Hello, neighbors!

Hope you're having a great week!

This week, I visited Red Wolf Sanctuary for a guided tour, and what a wonderful experience it was!

For just $25, I spent a few hours exploring the sanctuary with Ella and Shealyn. They were both so knowledgeable and shared so many interesting stories about the animals.

The 452-acre nonprofit sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife, provides permanent homes for animals that cannot return to the wild, and works to preserve natural habitats while educating visitors about wildlife conservation.

From beautiful Arctic wolves and magnificent bald eagles to foxes, owls, bobcats, Maumee the black bear, and so much more, there was plenty to see and learn!

One of the things that surprised me was learning how many of the sanctuary's hawks and owls arrived after being struck by vehicles. Other animals have been rescued from situations where they were kept as pets and could no longer live safely in the wild.

The bobcats have some sad rescue stories, too. During my tour, I learned that one had its tail caught in a snare. The sanctuary has also rescued abandoned, starving kittens and injured bobcats, helping them recover and, whenever possible, return to the wild.

Maumee, the resident black bear, has a heartbreaking story. During my tour, I learned that she had been kept as a pet by a woman living in an apartment. Staff told me that photographs were found of Maumee dressed in children's clothing. After the woman passed away, Maumee was reportedly discovered chained to a wall and was rescued and brought to the sanctuary.

When Maumee arrived, she needed help adjusting to life as a bear. An older resident bear helped her learn natural bear behaviors. Today, Maumee has a five-acre area to roam whenever she chooses. Staff said she was getting ready for her winter hibernation, which could begin any day now.

I also learned something interesting about bald eagles. Did you know they don't develop their famous white heads until they're approximately four to five years old?

Looking for something different to do this fall? I highly recommend taking a tour! It's a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors, enjoy the scenery, and learn about the wildlife living in our own backyard.

Plan Your Visit: Red Wolf Sanctuary is located at 3027 State Road 262, Rising Sun. Guided tours are available by reservation Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours generally last 1½–2 hours. Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for teens, and $10 for children.

Want to help? Red Wolf Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization that always welcomes donations and volunteers. Whether through financial contributions, needed supplies, or volunteering your time, there are opportunities to help care for these remarkable animals.

Visit www.redwolf.org to book a tour, donate, or learn about volunteering. You can also call 812-438-2306.

Next week, I'll share more pictures and stories from my visit, including a touching love story about two vultures!

🎓 Earn Your HSED/GED – Education Bootcamps – River Valley Resources and the Education Center of Rising Sun are offering one-week bootcamps to help students prepare for their HSED/GED. Sessions: November 2–6 and December 7–11, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. daily. Location: Education Center of Rising Sun, 591 Smart Drive. Students must attend all five days. Open to all K–12 students. Advance registration required. For information or to register, call Heidi at 765-265-4129.

Veterans Day Breakfast & Program – Wednesday, November 11

Rising Sun High School invites veterans to a special Veterans Day celebration. Breakfast begins at 7:00 a.m., followed by a program at 8:30 a.m. Please RSVP by November 3 by contacting Julie at 812-438-2652.

Veterans Day Dinner – Wednesday, November 11

American Legion Post 59 invites veterans and their families and guests to a special Veterans Day Dinner at the Rising Sun Community Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The evening will feature guest speaker Bridget Hayes, representing The American Legion, Department of Indiana, 9th District Command, music by Kevin Smith, and dinner catered by Flood's Foods (Chris Flood). This event is FREE, for veterans and their families and guests. No RSVP required.

📚 Ohio County Public Library
• 9:00 AM – Walking Club
• 9:30 AM – Chair Yoga
• 1:00 PM – Learn to Crochet

📚 Ohio County Public Library
• 9:00 AM – Walking Club
• 9:30 AM – Chair Yoga

🎃 Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween

🏆 Main Street Pumpkin Contest
Rising Sun Main Street invites everyone to bring a carved or decorated pumpkin to the Main Street Pavilion from 4:00–6:00 PM. Prizes include $50 for 1st place, $25 for 2nd, $10 for 3rd, plus seven $10 gift certificates from local businesses. Get creative and join the fun!

🎵 Pavilion Entertainment at Rising Star Casino Vigor
4:00–7:00 PM

Enjoy an evening of live music with Vigor. A versatile duo that creates a full-band sound, covering classic rock, pop, country, smooth jazz, standards, disco, Ray Charles, Adele, and Sugarland.

📚 Ohio County Public Library
🚶 Walking Club — 9:00 AM
🧘 Chair Yoga — 9:30 AM

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