MILAN
Page 24 THE BEACON December 2017
O ur
MILAN
By Susan Cottingham
Community Correspondent
milan @ goBEACONnews . com
For many years the State Champs 1954 Water Tower has stood over the town of Milan and has become an iconic symbol across the state . The area surrounding the tower has changed over the years , and the water tower itself has deteriorated . A few years ago the town of Milan purchased the plot of land where the tower stands in hopes of preserving it . Now , with the help of Rising Sun Regional Foundation , the water tower is receiving a face lift ! The process began earlier this year when the Milan Town Board applied for a RSRF grant for the restoration . Funding in the amount of $ 28,452 was awarded for the project . The Rising Sun Regional Foundation has been a true partner with the people of Milan who contributed $ 1091 via a collection jar placed in an area business by the Milan ' 54 Hoosiers Museum to help raise funds for the project .
Work began on Oct . 12 . The tower will be painted black with the words , “ State Champs 1954 ,” painted on the east side of the tower . Lighting will also be installed so that the tower will be lit each evening . Construction will continue over several weeks with the goal of having everything completed by the middle of November , so by the time this issue of The Beacon arrives in
Communities
The Milan water tower is being restored .
your mailboxes , work should be finished .
The water tower is probably one of the most famous water towers in Indiana and may be one of the most well-known water towers in the United States . I know many of us who grew up in Milan are excited to see this familiar landmark receiving this muchneeded attention . The water tower was part of the Milan Furniture Manufacturing Company which opened for business in 1924 . The lettering was painted on the tower immediately following the championship win in 1954 , then repainted once around 1969 before The Milan Furniture Manufacturing Company was sold . This tower has stood practically in my backyard my whole life . To me , it is a symbol of home . We thank RSRF , the Milan Town Board , and everyone who had a part in restoring this landmark . Any day now , the old tower will once again be proudly standing guard over the Town of Milan . You can watch the progress by checking out the Milan ' 54 Hoosiers Museum ' s Facebook page . Be sure to check it out the next time you are passing through Milan .
By John Hawley
Purdue Extension Educator
hawley4 @ purdue . edu
Battling Belligerent Birds ?
Have birds been wreaking havoc on your autumn recreation and relaxation ? Don ’ t be alarmed ; you are not alone ! This time of year it is very common to have run-ins with various feathered freaks ( as my wife likes to call them ). Woodpeckers , owls , hawks , and migratory fowl are just a few of the nuisance birds reported to my office this season . In this article , I will discuss the options you have to control these pests .
There are many reasons to both love and loathe birds . On the one hand , they can be quite beautiful and play an important role in our ecosystems . On the other , they may be aggressive , disease-ridden , or just downright annoying . For those who want to increase the presence of birds on their property , this article is not for you . However , I will take a quick minute to say that there is nothing wrong with encouraging the presence of birds on your property ! Offering seeds , nectars , and man-made perches and nests are very common practices among homeowners , just don ’ t overdo it .
Now that we ’ ve satisfied the bird enthusiasts , let ’ s get back to prevention ! This is the tough part . There are literally hundreds of options for bird control and prevention . Unfortunately , it can be a hit and miss game . My first piece of advice is to make sure you know for certain what kind of bird you are dealing with . You may have heard pecking , but that doesn ’ t guarantee you are dealing with a woodpecker . With the nocturnal nature of many birds , it may be easy to see their impact , but hard to actually see them committing their crimes . If you are unsure of what you are facing , ask your neighbors , do a little research , or reach out to a professional .
Once you know what you are dealing with , you can begin working on controlling the problem . Woodpeckers have been the most common nuisance reported to my office and I have recommended a few different management techniques . These are tailored to managing woodpeckers , but will also deter other birds such as pigeons .
My first recommendation is a visual deterrent or “ decoy .” These decoys often depict natural predators such as owls and hawks . They come in various forms and are often inexpensive . The only downfall is that over time , birds will learn that these are fake . Moving them around various parts of your property can help , but other options are often necessary to deter repeat offenders .
