in Bloomington in August 2012.

Now, Feldman says, about 24 people—mostly women, though men are welcome—regularly come to classes at Twin Lakes taught by former aerialist Juliana Burrell.

S

tudents start by learning how to wrap their legs around the silks

to pull themselves into various positions, such as straddling the silk or suspending themselves upside down. An advanced skill is doing “drops” where they hook the silk around their legs and let it catch them when they let go.

Students can start just a few inches from the ground at first, then gradually climb higher and higher as they build their strength and confidence, Burrell said. Some students have even built their skills to the point of performing in public as a group.

“At first it all might seem unattainable, but if you stick with it, in a very short amount of time you’ll see you are doing things that the first day you thought you’d never do because you didn’t have the strength or it was too scary,” Burrell says.

The class helps build muscle tone, Feldman says, especially in the calves and upper body. Some students have never been able to do a pull-up before taking the class but after are able to do three or four, she says.

But most importantly, she and Burrell say, it keeps fitness fun.

“It’s intense, but people want to keep coming back to climb over and over because it’s fun,” Burrell says. “You don’t even realize how much energy you are using, and muscles.

It’s very different than just walking on a treadmill and hoping time goes by fast.”

hops Unique S aily D n e p O Door & The Blue Fiddle The Pig &

Students Laura Serrano-Silva (above), Moises Cruz (bottom left), and Zoe Moczek (bottom right) soar on silks at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center. Watch a performance by Ebeth Feldman. See the video by downloading the free HTlivepage app. Then, aim your smartphone or tablet camera at the photo above.

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BoatsandBones

Indiana’s largest cave offers special features WORDS | Lee Hadley

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PICS | Courtesy Indiana Caverns

ost surface-dwelling Hoosiers are largely unaware of the wonders to be found underground.

The folks who operate Indiana Caverns would like to change that. “In five years we want to be known as the show cave with the best interpretive exhibits of any privately owned cave in the United States,” said Carol Groves, marketing and communications director for the tour cave.

Located just outside of Corydon, Indiana Caverns offers a 75-minute guided tour of a newly opened section of the Binkley Cave system. At almost 36 miles in length, Binkley Cave is the largest cave system in Indiana and the 11th largest

in the United States. “The section of the cave that we’re commercializing was discovered in 2010,” Groves said. The first man-made entrance was put in during May of 2012 and construction began to open the cave to the public.

T

here are two main parts to the tour. The first part is a walk through the cavern that includes a waterfall, cave for-

mations and an unusual collection of bones concentrated in an area known appropriately as Big Bone Mountain. When explorers first entered the cavern they thought they were looking at the bones of farm animals that had fallen into a sinkhole. After development of the tour began, though, a paleontologist was consulted who determined that the bones were actually the remains of ice-age animals.

Aside from the ice-age bones, Binkley Cave also boasts an unusual diversity of current residents. The cave system is considered a global biodiversity hotspot because it contains more than 20 species of animals living in it. Typical caves might have 12 to 15 different species. Not all of

these animals will necessarily be visible on the tour. “You can never guarantee that people are going to see animals in the cave, but they should at least see the white, blind cave crayfish,” Groves said.

Salamanders are also a common sight within the tour area.

The second part of the tour involves a boat ride up a subterranean passageway. Bringing an

the cave so a backpack carrier might be a good idea for children too small to walk on their own.

Due to the nature of the tour, Indiana Caverns is not handicapped accessible.

I

800-pound boat into the cavern posed an interesting challenge for the construction crew but they managed it by utilizing a zip line. “Everyone involved with the project has been involved in

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Groves thinks the uniqueness of the Indiana Caverns experience will delight visitors. “The boat ride is fairly uncommon and the ice-age bones are practically unknown on a showcase tour,” she said.

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the show-cave business at least once before,” Groves said. The boat holds 20 people and the ride makes up almost half the tour.

Since the temperature underground remains constant, Indiana Caverns is open year round. Good walking shoes are recommended, as is a jacket for the boat ride.

