Latest news with #IndianaDepartmentofNaturalResources
Chicago Tribune
24-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
A span's saga as money, timing and salmon pose challenges
The saga of the closed North Mineral Springs Road bridge in Porter grinds on, with unusual obstacles like how construction of the new span may have to pause for months to protect salmon in the Little Calumet River. The bid opening for the project has been moved back to mid-September, said Michael Jabo, director of the Porter County Department of Development and Stormwater Management. Porter County had originally planned to bid the project in May and then delayed it until this month. 'Oh wow. It just keeps moving back and meanwhile, the businesses back there keep suffering,' said Michael Barry, Porter's development director/building superintendent. The businesses that Barry is referring to are in the Spring House complex that includes an inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. The delay in replacing the bridge cuts off easy access to the complex from U.S. 20, stretching into the next summer season. That would mean a third summer in a row affected by the closed bridge. Those wanting to access the complex can take Beam Street to North Mineral Springs Road. Barry said they have tried to help by posting detour signs on U.S. 20, but it's hard to attract visitors to the Indiana Dunes parks who are unfamiliar with local roads. From the start, the North Mineral Springs Road bridge has been a challenge since it suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, after an inspection revealed the structure to be unsafe because of deteriorating beams. The Porter County government hadn't planned to replace the bridge until 2026 or 2027. To speed the process, the county decided to forego federal funding and finance the project by itself. Jabo won't say how much he expects the bridge will cost, but it will be millions of dollars. Jabo said other important preparation work for the bridge has proceeded, such as obtaining right-of-way and architectural design. The new bridge will be at a higher elevation above the river. Then there is the key environmental issue involving the movements of Coho and Chinook Salmon between July and November. 'There are windows of time that we cannot be working in the channel, which is the Little Calumet River,' Jabo said. Jabo said they are hoping to obtain a waiver from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that will allow for more construction flexibility. If the contract is awarded in September, demolition work could possibly start by the year's end. It's hoped that construction would be ready to proceed in the spring, Jabo said.
Indianapolis Star
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'Militant' geese take over Franklin in viral TikTok marching clip
A gaggle of geese waddling in perfect formation down a neighborhood street in Franklin, Indiana, has captured the internet's attention and sparked thousands of amused reactions. In a TikTok posted around Independence Day, local resident Arthur Reed filmed the geese marching in synchronized lines and jokingly called them 'militant.' The clip has since racked up over half a million likes. 'Left left left right left,' one viewer wrote. Another added, 'Looks like a peaceful protest to me.' The birds appear to be moving in rows like a drill team, but according to Reed, their actual destination was just another pond. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are about 3.2 million resident Canada geese in the U.S., and Franklin, a small city south of Indianapolis, is no stranger to them. But this display of discipline has turned an otherwise typical goose crossing into a trove of viral delight. 'On a serious note, though, what is going on?' one commenter asked. It's a molting mission. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, late summer marks molting season for Canada geese — a time when adults shed and regrow their flight feathers and are temporarily flightless for about a month. Because goslings are also grounded, it's common to see entire families walking in groups near streets and ponds in search of food and safety.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- New York Post
Illinois father, 65, and his autistic son, 20, drowned in Lake Michigan during deadly game of catch
An Illinois father and his autistic son drowned in Lake Michigan over the Fourth of July holiday weekend when a carefree game of catch took a tragic turn, according to reports. David Meneou, 65, and Jamie Meneou, 20, were out sailing Saturday afternoon when they dropped anchor on a sandbar near Indiana Dunes National Park and started tossing around a ball that later landed in the waterway, CBS News Chicago reported. Jamie went after the ball but began to struggle in the deep water, prompting his selfless father to dive in after him – only to find himself in danger too, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. Advertisement 4 David Meneou, 65, and Jamie Meneou, 20, died Saturday after drowning in Lake Michigan. via CBS News Chicago A good Samaritan pulled the avid sailors from the water – but it was too late. 'Jamie was his life,' David's brother, Daniel Meneou, told the local outlet, speculating that there may have been a sudden drop-off in the lakebed that ultimately led to the fatal accident. Advertisement 'Of course, my brother was going to try to save his son. There were so many boaters out there that were assisting. I mean, it made us feel good at the moment.' 4 The pair had anchored their sailboat on a sandbar near Indiana Dunes National Park when the tragic scene unfolded. Google maps The duo was rushed to a nearby hospital around 4:20 p.m. as first responders performed CPR for more than 30 minutes, but both father and son were pronounced dead upon arrival. David Benjamin, with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said offshore winds likely caused the ball to drift farther and faster into dangerous depths, adding that drownings in the area are all too common. Advertisement 'I've seen this happen before, where someone overthrows a football to their buddy, and it goes over their head, or they miss the ball – now it's blowing in the wind away from shore, and they chase after it,' he told the outlet. 'Knowing how to swim is not water safety. If we look at Lake Michigan right now, we are at 17 drownings as of July 8. We could have another 30 drownings in Lake Michigan this year.' 4 Jamie Meneou pictured with his mother Candace. Candace Keller Meneou Data from the rescue project showed 51 drownings in the single Great Lake alone last year. Advertisement The devastated Meneou family, however, is taking some solace in knowing their loved ones were together in their final moments doing exactly what they enjoyed – tossing a ball around. 'Playing catch with his dad was his favorite thing to do,' Jamie's heartbroken mother, Candace Keller Meneou, said of the former couple's only son, WMAQ reported. 4 Jamie Meneou loved playing catch with his father, according to his heartbroken mother. Candace Keller Meneou 'David really loved his son.' Daniel described his fearless sibling as driven and determined, and remembered his nephew as a smart and thoughtful young man who enjoyed swimming in his backyard pool. 'They were both great people, my brother is a great dad,' Daniel told CBS. 'And I believe he was a hero for this.' The gutting ordeal remains under investigation.
