Page 1

Volume 32, Issue 2 Summer 2015

INS I D E TH I S I SSUE

2 New Board Member Steve Dixon

3 Nature Notes: Fire Flies

4-5 Summer Programs & Events, Kids’ Fishing Day

6 Friends of Mahaska County Conservation, Remembering John White, MCCB Summer Staff

7 Thank You’s, Cabin Information, MCCB Calendar

8 MCCB Conservation Board Members & Staff

The Circle of Life

By Dave Sedivec MCCB Director

The most over-used term in the environmental field is “the Circle of Life”, but here I am using it. It has been a bittersweet few months here at the MCCB. We have lost two former board members; Leroy Nugteren and John White. Both of these men were on the board when I was hired and I learned a lot from both of them. They were both great board members, but they were even better men. I always enjoyed sitting at the table with John

and Carol Jean talking about birds at the feeders,

our military service and the plans for Caldwell

Park Environmental Learning Center. I was also envious of Carol Jean’s cast iron collection. I spent a lot of time sitting at Leroy and Bev’s table talking about current events, faith and family. We discussed at length about their grandson Stephen and his law enforcement academy progress after he was hired by the Boone County Conservation Board. Leroy was steadfast in always trying to help me improve in my job, and always constructively. I was thinking about what a great legacy these two left me, but also the immense responsibility. We have some relatively young people on staff who need guidance and support, and now our MCCB family has grown to the next generation. Conservation Technician, Tommy Van Renterghem and his wife Jamie welcomed Layton John Van Renterghem into the world on June 25th. The look on Tommy’s face was priceless when he got THE call. It is a look that only other fathers understand. Layton is healthy and thriving and is lucky to have such loving parents. Our family has grown, as has our responsibility. The circle continues. Congratulations Tommy and Jamie!

Page 2

Welcome to the

Mahaska County Conservation Board

Steve DixonSteve DixonSteve DixonSteve Dixon Volunteer Board Member

Steve Dixon is the newest volunteer board member for the Mahaska County Conservation Board. His term began in April 2015. We welcome Steve and look forward to working with him! Steve, along with his wife Kim, reside near Oskaloosa. Their daughter, Randie, is finishing up studies at Central College in Pella. Steve has an A.A. degree from Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Tool and Die and has worked at Vermeer and Paslode. Steve has a great interest in the outdoors. His favorite wild places outdoors are McFarland Park and Brookside Park which are located near Ames, Iowa where he grew up. In his free time, Steve enjoys hunting, fishing, kayaking and just being outside any time of the year. Many outdoorsmen have had a person inspire them to care about nature, outdoors and the environment. Teddy Roosevelt was Steve’s inspiration because Roosevelt started the natural park system and was a great outdoorsman himself. Steve believes that people should care about the environment because “it will be here long after we are gone”. As a conservation board member, Steve will play an important role in the nature and environment in Mahaska County.

Are you interested in what is going on at the Woolly

Mammoth Dig site?

Watch for updates this summer on our Facebook page Mahaska County Conservation.

If you are interested in helping at the site email decook@mahaskacounty.org or call the MCCB office

at (641)673-9327.

Congratulations

Tommy and Jamie!

Layton John VanRenterghem

6-25-15

Page 3

NatureNatureNatureNature NotesNotesNotesNotes

Fireflies can be considered a symbol of summer evenings. Their glowing abdomens look like stars flickering at eye level across fields and lawns at night. Catching them becomes a fun game for anyone that wants to see them in the palm of their hand or temporarily in a jar.

There are about 2,000 species of fireflies. These insects live in warm, humid environments in all continents except for Antarctica. Fireflies thrive in forests, fields and marshes near lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and vernal pools. They need a moist environment to survive.

Everyone knows why they are called fireflies, but many people don't know how the insects produce their glow. Fireflies have light organs located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat.

Firefly light is usually intermittent. They flash light in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is a visual signal that helps them locate potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off. Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism. They can flash a lighted warning of their unappetizing taste or to defend their territory. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory.

Fireflies are primarily carnivorous. Larvae usually eat snails and worms. Adult fireflies have almost never been seen feeding on other species of bugs. Scientists aren't sure what they eat. They may feed on plant pollen and nectar. Adult fireflies may eat nothing since they only live long enough to mate and lay eggs.

Fireflies (Lightning Bugs) Lampyridae

By Laura DeCook, Naturalist

Page 4

Let us know you would like to receive the Prairie Star newsletter by e-mail!

• You will receive each issue right away

• It helps reduce mailing costs • You will receive program and event reminders by email

Contact us by calling (641)673-9327 or email decook@mahaskacounty.org

if you want to make the change.

Summer Programs Looking for a healthy outdoor activity?Looking for a healthy outdoor activity?Looking for a healthy outdoor activity?Looking for a healthy outdoor activity?

Look for this symbol throughout the list of Look for this symbol throughout the list of Look for this symbol throughout the list of Look for this symbol throughout the list of upcoming public programs.upcoming public programs.upcoming public programs.upcoming public programs.