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The Glow inGlobal

Night-time run raises money for a good cause

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WORDS | Laura Gleason PICS | Darryl Smith

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ˆ Runners play in blacklights after a mile covered in glow paint

f you saw hundreds of colorsoaked people bounding through the Indiana University campus one evening in early April, it wasn’t the Hindu holiday of Holi, and it wasn’t your imagination. It was the first-ever Glow Run, a fundraising event for campus charity organization IU Timmy Global Health. Its organizers hope it will become an annual tradition.

Participants dressed in bright outfits, spattered themselves with glow paint, and adorned themselves with glow sticks. After mingling under black lights

in Dunn Meadow, they ran about a mile through campus, retiring to Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, where more black lights had been set up to extend the afterglow.

“Seeing everyone in glow paint with the black lights shining on them right before they lined up to go run was my favorite part,” said IU Timmy financial chair Lindsey Stern, who spearheaded the event.

B

etween the nearly 400 participants, almost $3,000 was raised, and the profits will be going to Timmy Global Health, an

Indianapolis-based organization that provides free health care to people in developing nations. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Chuck Dietzen, the organization, named after Dr. Dietzenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother who passed away in his infancy, now has chapters in more than 35 colleges and high schools around the United States, and supports seven health care projects in five countries.

Almost as important as providing medical care is the emphasis Timmy Global Health puts on inspiring young people to incorporate charitable work into their everyday lives, according to David Plankenhorn, who was president of IU Timmy until he graduated this May. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Timmy puts a tremendous amount of effort into giving students the opportunity to see firsthand that they can truly make a difference in the world,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The IU chapter, which has about 300 members, sponsors events throughout the school year; next

year, the main events will include a carnival and battle of the bands held in September (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Timmy Paloozaâ&#x20AC;?), a benefit dinner in the spring, and the second edition of the glow

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over spring break we send 25 students to deliver the donations and run the clinic for a week,â&#x20AC;? said Stern, who hopes to join them next year.

run, held in the week before Little 500.

IU Timmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main focus is supporting a clinic in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, through fundraising and collection of vitamins, medication and sunscreen. The clinic provides services to a rural population without reliable access to medical care.

tern, who just finished her junior year as a biology major, joined IU Timmy Global health at the beginning of the school year.

Once she fulfills her goal of becoming a doctor, she envisions contributing to Timmy Global Healthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission on a whole new level.

Plankenhorn, who will begin medical school this fall, feels similarly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a saying in Timmy that once you catch the Timmy virus, there is no going back; you become a lifer. I am no exception,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Interested in participating? Keep your eyes peeled for the next Glow Run, which is tentatively planned for the week before next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Little 500. And you can donate now at www.indiana.edu/~timmyfc/.

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Wide Open Throttle At Redbird, they don’t need roads WORDS | Jennifer Kinser & Kathryn S. Gardiner PICS | Darryl Smith

ˆ Matt Neff rides the hills at

Redbird State Recreation Area 17

See the action by using the free HTlivepage app and view the video by aiming your smartphone or tablet camera at the photo below.

D

riving down the road after a heavy Midwestern rainfall, you slow your car to crawl when you see a big puddle—or, if you’re in a Jeep at Redbird, you gun it and make the mud fly. Nestled in the hills of southwestern Indiana, the Redbird State Recreation Area began as a working coal mine and has evolved into the state of Indiana’s first motorized off-road recreation area, and here, steep hills and rugged terrain aren’t obstacles— they’re the whole point.

“In a Jeep or SUV, it’s like a slow motion roller coaster ride,” says Gary Delong, vice president of public relations of the Redbird Foundation. “Nothing is about speed. It’s more about the finesse ... getting around obstacles without damaging your vehicle or the terrain.

“In a UTV or side-by-side, it’s got a lot more ‘wow’ factor due to a lighter vehicle that’s closer to the ground,” he says. “A motorcycle can get into the narrow trails easier and can get around mud holes and fallen trees due to their suspension, even lighter weight, and power.”

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S

panning the Greene and Sullivan county line east of the town of Dugger, Redbird covers over 1,400 acres.

“The best thing about it is the great working relationship we have with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. We couldn’t have done this without” them, Gary says.

