SPORTS FEATURE: Volleyball warm-ups

Jasper's Megan Sternberg laughed as she danced in the center of a circle of her teammates while warming up Saturday morning for the Jasper Invitational in Jasper.



Members of the Jasper High School varsity volleyball team circled up to play "Ninja" to limber up in the locker room before a match Saturday morning at the Jasper Invitational in Jasper.



Jasper's Rachel Bartley danced back-to-back with teammate Jaclyn Schmitt as they warmed up in the center of a circle of their teammates Saturday morning before a match at the Jasper Invitational in Jasper.

FEATURE: Archaeology

Heather Boehm of Evanston, from left, Sophi Lewis of Santa Claus, Rebecca Sinclair of Mariah Hill, Libby Hinton of Chrisney, Claire Dilger of Mariah Hill and Chloe Konerding of Lamar, all 13 years old, searched through excavated dirt from the ground behind Colonel William Jones State Historic Site looking for artifacts from the 1800s during a Heritage Hills Middle School eighth grade field trip Friday morning in Gentryville. Among the findings were remains of structure, such as pieces of brick and nails, as well as parts of domestic items, such as bowls and plates.

SPORTS FEATURE: Irish Road Bowling

Another team of road bowlers watch on as Amy Weisman of Ireland, center, holds an umbrella over Jamie Clark of Ireland as he throws a small cannonball, otherwise known as a "bullet", around a curve in the road while Irish Road Bowling on Saturday afternoon on North County Road 500 West in Ireland. "You constantly have to wonder what the right angle is in order to get the ball the furthest," he said. "I love doing this. My advice is to watch the angle of the road. It's not power, but a balance of speed and direction."



Patty Sermersheim, left, and her husband Jeff, both of Stendal, look both ways before crossing the road after retrieving a ball from a cornfield Saturday afternoon during Irish Road Bowling on North County Road 500 West in Ireland.



Todd Fromme of Ireland, center, laughed while dressed as Princess Peach from the Super Mario Brothers as Dan Fuhs of Jasper swooped into jokingly give him a kiss on the check for luck before his throw Saturday afternoon during Irish Road Bowling on North County Road 500 West in Ireland.

FEATURE: Forest Park marching band

Lauren Blume of St. Anthony, 14, center, tried to hold in her laughter while fellow Forest Park marching band members Alyssa Hurm, 13, left, and Bethany Boeglin, 16, both of Ferdinand, laughed out loud as one of the instructors made a joke about body language on the field while the marching band practiced in the school parking lot Tuesday evening in Ferdinand.

SPORTS FEATURE: Jasper Homecoming

Fans applauded and reached out as they cheered onJasper's Karson Nixon as he took the field Friday night at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium when Jasper took on Princeton for a homecoming game.



Balloons soar into the sky after Jasper fans released them upon the football team taking the field Friday night to play against Princeton at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium.



From left, Jasper's Cole Sermersheim, Jesse Schmitt, Karson Nixon, Tyler Carie, Austin Blessinger and Sam Hahn celebrated after Nixon scored a touchdown on a 29-yard rush on fourth down in the first quarter Friday night against Princeton at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium. The Wildcats scored 42 points in the first quarter, and finished the game 63-9 to beat the Tigers.



From left, Jasper's Dillon Wagner, Moises Valenciano, Nathan Leibering, Tyler Carie, Colby Krodel, Jon Thomas and Devon Traylor celebrated as they joked around with one another in the locker room after a 56-0 shutout against Princeton in the first half Friday night at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium. The Wildcats went on to beat the Tigers 63-9.

FEATURE: Babysitting

Alexa Romero of Jasper, 2, left, reached over to play with a baby doll held by Adelyn Chavez of Jasper, 3, while Ashley Ortiz of Jasper, 8, smiled while waiting for her parents to arrive home from work, looking up at Doreyda Fajardo of Dubois who babysat the group of girls on Ortiz's porch after Ortiz arrived home from school Tuesday afternoon at her 2nd Street residence. Fajardo started babysitting the girls in May, and said the job is a blessing. "The children ... I love them a lot, a lot, a lot," Fajardo said.

FEATURE: Put your hands up!

Jasper's Lydia Scherle threw her hands up in celebration as she cheered after she and her teammates secured the second set of three Thursday night in Huntingburg. Jasper won all three sets, beating Southridge 25-17, 27-25, 25-19.