Wildlife Superheroes

July 15 2:00 p.m. Oskaloosa Public Library

What animals can see in the dark? Which insect jumps

200 times their height? Which mammal can smell water

up to three miles away? These facts and many more

will be explored at this library program. The summer

reading program theme is “Every Hero Has a Story” so

come and learn about heroes in nature!

Iowa Bowfishing Association’s

Southern Iowa Carpfest

Saturday, July 18 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration begins at 7:30 am Mandatory meeting for participants at 8:45 am Eveland Access Campground

Bowfishing at its greatest! Come and participate in or

watch a bowfishing tournament taking place on the Des

Moines River from the Lake Red Rock Dam to the

Ottumwa Hydro-electric Dam. Proceeds from this

event will go to the Veterans Airlift Command for

wounded soldiers. Fish weigh-ins will be held shortly

after 5:00 pm at Eveland Access. For more

information, contact the tournament director, Jarod

Jesina, at (319)330-8500.

Fishing in Canoes July 21 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Russell Wildlife Area

Come out to the Russell Wildlife Area and try a new twist on fishing – from a canoe! We will meet at the conservation center and then go to one of the ponds on site. Fishing licenses will be required for anyone 16 and older. Canoes, paddles, life jackets, fishing equipment and bait will be available to use. Please sign up for this event by calling MCCB at (641)673-9327.

Jr. Naturalist Day Camp

July 28-30 Re-scheduled Dates 10:00 am – 2:00 p.m. Russell Wildlife Area Ages 6-12 $20.00 per camper

Campers will learn about nature around us, especially

the food chain, predators and prey. Special guests

will be coming to this day camp. The Blank Park Zoo

will bring some “predator and prey” animals for us to

see up close and the Iowa DNR will visit with us about

Iowa predators in the water! Campers will be asked

to bring a t-shirt to decorate for camp and a lunch

each day. This camp is for kids ages 6-12.

Registration fees are due the first day of camp.

Please sign up for this camp by calling MCCB at

(641)673-9327.

Page 5

Summer Programs

Smallest Fish winner: Ashton Teague, age 10 (in front) Largest Fish winners (tie): Caden Albright, age 10 (in back, left) and Josh DeCook, age 9 (in back, right)

Dog Hollow Rendezvous

23rd Annual July 31 – August 2 Caldwell Park, just east of Oskaloosa on Hwy. 92

Take a walk back in time to when Oskaloosa was just

being formed as a town. This 1840’s encampment will

feature period dress, activities and hospitality. There

will be vendors, games, demonstrations and fun for the

whole family! This free event is hosted by the

Timberwolves Rendezvousers and MCCB. For more

information, contact Jim Walker (641)295-0612 or

Jane Mathes (319)270-3948.

History of Mahaska County

- The Coal Mining Files Tuesday, August 4 6:00 – 7:30 pm Russell Wildlife Area

Have you ever wanted to learn about the coal mining and rock quarry history of Mahaska County? Come out to the conservation center to learn about this history from our guest speaker, Susan Kozak, Chief of the Mines and Minerals Bureau for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Refreshments will be provided.

Canoe & Kayak River Float

Saturday, August 16 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Eveland Access to Hardfish Access

Join MCCB, Mahaska Wellness Coalition, Mahaska

County YMCA and Wapello CCB on a canoe and

kayak float down the Des Moines River. We will launch

from Eveland Access at 9:00 am and arrive at Hardfish

Access by 3:00 pm. There is no cost for this event and

MCCB has a limited number of canoes and kayaks

available. Participants may bring their own lunch and

canoe or kayak. Pre-registration is required! Call

MCCB at (641)673-9327 to register and to receive

complete details for the float.

12th Annual Youth

Outdoor Field Day

Saturday, September 26 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Russell Wildlife Area

Join MCCB and local conservation groups for a whole

day of hands-on outdoor activities for kids! The events

held this year will include archery, bowfishing, .22 rifle

and BB gun shooting, fishing, waterfowling, and more.

The cost is just $5.00 and includes a kid’s t-shirt and

lunch. Dress appropriately for the weather. Parents

are encouraged to stay for the day. One parent's meal

is provided with each child's registration. Registration

ends on September 10 and is limited to the first 225

participants. A printable registration form will soon be

found at www.mahaskaconservation.com or by

emailing decook@mahaskacounty.org. Children under

7 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Page 6

Friends of Mahaska County Conservation

If�you�are�interested�in�learning�how�you�can�help��the�Friends�of�Mahaska�County�Conservation�raise�money�for�the�

Environmental�Learning�Center,�contact:���

Friends�of�Mahaska�County�Conservation�MaryJane�Sullivan,�Board�President�P.O.�Box�632�Oskaloosa,�IA��52577�(641)660-7700�friendsmahaskacc@gmail.com�www.friendsofmccb.weebly.com��Meetings�are�held�at�6:30�pm�on�the�third�Monday�of�each�month�in�the�conservation�center�at�the�Russell�Wildlife�Area.�

�����

John White

Our friend and former conservation board member passed away on May

10, 2015. Throughout his life, John was interested in conservation and

the outdoors. As a boy, he loved to roam the woods and hunt the “700

Acres” that joined his family’s farm. Later, he worked as a summer ranger

for two years at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota

and also served on the Mahaska County Conservation Board for 16 years

(January 1996 – December 2012).