Redbird is one of only two Indiana DNR properties that allows off roading, all for an entrance fee that is more affordable than at privately owned parks. While the property is managed by the DNR, Redbird also has a unique and supportive group of citizens behind it—the Redbird Foundation, which is dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the area. They organize events such as the Spring Fling this past April.

During the fling, foundation members, Cub Scout pack 457, and several 4x4 clubs joined together to pick up trash and help with muchneeded trail maintenance to remove fallen trees and debris. It was a “community effort,” Gary says.

With Redbird’s 30 off-road trails, upkeep is an ongoing endeavor.

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Kelly Hart (left) gives a thumbs up after friend winched her jeep out of a mud hole at Redbird SRA, and the Spring Fling group (top middle) poses clean before they hit the trails for maintenance fun torized hikers, the off-road vehicles filed into the trees to check and clear the trails the best way possible—by riding them.

The trails are rated from easy to most difficult to match your skill level, your thrill level, and the ORV (or off-road vehicle) you are driving—from “figure-out-what-you’redoing areas to steep hills,” Gary says. Some of these trails are old mining roads that have traversed the property for years and some have been carefully carved along the reclaimed areas. Signs read “Stay on trail,” but to the average driver, some trails probably won’t look much like ‘trails’ at all. They’ll look like impassable roads and hills of mud, dirt and gravel lined with trees, like a dare from Mother Nature: “Come on in.

See if you can make it.”

And you may not, without help.

Getting stuck is part of the game.

These hardy, mud-going vehicles

don’t come equipped with winch mounts for nothing, and off-roaders are happy to help each other out of a tough spot.

First timers are welcome, even those without a Jeep, motorbike or ATV. The property has two main artery trails that provide a smoother ride. “You can drive a two-wheel drive through there,” Gary says.

And then, if you see someone in a Jeep or a side-by-side, talk to them.

“They’re probably the friendliest people you can meet,” Gary says.

“Meet some people who’ve done it.

They’ll give you advice.” You might even get invited for a ride.

M

ore family fun can be had this summer as the Redbird Foundation hosts several night rides. These events are always popular and allow attendees after-hours access to the park. The night ride begins at the close of normal operat-

29th Annual

ing hours and allows riding until 11 p.m. Camping is allowed in the parking areas and Redbird is close to Shakamak State Park. For the July 6 event—Independence Day weekend—the night ride is an all-terrain vampire’s dream come true: off-road riding all night long until 7 a.m. These events are fundraisers for the Redbird Foundation and cost extra in addition to the gate fee, but attendees need not be foundation members. If you want to become a member, donate, or get more information, check out www.redbirdsra.com.

For those who may be interested in non-motorized activities, Redbird State Recreation Area is a destination for hiking, mushrooming and mountain biking as well, and fishing is available at several stocked and accessible lakes. The DNR has plans to expand Redbird further to include handicap-accessible hiking areas, picnic and interpretative areas.

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ˆ Players hit the disc golf course and play through the wilds at Rockville Lake Park

Frisbee on Par Parke County disc golf course tees up

A

WORDS | Lauren Slavin

PICS | Dennis Byrne

group of novice golfers might feel intimidated or rushed by the serious professionals trailing them on the green. First-time disc golf players at Rockville Lake Park’s course in Parke County, however, might meet a different breed of golfers.

“If we come across some beginners, we can take an hour out of our time and show them how to better play,” said Jameson Hibbs, superintendent of Parke County Parks and Recreation.

“There are a lot of advocates putting time and effort into growing the sport.”

The “hippie craze” of the ‘70s and ‘80s propelled disc golf from college quads to more than 4,000 courses worldwide, player leagues, and championship competitions. Indiana is home to almost 100 courses, including the 18hole course built in and around the woods of Rockville Lake Park.

T

he rules of disc golf mirror those of ball golf.

From a concrete tee pad, players “drive,” or throw, a disc toward a basket that serves as a hole. Different holes have different pars, or amount of throws allowed, depending on

20

difficulty and distance, to determine score. And like ball golf, players can carry multiple discs built for shots of varying distances and wind conditions, though any regular Frisbee will do.

