FEATURE: Bubblegum and lemonade

Madison Songer of Huntingburg, 8, left, blew a bubble with her bubblegum while her friend Kennedy Siddons of Huntingburg, 8, laughed Thursday afternoon at Siddons' East Second Avenue home. The two girls made $26.50 in their first three hours with the lemonade stand's grand opening outside of Siddons' parent's garage sale. Siddons' grandfather Rob Siddons of Huntingburg helped build the stand by hand last week. "I like to eat lemons," Kennedy Siddons said. "So lemonade is the liquid version of them. So, it's just tasty. It's even better I can share my love with others."

FEATURE: Try, try again

Sarah Drabing of French Lick, 6, tries to hold herself up after practicing three front flips on the bar with the help of Heather Royer of Dubois, gymnastics and cheerleading instructor, at her pole barn workout facility July 26 in Dubois during Royer's Gymnastics and All-Star Cheer Camp. Royer has been teaching youth gymnastics and cheerleading for 21 years. "All of my children — I have all boys," she said, "so this is my way of having girls."

DIPTYCH: Life in jail

Inmates, whose names are withheld to protect identity, stand outside with shoes and clothes off during one-hour of twice-weekly regulated recreation time July 28 at Dubois County Security Center. There are currently 16 deputies and 16 jail officers. For his 2012 budget, Sheriff Donny Lampert said they need more on-staff, and is requesting an additional deputy and two more jailers.

PORTRAIT: Justin Bieber

A life-size cardboard cutout of Justin Bieber stands in the lawn outside of a kitchen window in late June in Holland, Mich.

SPORTS: Mixed Martial Arts in Dale, Ind.

FEATURE: Cuddling Cousins

Madilyn Sperling, 6, closed her eyes as she embraced the arm of her cousin Brittany Jones, both of Santa Claus, while she read a magazine waiting for customers to return from a horse ride along trails at Santa's Stables on Thursday near Santa Claus.

SPORTS: Mud Volleyball

Brett Pund of Ferdinand, 29, right, and Tony Mehringer of Jasper, 26, attempted to block the ball as Adam Brames of St. Anthony, 25, sent back a shot during Sunday's mud volleyball tournament at the Schnellville Community Club. The tournament consisted of 29 teams and the champion was Top Gun, a team consisting of Harrison Prusz, Troy Leinenbach, Chris Kramer, Cris Collins, Jordian Alstadt and Lee Vogler.







Tyler O'Brien of Santa Claus flipped off of a dock into a pond in Schnellville to wash off the mud that covered his body from head to toe Sunday afternoon after his team was eliminated from the annual mud volleyball tournament at the Schnellville Community Club.

FEATURE: 4-H Queen

The 2010 Dubois County 4-H Fair Queen Jan Beyke delivered her outgoing speech Saturday evening during the queen contest at Jasper Middle School.



Ashten Neukam of Huntingburg, center, 18, laughed with other contestants as Southridge High School senior Samantha Boeglin, left, 17, handed her a bracelet that fell off of Neukam's wrist upon giving a celebratory high-five Saturday evening before winners were announced for the Dubois County 4-H Fair Queen Contest at Jasper Middle School. Neukam was named first runner-up.



Kaitlin Emmert of Ferdinand, a 2010 Forest Park High School graduate, right, laughed with Jordan Houchin, a 2011 Forest Park graduate, of Ferdinand, as the two look over a list of 63 questions each could potentially be asked by the judges at the end of their formal wear walk down the runway Saturday evening during the Dubois County 4-H Fair Queen Contest at Jasper Middle School.



Philicity Collignon of Jasper, 7, approached the contestants to ask questions during intermission of the Dubois County 4-H Fair Queen Contest at Jasper Middle School on Saturday. "I want to be a queen someday," she said. "It's fun, and their dresses are so pretty."



Kaitlin Emmert, a 2010 Forest Park High School graduate, smiled as 2010 Dubois County 4-H Fair Queen Jan Beyke crowned her Saturday evening during the queen contest at Jasper Middle School. Emmert just finished her first year at the University of Evansville and will return there in the fall.

FEATURE: Mothering a miniature

After feeding a baby miniature horse milk from a baby bottle Thursday, Rachel Atchison of Santa Claus kissed the horse, named Liberty, while comforting her at Hilltop Veterinary Services in Lamar. The miniature horse was born Tuesday and her mother was unable to produce milk and nurse. The owners brought Liberty, named by Atchison because her birth was so close to Independence Day, to the veterinary office for care. Atchison, a veterinary assistant, attempts to feed the horse, which weight about 17 pounds, every two hours. "It's great to just hold her like a baby," she said.

FEATURE: Shaving and raising

Rick Stenftenagel of Jasper cleaned shaving cream out of his right ear as he washes up after having his head shaved Wednesday morning in the parking lot of Old National Bank where he works. He and two other employees, Zach Voegerl and Adam Hoffman, both of Jasper, shaved their heads after raising more than $2,000 for the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life. Stenftenagel had never shaved his head before, and said it was kind of weird to see himself hairless and was colder.

FEATURE: Getting a leg up

Kinsey Bromm, left, Hannah Welsh and Hannah's twin sister, Rachael, all 13 of Jasper, dipped back into the water with other friends Tuesday afternoon at Jasper Municipal Pool to see who could hold their breath the longest. All three girls were laughing when they surfaced.

•••••

Yesterday was my first official day at The Herald in Jasper, Ind. I did the paperwork, met four Rumbachs, chatted with Dave and Krista and was given my gear. I am excited to say I will be shooting with a 5D Mark II. Welcome back to Canon, baby!

My first assignment was to feature hunt. Come back with something for tomorrow's newspaper. So, this is that feature. A bit odd, but funny in being so.



And, it made the front page! I am definitely excited about the assignments I am getting early, including Saturday Features. Keep your eye to the blog, as I will update as photos publish. Thanks to everyone who supports me. Most importantly, thank you to my mother, grandmother and the Rat Pack. Without their love and constant support, I don't know where I would be. I love you all. (Everyone's allowed to be sappy once and awhile, this is my turn. Hah.)