Axios
01-07-2025
- Science
- Axios
Summer nights are lit this year with a good firefly crop
You're not imagining it. Fireflies are having a good year. The big picture: In general, firefly populations have declined over the last 100 years, said Megan Abraham, division director and state entomologist at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Yes, but: Conditions were good for fireflies this year, and there are likely more of them lighting up night skies near you than in recent summers. What she's saying: "Every once in a while, we'll see a resurgence because of perfect weather conditions and there will be fireflies all over and that's what we're seeing this year," Abraham said. How they work: Fireflies lay their eggs in moist soil and leaf litter. They emerge in the spring and early summer. Once they reach adulthood later in the summer, their sole focus is to reproduce and then, after a couple of weeks to months (depending on the species), they die. Threat level: A late freeze can kill larvae after they've emerged, but a hot, dry spring can dry them up. "We had a mild, moist spring, and they had a really good larval stage," Abraham said. Zoom out: Much of the country had a warmer, wetter spring than usual. Fun facts: There are more than 2,000 species of fireflies, and they produce light in in different ways. The Say's firefly, named for Hoosier entomologist Thomas Say, is the state insect. Also known as lightning bugs in much of the Midwest and eastern U.S., fireflies are neither bugs nor flies. They're beetles. State of play: Like many animals, fireflies have been impacted by humans. Light pollution confuses the mating process, making it harder for mating fireflies to see the blinking pattern that attracts them to each other. We've also encroached on their habitats. Pesticide use in home yards and on farms has decimated insect populations beyond those targeted by the chemicals. How to help: Here are a few ways to support the firefly population and encourage more to light up your neighborhood. Plant a pollinator-friendly garden. Reduce light pollution. Cut back on insecticide usage. "Firefly larvae eat snails, slugs and small caterpillars," said Emily Justus, outreach coordinator at Purdue University's entomology department. "Protecting habitats that support those populations could help you with your fireflies." The bottom line: "Everybody loves them," Justus said. "I think it's the lighting up at night and their association with summer — it being warm outside and fireflies are glowing. It creates such an ambience."
Indianapolis Star
29-05-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
More license-free fishing days coming for Hoosiers in June and September
Hoosiers can fish for free June 7 and 8 during Indiana's upcoming Free Fishing Days. Indiana residents of all ages can head out to a public waterway that weekend to fish without a license or trout/salmon stamp. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has hosted annual free fishing events, which also include a single day in May and another in September, since 1995 when it became state law, said DNR's Cindy Stites. The idea is to get outside and try something new, Stites said. 'It's good exercise and good for your mental health," she said. "It's really a lot of fun to go out with family and friends, as well." For new anglers casting lines out during Free Fishing Day, Stites said there is nothing to be intimidated about. Go out and buy or borrow an easy-to-use rod and reel combo with a hook and bobber, then grab some worms. That's all you need to get started. 'You don't need a real expensive set up and gear, just get some sunscreen and bug spray and give it a try,' Stites said. While fishing is free for the weekend, Stites said to remember to stick to the state's fishing regulations. Anglers will still have to obey the state's fishing limits, which can be found on DNR's website. DNR's website offers an interactive map showing users public access and fishing sites for ponds, streams, rivers and lakes across Indiana. Each point on the map has information about the site, including what kind of fish can be caught, whether there are entry fees and what amenities are nearby. Outside of DNR properties, some cities are holding their own events for June's Free Fishing Days. Friends of Pogue's Run is working with Go Fishin' with Clint on June 8 for free fishing celebration with expert instruction and extra rods and reels for participants. Multiple locations are holding Fishing Derbies for kids during Free Fishing Days. DNR's website has more information on where those events are located. While the June Free Fishing Days are popular in Indiana, Stites said first-timers who enjoy going out when it's free should consider picking up a license and continuing the hobby. Some of the state's conservation funding comes from an excise tax on hunting, fishing and sports shooting equipment, Stites said. 'We encourage people to go out because it's giving back to conservation and it's also fun,' she said. Hoosiers can buy a fishing license online, by mail or in person. DNR's website has a hub to purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and retailers, county clerks and DNR properties throughout Indiana will have them for sale in person. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