FEATURE: Little Miss, Junior Miss

Luxey Neukam of Huntingburg, 9, smiled as she chatted with Ella Mattingly of Holland, 7, as the two prepared to compete in the Junior Miss Pageant on Friday night at the Holland Community Fest.



Cheyanne Motteler of Holland, 9, left, swapped stories about a boy with fellow Junior Miss contestants Chaney Barrett of Huntingburg, 9, Savannah Goeppner of Huntingburg, 9, and Luxey Nuekam of Huntingburg, 9, before the pageant Friday evening at the Holland Community Fest. "There's one boy who keeps taking our picture who goes to our school," Goeppner said. "Apparently he likes us, and that's disgusting!"



Kate Durcholz of Huntingburg, 6, held her mother Lisa Durcholz tightly as she kissed her after she walked off the stage for the Little Miss Pageant on Friday night at the Holland Community Fest in Holland. Kate was named first runner-up in the competition. "To see her smile, that's what it's all about," Lisa Durcholz said. "They're all so cute. As long as they all have fun, they are all winners."

FRIENDS: Rat Pack Camping 2011

So, best weekend I've had in awhile. I came back to Michigan for the weekend just before my birthday to hang with my best friends. The destination was Muskegon State Park, so we could go to my hometown for a night as well. Neil, Sean and Libby are just phenomenal people. They are my family. I love each of them. OK. Enough sappiness in blogging. Here's a take of the photos from the camping trip.

FEATURE: Grandparents Dance

Vince Schmitt of Jasper, 88, let go of his walker to dance with volunteer Mary Jo Hart of Jasper while 1940s and '50s music played Saturday evening at St. Charles Health Campus in Jasper during the nursing home's first Grandparents Dance. "I used to go out dancing all the time in my younger years," said Schmitt, a St. Charles resident. "Well, now it just wears me out, but I always feel lively while I'm doing it."

Sports: Girls Golf Sectional

Jasper's MeKenzie Hilsmeyer hit a ball out of the rough while covered in brush from a tree on Hole 9 during the IHSAA Girls Golf Sectional on Saturday at Jasper Municipal Golf Course. Jasper finished second with 348-stroke total. Hilsmeyer placed third overall with an 84 on 18 holes.



Southridge's Kabrea Robling teed off on Hole 15 during the IHSAA Girls Golf Sectional on Saturday at Jasper Municipal Golf Course.



Southridge's Allison Bounds crouched as she lined up herself for a putt on Hole 14 during the IHSAA Girls Golf Sectional on Saturday at Jasper Municipal Golf Course. Bounds advanced from the sectional scoring 100 on 18 holes.



Southridge's Shelby Kippenbrock teed off on Hole 14 during the IHSAA Girls Golf Sectional on Saturday at Jasper Municipal Golf Course.

PORTRAIT: The Rat Pack

The Rat Pack, a family portrait. From top left, clockwise: Sean Robert Proctor, Jacob William May, Elizabeth Jane March, Neil Andrew Blake.

FEATURE: For the birds (and fishermen)

A flock of seagulls fly overhead while a group of four fishermen reel in a fish Sunday evening at sunset on Lake Michigan at the end of the Grand Haven pier.

SPORTS: Match-clinching point celebration

Jasper's Lydia Scherle, left, Jaclyn Schmitt, Erica Welp and Megan Sternberg celebrated after securing the final point in Thursday night's 26-24, 25-20, 25-17 road victory over Northeast Dubois in Dubois. Sternberg thundered one of her 10 kills for the match-clinching point.

FEATURE: Story time sprint

Kent Kaetzel of Dale, 3, laughed as he ran through the Mildred E. Taylor Children's Room in his pajamas after finishing his coloring at story time with Youth Librarian Rebecca Rau of Dale on Tuesday afternoon at the Lincoln Heritage Public Library. "Making stuff is cool, and I like hearing stories," he said. Children can attend story time Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Each session Rau reads two to three books with weekly themes, as the kids will have crafts, coloring and puzzles that coincide. This week's theme was pajamas, so kids came dressed in their pajamas and made hand-sized pillows.

FEATURE: John Dubois, SWAT

Midland Police Department SWAT sniper John Dubois, 42, lays atop a hill in brush covered in camouflage as he practices his accuracy and eye behind the barrel and crosshairs of a Remington 700, .307 caliber sniper rifle June 28 at an off-road training facility in Midland. Dubois, who has been with Midland's SWAT for 14 years, trains once a month in team shooting exercises, but logs about three hours weekly atop his regular policing duties to keep his eye keen for sniper shooting. "You look through the crosshairs, and that's what you focus on," he said. "You've got to eliminate everything else around you, but be cognizant of it as well. Sometimes it's split-second decision making, whether you pull the trigger or not. When you pull it, you have to be 100 percent certain you know where that round will land because once you pull it, you can't get that round back."

