Indiana will receive $1 million of the more than $40 million announced last week by USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie as a federal investment to restore forests, reduce wildfire threats, protect water supplies, improve wildlife habitat and support rural economies.

This is the third year of the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health and resiliency of forest ecosystems where public and private lands meet.

“The health of our forests and our rural communities very often go hand in hand,” Bonnie said. “USDA works with other public and thousands of private landowners through a range of programs and partnerships to decrease the threat of wildfire, restore forest habitat and increase economic and other opportunities for the families and businesses that make their homes near woodlands.”

Bonnie unveiled 11 new Joint Chiefs projects totaling $7 million for 2016, one of which was Indiana’s Hoosier Hills and Highlands Oak Community Restoration Partnership. With funding for the project coming through the Hoosier National Forest and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Indiana’s effort was the only new project funded in the northeast and Midwest, and at the third highest dollar amount in the country. The joint funding between the two agencies will improve conservation and restoration efforts on both public and private land in southern Indiana.

The Hoosier Hills and Highlands Oak Community Restoration Partnership project area is located within 18 counties of the most heavily forested and biologically diverse forest systems in the Central Hardwoods Region. The area provides habitat for federal and state-listed bats, birds, cave-dwelling species, and other declining wildlife species and also contains watersheds that provide drinking water to several communities. This project seeks to consolidate the individual efforts of a variety of partners focusing on oak community regeneration within the region. Project activities will help improve water quality, reduce wildfire risk, and enhance at-risk habitat on public and private lands. The project will also promote improved conservation and restoration practices on private lands, ensure consistent education and outreach, and enable implementation of preferred practices. This is a three year project with the potential to bring additional funds for its implementation in each of the next two years.

The funding for the project in Indiana was provided equally by the US Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The project partners include: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Department of Defense, wide range of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, The Nature Conservancy, Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association, Indiana Association of Consulting Foresters, Central Hardwoods Joint Venture, Lost River Watershed Group, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Sycamore Land Trust, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Audubon Society, Ruffed Grouse Society, and American Woodcock Society

Jane Hardisty, NRCS State Conservationist, said the Indiana proposal is a great example of the power of partnerships. She said, “By taking an all-lands, all hands approach, Forest Service, NRCS, and their partners are working together to show that proactive investments to restore the state’s hardwood forests will benefit landowners, communities and taxpayers.”

Mike Chaveas, Hoosier National Forest Supervisor agrees, pointing out the region contains the largest contiguous block of forest in Indiana, and among the largest in the Midwest. Resource concerns for this project center around the lack of oak regeneration and the potential long term impact on native forest wildlife populations, plant diversity, and water quality; along with national, regional and local economies. He explain this project will address these concerns by funding practices that control Invasive and promote oak regeneration across private and public lands. Implementation of this project will also reduce soil erosion, protect and restore water courses and improve aquatic habitats through dam removal practices.

Since its start, $104 million has been invested through USDA’s Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership to reduce wildfire threats to communities and landowners, protect water resources, and improve habitat for at risk species. Summaries of all projects selected can be found on the NRCS website.

In preparation for their upcoming 25 year class reunion, the Salem High School Class of 1991 is searching for the following classmates:

• Josh Anderson
• Larry Bryant
• Zanya Caudill
• Michael Colwell
• Jeremy Dodds
• Christy (Edwards) Sargent
• Julie (Fleenor) Flamion
• Scott Gulasa
• Luke Gumaelius
• Melissa (Hayes) Burlington
• Frank Marling
• Mitchell Ooley
• John Smith
• Shelly (Spicer) Burlington

If you have any information regarding address or contact information, please email Jamie Richardson at j55richardson@yahoo.com or call (812) 620-9474.

The Washington County Family YMCA will be offering a Safe Sitter® Training on Friday, April 1st, 2016 at their Y campus to help prepare youth to be safe when home alone and caring for younger children.

With a grant given by the Washington County Substance Abuse Council, The Y was able to become an official Safe Sitter® site. Safe Sitter® is the only national nonprofit devoted to preparing children to be safe when home alone, watching younger siblings, Safe Sitter® is more than a babysitting class; it’s a cause. Safe Sitter® began because of a tragedy.

The accidental death of a nurse’s young child while in the care of an adult babysitter prompted Patricia A. Keener, M.D, an Indianapolis pediatrician, to create Safe Sitter®. Dr. Keener recognized the vulnerability of young children when cared for by unprepared providers and decided to increase the availability of safe and nurturing adolescent caregivers.

In March 1980, a mere two weeks after the tragic event, Dr. Keener taught the first Safe Sitter® class at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, IN. That same spring, classes were taught at Community Hospital where Dr. Keener was Director of Nurseries.  She began recruiting other caring adults to help teach the classes.

In 1983 she taught the first Instructor Workshop in Indianapolis to train others how to teach children to be better, For more than 30 years, Safe Sitter® has continued to grow and provide innovation in teaching young teens to be safe when unsupervised. There are now over 850 Registered Safe Sitter® Teaching Sites in 49 states providing students with the life and safety skills to be safe while home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

The Washington County Family YMCA is one of the newest Teaching Sites! When asked why this training is so vital, Safe Sitter® Program Support Specialist Donna Willis-Brown stated, “We want to remind parents that injuries can be prevented and children need to be prepared to stay home alone, watch younger siblings, or babysit.  We believe that completion of a Safe Sitter® class should be a community standard for all youth.”

According to the organization, too little emphasis is placed on the responsibility young teens assume when staying home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting.

Teens want to be able to show parents they’re ready, and parents need the peace of mind that they truly are!

Safe Sitter® trains teens to provide safe, nurturing child care.  Young teens want to stay home alone – and many already are. In many households, both parents work, and households are being let by single parents more than ever before. Families are changing but one thing remains the same: parents want their children to experience opportunities that will help them succeed in life.  Safe Sitter® teaches a life-saving, confidence building program to young teens so parents don’t have to wonder if they are ready to stay home alone, watch younger siblings, or babysit.

“Safe Sitter® is an important way we can empower our youth, prepare them to be business and career minded, and also help them to keep our youth safe,” stated Youth First Director Rosie Morehous. “We all want to know our kids are safe. As a mother of three, I am very blessed to have some wonderful family baby sitters that are trained in caring for young children. When we had the opportunity to make this skill set available to our community through the Y becoming a registered Safe Sitter® Site, it was a no Youth ages eleven and up are encouraged to come out during Spring Break from 9:00am to 3:00pm and sharpen their caregiving and business skills. Registration fees for members of the YMCA are $40, with a $55 fee for nonmembers.

Participants are requested to pack a healthy lunch, and will be provided with a HEPA compliant snack. For more information, or to register, contact the YMCA at 812-883-9622, visit the website at www.wcfymca.org, e-mail Ashley Hubbard at ashley@wcfymca.org, or stop in the Y at 1709 North Shelby Street, Salem, IN 47167.