Youth turkey hunt:

When the Trump administration releases its budget, early indications are concepts such as global warming, clean water and clean air will be severely short-changed.

Perhaps it is a bit premature to issue a “sky is falling” decree, but some folks who make it their business to know say big cuts are coming for just about anything environmental.

“If true, the level of cuts being discussed would be devastating,” said Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our WatersGreat Lakes Coalition. “Federal Great Lakes restoration investments are producing results across the region, but serious threats remain. These cuts will essentially stop restoration efforts in their tracks, in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.”

The cuts apparently will include grants from the federal governments to states and that could be a severe blow to efforts to clean up the toxic algae problems in Ohio in places like Lake Erie, Grand Lake St. Marys and others. Although the youth turkey hunting season does not take place until April 22-23, young hunters should take note of a permit-only opportunity at Paint Creek State Park. Sections of the park will be available to permitted youth only (accompanied by a non-hunting adult) on April 22 and 29 and May 6, 13 and 20.

A drawing for permits will be held at 1 p.m. on March 25 at the Fallsville Wildlife Area, 10221 Careytown Road, New Vienna. The non-hunting adult accompanying the youth hunter on the day of the hunt must enter the drawing. The permit will be issued in the adult’s name.

If selected, the youth hunter must purchase an Ohio hunting license and youth turkey permit prior to the day of the hunt.

For more information, call Fallsville Wildlife Area at 937-987-2508, or the District Five Headquarters at 937-372-9261 or visit wildohio.gov.

Officer honored:

Clinton County Wildlife Officer Matthew Roberts has been named wildlife officer of the year by the Ohio Bowhunters Association.

Roberts started his career with ODNR in 2003 at Rush Run Wildlife Area. Roberts also spent two summers working with Wildlife District Five’s fish management section as a creel clerk on Acton and Rush Run Lakes. In January 2005, Roberts entered the wildlife officer training academy and has served as the state wildlife officer assigned to Clinton County since July of 2005.

That’s the name of the new push by ODNR to encourage boaters to take a safety course. “Spring Aboard” is actually a national program set for March 19-25. The national safety campaign was created to help educate boaters and reduce the number of serious boating accidents.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that of accidents where the level of operator education was known, 71 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received boater education.

In Ohio, a boater education course is required for anyone wanting to operate a boat over 10 horsepower and who was born after Jan. 1, 1982.

For more information about boater education, visit watercraft.ohiodnr. gov/boatereducation.

Join the “Spring into Fitness Hike” at Caesar Creek State Park. Meet at the nature center for a five-mile guided hike on March 19, from 1-4 p.m. For more information, call 513-897-2437.

Spring Aboard: Take a hike:

Those stubborn 10-pins didn’t get the better of Mandy Wilson this time.

A steady performance in the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress city tournaments netted the veteran bowler not one but two city all-events titles.

Wilson claimed both the women’s scratch and handicap crowns with scores of 2,066 and 2,129, respectively.

“I bowled well in the tournament, but I haven’t been bowling well in league,” Wilson said. “Usually whoever wins scratch doesn’t win handicap but, as I’m getting older, I guess I’m getting more handicap.”

Wilson, 58, actually only had 8 pins handicap per game but that, paired with her solid performance in the singles, doubles and team events, was enough to claim both titles.

“I seem to have moments of consistency but, this time, I managed to be consistent for all three blocks,” she said.

All-events titles are especially challenging, as bowlers must have solid performances in three

GDUSBC CITY ALL-EVENTS TOP PLACERS

(Scores are for doubles, singles, team and all-events total) 1. Mandy Wilson 2. Lori Reasoner 3. Heidi Sanders 1. Mandy Wilson 2. Tammy Kearby 3. Heather Stevens 1. Jarrod Arden 2. Dave Wodka 3. Freddie Morgan 1. Mike Harrison 2. Ken Hurst 3. Andrew Mowry different houses over the course of three separate tournaments. This year’s scratch division was packed with such talents as Lori Reasoner, Heidi Sanders, Tammy Kearby and Lindsey Furnas — who rounded out the top five all-events placers.

“If you want to get better, you have to bowl against the better bowlers,” Wilson said. “We have such a competitive area, the women who bowl here are good as you’ll find anywhere in the country — maybe better.”

A Hall of Famer and frequent member of the GDUSBC All-City Team, Wilson has struggled of late on the lanes. Tenpins, in particular have been her nemesis.

“I’m leaving two or three a game,” she said. “I don’t seem to be improving.” 702-671-693 – 2066 648- 741-618 – 2007 677-608-680 – 1965 723-692-714 – 2129 677-657-745 – 2079 688-701-666 – 2055 751-781-756 – 2288 751-718-803 – 2272 722-775-769 – 2266 713-687-719 – 2119 695-657-763 – 2115 646-777-684 – 2107 But, if “practice makes perfect,” Wilson might soon find a solution as she began the season bowling in just one league a week and is now competing in three leagues regularly and subbing in two others.

“I seem to have a problem saying no,” she said, smiling.

Wilson hopes her consistency continues as she competes this week in the National Golden Ladies Classic. The national tournament, open to women 50 and older with a Super Seniors division for those 60 and older, starts Monday in Las Vegas.

“My goal is to make match play,” she said. “We’ll see what happens from there.”