PORTAIT: Elizabeth Walwood, my grandmother

One of the strongest, most beautiful women in my life to this day. Sure, it seems cliché, but it's true. She's kind, sweet, helpful. She's lived a long, fulfilling life, and she's still going strong. I hope I can be as amazing as she is at her age, or anytime in my life. I truly admire her, and she has set such a good path for our entire family to follow. A great role model. An incredible woman. I love her with all my heart.

SPORTS: Jasper at Heritage Hills football

Jasper High School seniors Jon Bell, Clay Kincer and Ryan Stenftenagel, all 17 and of Jasper, applied body paint on their chests in their school colors to show support for the football team during Friday night's game against Heritage Hills in Lincoln City.



Left: Heritage Hills' Tre Williams wrapped his wrist in the locker room before Friday night's game against Jasper in Lincoln City. The Patriots beat the Wildcats 24-14. Right: Jasper's Sam Hahn deflected a potential touchdown pass with his arm intended for Heritage Hills' Devon Wahl in the endzone in the second half of Friday night's game in Lincoln City. The pass was incomplete. The Patriots beat the Wildcats 24-14.



Jasper's Jesse Schmitt celebrated in the endzone after scoring his team's second and last touchdown in the first half during Friday night's game in Lincoln City. The Patriots beat the Wildcats 24-14.



Jasper's Sam Hahn tackled Heritage Hills' Tre Williams during the second half of Friday night's game in Lincoln City. The Patriots beat the Wildcats 24-14.



Heritage Hills' Garrett Wetzel cheeed as he celebrated the 24-14 win against Jasper with his teammates on the field after Friday night's game in Lincoln City.



Jasper's Jordan Gould sat with his head in his hand on a bench in the locker room as he reflected on the team's loss to Heritage Hills 24-14 in Lincoln City. "Being a senior, it's just tough," he said. "You work all those two-a-days. You sweat. You bleed, and to not come out on top, it's a wake-up call. You never want to lose the game to a rival, and we've never lost to them until tonight, but in football, there are two halves you have to play. We didn't show up to play in the second half."

FEATURE: Feline check-up

Ellie Eckstein of Jasper, 72, left, inspected a needle to see if she drew enough blood from Brett, a five-month-old golden-white tabby cat, that Betty Fendel of Jasper, 66, held down to ensure the cat stay calm while checking for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) Wednesday afternoon at the Dubois County Humane Society. Brett's blood test came back negative, meaning he is healthy and adoptable. The organization will not adopt out pets that are diseased, and are able to save money by testing the animals themselves. Eckstein, a medical technician for more than 40 years, said drawing blood from a cat or dog is definitely a different challenge than that of humans. "(The animals) veins aren't as large as human's are, so you really have to hunt for them, but they sit still, unlike most people," she said, laughing. Both Eckstein and Fendel are board members at the humane society.

SPORTS: I love cross country!

Forest Park's Libby Gress rested her arms on her head as she took in long breaths after edging out Northeast Dubois' Kelli Reutman for 20th place Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School. Gress finished with a time of 25 minutes, 54.25 seconds, while Reutman finished with a time of 25 minutes, 54.62 seconds.



Luis Flores of Huntingburg, 12, sat on the hillside near a tree as he watched Jasper's Nick Mehringer run alongside cornfields during Tuesday's boys cross country race at the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School. Mehringer finished in third place in 17 minutes, 38 seconds.



Southridge's Landon Boehm joked around with his teammates as he flexed his biceps before the boys cross country race Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School.



Northeast Dubois' Alex Pund endured the last leg of the boys cross country race as he sprinted toward the finish line Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School. Pund finished in seventh place in 18 minutes, three seconds.



A Crawford County runner walked as she tried to catch her breath during a girls cross country race Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School.



Jasper's Regen Foote showed fatigue as she crossed the finish line Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School. Foote finished in third place in 22 minutes, 27 seconds.



Southridge's Jaclyn Alstadt cheered her boys cross country teammates on while waving a giant school flag Tuesday afternoon during the Dubois-Crawford Invitational at Southridge High School. "We're the striped. We're here. We're proud," she said. "By waving this flag, people know what we represent and who we are."