One of the main reasons Jameson thinks the sport is growing in popularity is because of the low cost for high benefit. Many courses are in free parks, and a $10 disc is all you need to play.

“It’s a quick sport,” Jameson said. “You might walk a mile or so, get some exercise, but it doesn’t take the entire day.”

The age range of players is wide as well. Jameson has seen kids under 10 to adults in their mid-70s playing, sometimes alongside one another.

An 18-hole game can take as little as an hour to play, and unlike most team sports, peak physical fitness isn’t mandatory.

“As an individual, I can go out anytime that suits my schedule ... with a $9 piece of plastic and get full enjoyment of the game,” said Dennis Byrne, owner of The Disc Golf Company LLC. ”You just can’t do that

with a lot of other sports.”

Dennis has been designing disc golf courses for more than a decade, professionally since 2010. Dennis used the natural terrain of Rockville Lake Park and abundance of trees to design a course that’s “demanding of accuracy.”

“What makes that course really unique for Indiana is, well, it’s Indi-

ana. Indiana is pretty flat and open, and Rockville Lake is anything but,” Dennis said. “What I do as a course designer is offer players choices.

Here’s the safe route: Given three reasonable shots, you’re going to make par. Here’s another route. If you take it, yes, there will be advan-

NOW !

N E P O

D

isc golf is an 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical game, according to Dennis. While golfers are playing to win, they’re also trying to best their personal records.

“The guy who keeps his head together best, who controls the battles going on within your mind, is the player who’s going to play the best,” Dennis said. “It’s a game of individual self control.

But at the same time, if you’re not worried about that, not worried about score, you can go out and throw a Frisbee in a park with your buds, maybe your dog, on a nice day when you’re not at work. What’s bad about that?”

To start playing at a nearby course, Dennis and Jameson suggest using the Professional Disc Golf Association course directory, which also includes user reviews.

“People are naturally competitive,” Jameson said. “It’s an easy sport for people to pick up and be halfway decent at it.”

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• Indoor LazerTag • 9 Hole Indoor Cosmic Golf • 18 Hole Outdoor Miniature Golf • Arcade • Concessions 812-936-2386 8529 W. State Road 56 French Lick, IN www.frenchlickshotz.com

tages, if you can pull it off.”

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Road Rage Refined

Fender benders for sport at the fairgrounds

Check out the action from the 2012 demo derby. See the video by downloading the free HTlivepage app. Then, aim your smartphone or tablet camera at the photo above.

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D WORDS | Kasey Husk PICS | Darryl Smith

escribed as “an adult game of tag,” the Monroe County Fair’s annual Demolition Derby draws drivers in stripped-down vehicles onto a track with just a few simple goals: hit hard and be the last car running at the end of the night. Yet while it might sound rough and tumble, it’s an event that prides itself on being family friendly—and has been rewarded with becoming one of the most popular events at the Monroe

MORE | Page 24

Demolition Derby 2013 Monroe County Fair Friday, Aug. 2, 7:30pm and Saturday, Aug. 3, 7:00pm Adults $10, 12 and under $5

Monroe County Fairgrounds 5700 W. Airport Rd. Bloomington, IN 47403

2501 Newton St - Hwy 231 N Jasper, IN 47546

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For more info check out our website at www.monroecountyfairgrounds.net

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Lark Valley Zip Lines 10 OFF ZIPLINE $

Not valid with any other discounts.

We Offer Outdoor Fun & Adventure For The Family, Individuals And Groups Of All Sizes!

Over 2 Miles Of Fun On 13 Ziplines!

Longest tour in midwest!

Portions of proceeds go to Riley Hospital for Children

Just 10 Minutes West Of French Lick On US 150, Between French Lick and Shoals

www.LarkValley.com

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Groups/Senior Special Rates

CARVED in STONE

The great outdoors are even greater in Limestone Country! Thanks to the limestone terrain, we have rolling hills to hike, caves to explore, rivers to paddle and one of the best state parks around. So pack your sense of adventure, your walking shoes and carve out some time for fun and exploration in Limestone Country.