After retirement from his coaching and teaching career, John and his wife

Carol raised sheep and cattle on their farm near Oskaloosa.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Friends of Mahaska County Conservation for the construction

of the Environmental Learning Center at Caldwell Park.

MCCB’s Summer Staff Here are some helpful and friendly faces in

our county parks . . . (front row, left to right) Chris Spurgeon, Musco Intern and Kyle

Soderblom, Summer Park Ranger

(back row, left to right) Jeff Long, Experience Works and Amber

Bates, Musco Intern

Page 7

Ah,

StatementStatementStatementStatement The primary mission of this organization shall

be to create an awareness of our

natural environment, encourage a state of

harmony between people and their natural communities, develop and implement public conservation policy, maintain the public’s

investment in our natural resources, and strive diligently within

the budget restraints to provide adequate services for the environmental education and

enjoyment of the citizens of Mahaska

County.

The Prairie StarThe Prairie StarThe Prairie StarThe Prairie Star The Prairie Star is the quarterly newsletter of the Mahaska County

Conservation Board and is mailed to those

persons on our mailing list. There is no charge

for the newsletter, although contributions to help defray printing and mailing costs are greatly appreciated.

Please help us keep our costs down by keeping

us informed of any change of address or if you wish to receive the

newsletter by email.

“I wonder what it would be like to live a world where it was always June.”

~ L.M. Montgomery

July 2 Mahaska County Conservation Board Meeting 7:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

July 20 Friends of Mahaska County Conservation 6:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

August 6 Mahaska County Conservation Board Meeting 7:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

August 17 Friends of Mahaska County Conservation 6:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

September 3 Mahaska County Conservation Board Meeting 7:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

September 21 Friends of Mahaska County Conservation 6:30 p.m. @ Conservation Center, Russell Wildlife Area

Dates and times are subject to change. Call MCCB at (641)673-9327 for more information.

The Mahaska County Conservation Board wishes to extend our deepest thanks to the following people and businesses for their donations and volunteer time.

Bernie Bresee, fishing rod and reel donations Donna Peer, volunteer Walmart, Kids’ Fishing Day donation Larry Peer, volunteer Taco Johns, Kids’ Fishing Day donation Linda Fox, volunteer Iowa DNR, Kids’ Fishing Day donation Barb Puffinbarger, volunteer Ryan McPherren, bird feeder donations Michelle Burroughs, volunteer Mary Jane Sullivan, volunteer Lee Wymore, volunteer Doug McMillan, volunteer Carly Pearson, volunteer Allison Williams, volunteer Steve Wenzel, volunteer John Steinbach, Iowa DNR, volunteer

Eveland Access Cabins

The Apple and Birch Cabins at the Eveland Access are available for rent year-round. To view pictures of the cabins and to find more information

on renting, go to www.mahaskaconservation.com.

For reservations call MCCB at (641)673-9327.

952 square feet of

living space

Sleeps up to 10 people!

Page 8

Mahaska County Mahaska County Mahaska County Mahaska County Conservation BoardConservation BoardConservation BoardConservation Board

Curt Jager, Eddyville Chairperson

Linda Fox, Rose Hill Vice Chairperson

Ross Nilson, Oskaloosa Secretary

Peggy Wright, New Sharon Member

Steve Dixon, Oskaloosa Member

STAFFSTAFFSTAFFSTAFF Dave Sedivec Director

Laura DeCook Naturalist

Tommy VanRenterghem Conservation Technician

Jason Ryan Conservation Technician

Dorothy Wedgewood Administrative Assistant

Kyle Soderblom Summer Ranger

Amber Bates Musco Intern

Chris Spurgeon Musco Intern

Jeff Long Experience Works

COUNTY CONSERVATION

CENTER HOURS

12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

or by appointment. The Mahaska County Conservation Board meetings are open to the public. Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to attend. The board meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Conservation Center. Please note: these dates are subject to change.

A large-type version of this newsletter is available on request.

Mahaska County’s programs and facilities are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and handicap. If anyone believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination, he or she may file a complaint alleging discrimination with either the Mahaska County Conservation Board or the office for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington D.C. 29240.

BULK RATE

US POSTAGE PAID

NON-PROFIT ORG.

OSKALOOSA, IA 52577

Permit No. 641

Mahaska County Conservation Board

2254 – 200th Street

New Sharon, IA 50207

Phone: (641)673-9327

Email: mccb@mahaskacounty.org

Website: www.mahaskaconservation.com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

SSSSummer ummer ummer ummer 2015 2015 2015 2015