THE GOSSIP - Military honor, Fairways to Fight Hunger and wildlife watchers

 
FAIRWAYS TO FIGHT HUNGER PLANNED JUNE 10 - Golfers – join the local fight against hunger by teeing it up in Fairways to Fight Hunger golf outing June 10 at the Sanctuary Golf Club.
Benefitting the Stark County Hunger Task Force, the scramble event tees off at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start on the challenging course at 207 Applegrove St. NW, North Canton.
To register and pay on line go to starkhunger.org/golf2017 or send a check, payable to Stark County Hunger Task Force to PO Box 20941, Canton, Ohio 44701. Registration deadline is June 8.
Get together a foursome or register as a single. Fees are $80 a golfer or $300 for a foursome for golf, a cart, a hot dog at the turn, dinner, skill contests, hole-in-one prizes and more.
Thank you to Nexus Gas Transmission, Amison Dental Group, Eagle Industrial Painting, Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems, Pro Machine Inc. and Pioneer Financial Services Inc. and Hall of Fame Title Agency Inc. for their support of this outing.

WILDLIFE WATCHERS ASKED TO REPORT WILD TURKEY AND RUFFED GROUSE SIGHTINGS - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is asking the public to participate in surveying wild turkeys and ruffed grouse by reporting sightings of these two species.

Every year, the ODNR Division of Wildlife conducts a turkey and grouse brood survey to estimate population growth. The brood survey relies on the public to report observations of all wild turkeys and ruffed grouse seen during May, June, July and August. Wildlife watchers and hunters can report observations at the new Wildlife Species Sighting webpage at wildohio.gov/reportwildlife.

Information submitted to the brood survey helps to predict population changes and helps guide the state’s hunting regulations. More than 7,000 turkeys were reported during the 2016 survey timeframe, with an average of 3.6 young turkeys (poults) per adult hen turkey. This average was higher than the long-term average of 2.5 poults per adult hen.

REPORT: OHIO HUNTERS CHECKED MORE THAN 21,000 WILD TURKEYS DURING SPRING SEASON - Ohio hunters checked a total of 21,015 wild turkeys during the combined 2017 spring wild turkey south zone hunting season; northeast zone hunting season; and the youth wild turkey hunting season, April 22-May 28, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). In 2016, hunters checked a total of 17,793 wild turkeys.

Hunters checked 19,095 birds during the 2017 wild turkey south zone and northeast zone hunting seasons compared to 16,229 birds in 2016. Youth hunters checked 1,920 birds during the 2017 youth season compared to 1,564 in 2016.

Ohio’s 2017 spring wild turkey season was open from Monday, April 24, to Sunday, May 21, in the south zone and from Monday, May 1, to Sunday, May 28, in the northeast zone. The youth season was April 22-23. Hunters can view the 2017 spring turkey season zone map and harvest regulations at wildohio.gov.

HOPS FIELD DAY PLANNED - As the craft brew market continues to grow in Ohio, this could be prime time to tour a field of hops and learn what it takes to start one.

The June 15 Hops Field Day at the Ohio State University South Centers will offer attendees guidelines on hops production, including how to market the crop to breweries, control pests, irrigate and fertilize the soil.

Ohio has over 300 craft breweries open or awaiting permit approval, and most of the current ones buy their hops from growers outside Ohio, so there’s potential for Ohio growers to supply those breweries, said Brad Bergefurd, a horticulturist with OSU South Centers in Piketon.

The field day is $25 per person, $40 for a family of up to three. The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the OSU South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, in Piketon.

Pre-registration is required. To register, contact Charissa Gardner at gardner.1148@osu.edu or 740-289-2071, extension 132. The deadline to register is June 13.

SOMMER FLOYD ON TV - Texas singer/songwriter Sommer Floyd appeared as a guest on LeSea Broadcasting's flagship TV program, The Harvest Show, on Thursday, May 11, 2017. The effervescent young recording artist was interviewed on the popular television program, and also performed two songs, "Drop and Run" and "Stronger," from her debut album, Ray of Light. The experience left a profound impression on the emerging recording artist.

"I was inspired by my time on The Harvest Show," says Sommer. "I left the show feeling even more excited about this incredible journey led by Christ! The responses I've received from across the world and from viewers in my own hometown have left me speechless. The Harvest Show is a true example of an organization that is dedicated to being God's hands and feet!"