(Luckily, we have some great spots to relax and spend the night, too!)

Just 1-1/2 hours south of Indy!

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THE REST | From Page 23 County Fair, with as many as 2,000 people expected to pack the grandstand Aug. 2 and 3.

“The folks in the grandstands love the aggression of crunching and smashing a car,” says Wally Hamilton, the longtime volunteer chairman of the demolition derby before his retirement last year. “There are so many people that would love to do that based on things that have happened to them, like getting cut off on the highway or hit in a parking lot.”

For the drivers, meanwhile, it’s a chance to unleash any pent-up frustration and “to get out there and run the car as fast and as hard as you can without having to worry about being in trouble for doing it,” driver David Sosbe says.

T

he derby includes three categories based on the size of car: mini, midsize or full-size—with the full-size division broken down into categories based on the amount of modification allowed to the car—plus the womenonly “powder puff” race. Most categories are single, winnertake-all derbies, but depending on the number of entries, the full-size categories may be split into heats with the top drivers in each advancing to a final feature showdown.

Cash awards and trophies go to the winning cars, as well as to those who have the bestdecorated cars and to those with the best “crowd-pleasing” antics, like making hard hits.

“It’s not unusual for the more popular drivers to look out, and while they are sitting in a 3,500lb box of steel, put (the pedal) to the floor and try their best to smash another 3,500-lb box of steel,” veteran driver “Jolly Dave” Thompson says, “which is silly, expensive and doesn’t make any sense, and that’s probably why the crowd loves it.”

A typical vehicle is usually a ‘70’s or ‘80’s beater that has been stripped of its glass and most of its upholstery, while the gas tank and batteries are moved to safer spots within the car.

Drivers wear protective gear and

head-on collisions are prohibited, but while the Monroe County Fair has never had a serious injury, the sport is clearly not without risks.

Thompson, for one, was once briefly knocked out cold, he says.

When he came to, he was trying to put his car into gear, “but I looked up and saw there was a car on my roof, and it made a little sense why I wasn’t going anywhere.”

G

etting involved with the derby is just a matter of finding the right vehicle and finding someone with the know-how to help you get started, drivers say. For a rookie, Sosbe recommends finding a larger vehicle—he is partial to full-size Chevrolets—while Thompson’s chief advice is to “stay in the stands, it’s a lot safer.”

Failing that, Thompson says, “don’t worry about being scared, because after about the second or third time you get hit, you’ll forget about being scared and want to hit them back. And then it gets really fun.”

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FRENCH LICK, IN All Suite Hotel

TOOL KIT

Near Casino • Indoor Go-Karts Winery • Patoka Lake • Rail Museum Horseback Riding • Spas Pioneer Village • Water Parks Cave Tours • Antique Gallery Artisan Market • Laser Tag Miniature Golf • Zip Lines

Play Safe, Play Smart

How to Recognize Drowning

Award Winning Hotel

Warm summer days call for water—lake, ocean, river or pool. That makes it especially important to know the signs of drowning.

Someone experiencing aquatic distress will splash and cry out, an image familiar from TV and movies. Someone drowning, however, may not draw attention at all. While visible panic or distress may precede drowning, that is not always the case—drowning can happen quickly and quietly.

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1. A drowning person cannot keep his or her mouth above water long enough to draw breath. Breathing is the body’s first priority, so a drowning victim may be physically incapable of making any sound of distress.

2. A drowning person cannot wave for help.

The body’s natural responses cause a victim to push his or her arms down into the water in an effort to keep the head above the surface. This physiological response also prevents a drowning person from swimming to safety or to a rescuer.

3. Drowning happens fast. According to Mario Vittone of the United States Coast Guard, this panic response may last only 20-60 seconds before a person sinks underwater.