Other options I have discussed with homeowners include motion-sensor lighting , preventative wire on ledges ,
Downtown Lawrenceburg ’ s
sticky repellent , and screening / netting . Non-toxic transparent gels that can be applied to ledges and other exterior surfaces can also be effective . Although my office does not endorse specific products , look for repellent gels containing Polybutylene . These options will generally be a bit more expensive than decoys , but may work effectively . Depending on the severity of your problem , a combination of methods may be used . Be sure to follow all label and safety instructions !
There are many other options for bird control I would like to discuss , but my space is limited . If your problem is severe and you believe these pests are a threat to the physical well-being of your pets or family , I would advise contacting a pest control professional immediately .
To learn more about bird control , visit : http :// articles . extension . org / pages / 20421 / general-household-pests : -nuisance-birds-and-their-control
For additional information about other agriculture and natural resources topics , feel free to e-mail me at hawley4 @ purdue . edu . You can also reach my office at 812-926-1189 . We are located at 229 Main Street , Aurora , IN 47001 .
Look for my next article in January ’ s issue of The Beacon !
Toys , Toys , Toys
The Coalition for Children ’ s Christmas
Toys , a project of the Clearinghouse Food Pantry , provides toys and Christmas joy to needy children of Dearborn and Ohio Counties .
Please help with donations of new , unused toys . 100 % of donations stay local . Contact The Clearinghouse Food Pantry 411 George St ., Aurora , IN 47001 812-926-1198 ccct411 @ gmail . com
Opening Early This Year !
Saturday – November 18
12:00 Noon Winter Wonderland Ice Rink Opens ... Todd Creech Park , Tate Street
Friday – November 24
6:00-9:00 Special Teen Night with DJ for Grades 6 – 8 ... at the Ice Rink
Saturday – November 25
11:00-3:00 Small Business Saturday - Downtown Merchants Cookie Walk
Sunday – November 26
4:30 Mayor ’ s Reception ... at the Lawrenceburg Event Center 4:30-5:45 Cincinnati Brass Band ... at the Lawrenceburg Event Center 6:00 Official Tree Lighting Ceremony ... at the Levee
Saturday – December 2
9:00 Breakfast with Santa ... Ticket Required - Lawrenceburg Community Center 10:00-2:00 Canstruction @ Ivy Tech ... Sponsored by United Way
10:00-3:00 Library Activities ... Crafts , Cookie Sale , Holiday Performances , Santa and Live Reindeer 11:00-2:00 Children ’ s Activities in Santa ’ s Elves ’ Tent ... Train , Caricature Artist , Ice Carvers and More Southeastern Indiana Art Guild ... Artwork , Face-painting , Cards and Bake Sale
12:30 Winter Wonderland Parade and PAWS Pet Parade 1:00 Santa and Mrs . Claus Arrive
1:15 Big Prize Giveaway 7:00 “ Annie ” by Rivertown Players ... at Lawrenceburg High
School - ticket required . ( Also Dec . 3 @ 2:00 )
Saturday – December 9
3:00-5:00 Santa and Mrs . Claus Visit the Ice Rink ... Photo Ops Available Downtown Merchant Open Houses
Friday – December 22
7:00-10:00 Special Teen Night with DJ for Grades 9 - 12 ... at the Ice Rink
Ice Skating Rink
EARLY OPENING !
Nov . 18 - Jan . 14 , 2018
Located at Todd Creech Park , Tate St . Tuesday - Thursday : 4-8PM Friday : 4-9PM ** Saturday : 12-9PM Sunday : 12-8PM Closed Mondays ---------- Christmas Break Schedule Hours : December 23 – January 6 : 12-9PM Christmas Eve : 12-3PM New Years Eve : 12-6PM Closed Christmas Day
** Except for Teen Nights ( rink closed to public during hours below ): Friday , November 24 Grades 6 to 8 / 6 to 9PM Friday , December 22 Grades 9 to 12 / 7 to 10PM
For more information contact : Lawrenceburg Main Street 812-537-4507 or go to : www . ThinkLawrenceburg . com
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