Getting ready for Halloween

I noticed strange construction by the Assembly of God church recently and found that they were setting up their Fear Factory, which seems to be a haunted house type of experience with a religious message. I think they have done this event in the past--maybe I should go this year to see exactly what it is.

It will be open from October 26th through October 29, 6:00 to 9:00.

After the shower

In the middle of the afternoon, a rain shower suddenly popped up over Rensselaer and with it came either some sleet or tiny hail. A few other showers were popping up as well, and as one receded, I noticed a faint rainbow under the dark cloud. Can you see it in the picture below?

The corn looks ready to harvest. Many of the fields close to Rensselaer still are not harvested, though most of them look like they are ready.

Our unseasonably warm weather appears to be over. The forecast is for a freeze next week that will kill frost-sensative plants.

NICHES news

NICHES has added a third property in Jasper County, a ten-acre tract south of the Jasper-Pulastk Fish and Wildlife area. They purchased it on September 1 from the Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District. I had a chance meeting with someone who knew the back story and discovered that the property had been given to JCSW some years ago. JCSW thought NICHES would fulfill the wishes of the donor.

The two other NICHES tracts in Jasper County are the Fisher Oak Savanna and Shepard Swamp. Also close to Rensselaer is the Holley Savannah in Newton County

NICHES is planning a public tour the property on Wednesday, November 16:

Join us at The Ranch, one of the properties that we are currently raising funds for its long term protection, for a tour of the black oak sand savannas, wet prairies and buttonbush swamp. The Ranch is located 1 1/4 mile east of the intersection of 300 E and 750 N in Jasper County, a half mile south of Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Tour at the Ranch will begin at 4:45 PM ET. After the tour we will drive over to the observation platform at Jasper Pulaski, meeting at 6 PM, to take in the cranes returning from their foraging foray in the countryside. Afterwards we will have a 7:30 PM dinner at The Whistle Stop (participants cover their own dinner) in Monon, IN.

Please RSVP to NICHES office by November 9th if you will be attending the dinner portion of the evening. Bring a friend and introduce someone to NICHES.

There is a mistake in the directions; the property is only 1/4 to 1/2 miles from the intersection of 300E and 750N. You can see where it is on the property map of Jasper County at jasper.in.wthgis.com/.

Some changes in the east

Construction of the new elementary school on Melville has been progressing nicely for the past couple of weeks. The many deliveries have caused the pavement on that section of the street to begin breaking up.

About two weeks ago our wet weather had given the site deep mud. The warm and dry weather since has let the contractors compact what will be the entry way and parking lots.

As part of that project, a strip along Melville was evacuated. It will eventually become a third lane, a turn lane.

Tuesday was concrete-pouring day. I found out later that they were pouring the pad or floor for the building. Because the building is quite a ways from the road, it is often hard to see what is going on.

This strange vehicle may have been what compacted the soil where there will eventually be roads and parking lots.

A bit to the south the framing has begun on what will be a storage facility. The budget for this is probably only a few percent of the budget for the school. It is close to the road so it is much easier to see what the workers are doing.

The hospital construction seems to be mostly done. There are still some storage containers near the site and there are still workmen around, but the construction fencing has been removed.

Trees

The Prairie Arts Council has an exhibit called "Trees" in the Carnegie Center until November 4, 2012. The exhibit features paintings, drawings, photographs, and baskets done by members of Jasper County Art League.

There are a about 25 artists and photographers represented with over 100 works on display. The above picture is a watercolor entitled "Northward Bound: Sandhill Cranes" by Rebecca Brody.

Speaking of trees, this morning I found a tree that was losing more than its leaves.

(I am not the only one who enjoys watching men at heights. Did you see how the major news media delighted in pictures of workers inspecting the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. after the Virginia earthquake. They did get some spectacular shots.)