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Signs of drowning

Froehlich’s Outfitter and Guide HorseTrail Rides, LLC Cannelton, IN (812) 836-2117

• HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST

• BED & BREAKFAST

• OHIO RIVER SCENIC BYWAY

• CABINS

• FESTIVALS

• HOTELS/MOTELS

• OHIO RIVER

• WINERIES

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From U.S. Coast Guardsman Mario Vittone— mariovittone.com • Head low in the water, mouth at water level • Head tilted back with mouth open • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus • Eyes closed • Hair over forehead or eyes • Not using legs—vertical in the water • Hyperventilating or gasping • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway • Trying to roll over on the back • Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder A drowning person may not appear to be in trouble, so if you’re unsure, ask for a verbal okay. If he can tell you he’s okay, he probably is.

Vigilance is key, especially with children. Very young children or inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets—and note that “water wings” and other floatation devices are toys and not designed to be safety gear.

Familiarize yourself with these warning signs and take smart safety precautions for a happy, fearfree summer in the waves.

June 9 – 14

Calendar

of

Events

RUN LONG

JUMP HIGH PLAY HARD GET SWEATY

AIM STEADY

BREAK AWAY

Go. Do.

Ride Across Indiana: Same Thing, Only Ride More (RAINSTORM)

Where: Clifty Falls State Park and Brown County State Park Info: Partial-week registration available.

Routes feature wineries, 19th-century architecture, and beauty of rural Indiana. Stay in Indiana state park inns or camp. www.triri.com

Where: Starts and ends at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. Info: Intensive week of riding—each day’s route is approx. 100 miles with no layover days. Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly; expect to be challenged. www.triri.org

July 13

June 15

Artie Fest 5K

vs. Lake City Roller Dolls Where: Bloomington, Ind. • When: 6 p.m.

Info: $5 suggested donation. bleedingheartlandrollergirls.com

Where: 59 E. Washington St., Martinsville, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: 5K run and 1-mile walk in historic downtown Martinsville. www.mag7raceseries.com

Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls

June 15

Discover Scuba Where: Bryan Park, Bloomington, Ind. When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Info: Experience diving in a safe environment under qualified supervision. For ages 12 and up. $2.50/youth, $3/adult. Contact Rob Gilchrist, 812-349-3769, gilchrir@bloomington.in.gov

June 21-23

Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls Super BAMF camp for beginner and intermediate levels only Info: bleedingheartlandrollergirls.com

June 22

Springville Heritage Festival 5K Where: Springville Community Park, Ind. 54 & Ind. 58, Springville, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Course is an out-and-back; good for 5K PR. www.mag7raceseries.com

June 29

Brown County Cross Country 5K Where: Eagle Park, Ind. 46 & Magnolia Lane, Nashville, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Brown County High School cross-country course, grass with some hills. Fundraising event for Brown County cross-country teams and American Cancer Society. www.mag7raceseries.com

Discover Scuba Where: Bryan Park, Bloomington, Ind. When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Info: Experience diving in a safe environment under qualified supervision. For ages 12 and up. $2.50/youth, $3/adult. Contact Rob Gilchrist, 812-349-3769, gilchrir@bloomington.in.gov

July 20

Limestone 5K Where: Parkview Primary School, 1900 19th St., Bedford, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: One of the oldest races in the southern half of the state. www.mag7raceseries.com

Judah Jog 5K

July 27 – August 3

Where: Judah Community Center, 385 Hillcrest Way, Judah, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Held in conjunction with Judah Heritage Festival—parades, food booths, flea market, live singing acts, classic car show and fireworks. Full weekend of family fun. www.mag7raceseries.com

Where: 5700 W. Airport Rd, Bloomington, Ind. Info: Enjoy a traditional county fair, complete with 4-H projects and competitions, a rodeo, demolition derby, loads of food vendors, carnival rides, games and more. monroecountyfairgrounds.net

July 1- 27

Gymnastics for Grownups – summer session Where: Monroe County YMCA Gymnastics Center When: Monday + Wednesday evenings Info: Adults of all ages and skill levels welcome. monroecountyymca.org, 812-332-5555

July 6

Thunder Over Patoka Where: Patoka Lake beach area • When: 9 p.m.

Info: Fireworks will start from the beach area inside the main entrance (Newton Stewart SRA) at dark. Fireworks can be seen from the beach or on the water in your boat.

Night Ride at Redbird SRA

Want to see your event listed on this page? Email info to adventure@ hoosiertimes.com

July 8 – 13

Touring Ride in Rural Indiana Bicycle Rally

Where: Redbird State Recreation Area, County Road 350 N., Dugger, Ind. When: All night till 7 a.m.

Info: Off-road vehicles welcome to celebrate Independence Day in the dark. www.redbirdsra.com

July 6

Sarah Jones Memorial 5K Run/Walk Where: St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4201 W. Third St., Bloomington, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Dedicated to all law enforcement officers in Monroe County, in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. www.mag7raceseries.com

Monroe County Fair

August 4

3 D Archery Shoot Where: Washington Conservation Club, Washington, Ind. When: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Info: 812-254-7538 or 812-610-2490

August 5 – 31

Gymnastics for Grownups – summer session Where: Monroe County YMCA Gymnastics Center When: Monday + Wednesday evenings Info: Adults of all ages and skill levels welcome. monroecountyymca.org, 812-332-5555

August 10 + 11

Southern Style Car Show Where: French Lick Resort When: Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Info: Two-day show, not a cruise in. Open to all classes, including motorcycles. Old cars, DJ playing ‘50’s and ‘60’s music, and silent auction. Frenchlick.com, 225-207-9304 or 225-207-9269

Sub-9 Super D Where: Brown County State Park, Nashville, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Downhill cross-country mountain bike race that pits individual racers against the clock. www.sub9superd.com

August 24

Patoka Lake Triathlon Where: Patoka Lake, 3084 N. Dillard Rd., Birdseye, Ind. When: All day Info: Swim 500 yards in Patoka Reservoir, bike 12.8 miles on hilly roads, run 3.1 miles through the woods. www.mag7raceseries.com

Go Girl Triathlon Sprint Where: Eagle Creek State Park, 7840 W 56th St., Indianapolis, Ind. When: 8 a.m.

Info: Join women of all ages and fitness abilities. 500-meter swim, 10-mile bike, 3-mile run. Event benefits the Julian Center. www.tuxbro.com

Vines, Pines & Inclines Trail Run Where: Creekbend Vineyard, 7508 N. Woodall Rd., Ellettsville, Ind. When: 5 p.m.

Info: Five miles, including a section of pine trails with slight inclines. Back by popular demand, the Double Black Diamond Hill of Death is still large and in charge. Survive that infamous hill then celebrate your accomplishment with food, drinks and a live concert. www.mag7raceseries.com

August 31 + September 1 + 2 Night Ride at Redbird SRA

Where: Redbird State Recreation Area, County Road 350 N., Dugger, Ind. When: After dark Info: Off-road riding area open after hours. www.redbirdsra.com

September 1

Brown County Survivor Where: Brown County State Park, Nashville, Ind. When: 9 a.m.

Info: Competitive survivor team events. Fire building, casting, orienteering, shelter building, etc. Register at Nature Center, 812-988-5240

September 8

17th Annual Chicago Half Marathon Where: Jackson Park, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, Ill. When: 7 a.m.

Info: A beautiful 13.1-mile course along scenic Lake Shore Drive. www.chicagohalfmarathon.com

September 14 Rugged Maniac 5K

Where: Paoli Peaks, 2798 West County Road 25, Paoli, Ind. Info: 5K obstacle race over walls, through mud, up and down ski slopes. www.ruggedmaniac.com

September 15-20 September Escapade

Where: Starts at Fairfax Beach Info: Expect to ride 50-75 miles a day. Explore southeastern Indiana by visiting Brown County State Park (two nights), Spring Mill State Park (two nights), and McCormick’s Creek State Park (one night). Stay in the Indiana State Park inns or enjoy Indiana’s best camping season. triri.org

September 27 – 29 Brown County Breakdown

Where: Brown County State Park, Nashville, Ind. Info: Epic mountain bike ride on beautiful trails.

Biggest fundraiser of the year for Hoosier Mountain Bike Association. www.browncountybreakdown.com

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Learn. Heal. Live.

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