You may have never heard of Arthropods, but I bet you have seen them!  An Arthropod is any invertebrate. An invertebrate is a creature that does not have a backbone and instead having either a soft or hard exoskeleton made of chitin which is in sections that are shed from time to time.

The arthropods that are the subject of this article are millipedes, centipedes, and pill bugs.  I have chosen these three arthropods because they are common pests associated with our homes. 

The first arthropod we will discuss is the millipede.  A millipede has short legs that cannot be seen if looking down on the critter because the legs are directly underneath the worm like creature. A millipede also has short antennae and is normally brown in color. The second arthropod is a centipede whose color may be light brown to gray. A centipede is a long-legged worm-like creature that has long antennae. It has two legs per segment but really doesn’t have a hundred legs. The third arthropod is the pill bug often referred to as a ” Roly poly” bug. This little guy looks somewhat like a tiny armadillo that will roll up in a ball when touched or disturbed. Its legs are short and cannot be seen while looking down on the insect and has short antennae. The Pill bug is gray in color.

What brings these arthropods to our attention? Spring, Summer and Fall yield a large population of these critters that invade our homes in search of moisture, organic material and harborages that they need so badly. Mulch and organic material are the buffet that these arthropods need for survival of the species. Harborage makes survival from predators much easier. In Indiana, these critters are not harmful to humans, but they are unsightly and cause a fright to those who are sensitive to wiggly things. 

Here is the tip! Mulch can be good and attractive around the home, but try to not get a great thickness of the mulch which provides a great home for arthropods. Keep foliage down that holds in moisture close to the home and provides a great harborage. When the moisture level is too high. arthropods may make their way into the home especially in garages, bathrooms, utility rooms and sunrooms. 

Natural control is always best but good exterior perimeter treatments may keep these pests under control.

Dear readers,

You have questions. I have answers.

This week I will not be printing entire rambling and mostly pointless letters from readers. I will instead just answer reader questions selected from random letters. Besides, if I thought you wanted to read a thousand words of pointless rambling, I would have just written another column about “The Helbing.”

Now, on with your questions. Enjoy!

Q: Kris, I loved your column about the “Diabolical Iron Clad Beetle.” It was your best column in a long time. Can you write more columns about bugs?

A: I can’t write more columns about bugs because I didn’t write the one you are referring to. You have confused my column “A View From My Schwinn” with fellow GIANT fm columnist Mike Dooley and his column, “Pest Assassin.”

It is a common mistake among readers. As a side note, since Mike has moved into the office next to mine, I haven’t seen a single pest here at the GIANT fm studio. Mike didn’t even spray any chemicals. His mere presence frightened all the insects away. 

Q: Kris, has anyone taken you up on your offer to officiate their wedding for free so long as the venue is The Helbing? And if not, will you officiate a renewal of vows ceremony for my wife and me if we do it at The Helbing? I want to surprise her. 

A: No one has taken up my free wedding offer yet. And no, I will not officiate your vows renewal ceremony. My advice is to not surprise your wife. You might be the one who ends up getting the surprise. You convinced her to say “I do” once. Now that she has had a few years to get to know you better, I wouldn’t risk asking again. 

Q: Kris, asking for a friend, what lotion would you recommend for the skin rash caused by reading your column?

A: Cloverine Salve is my go-to all purpose liniment. Years ago it was sold exclusively by children who answered an advertisement on the back of a comic book. At the age of nine, I wasn’t much of a door-to-door salesman. So, I still have a good supply. I use it for everything from cuts and bruises to lubricating my Rich Wetnight muzzleloader.

Q: Kris, thanks for the suggestion that I put a few nickels in my pajama pocket before bedtime. I had my recurring dream featuring a pay toilet that night. With a pocket full of nickels, it turned my nightmare into a happy dream. There was a poem written on the pay toilet stall. It began with the line, “Here I sit, all broken hearted.” I woke up before finishing the poem. Since you are from the Eisenhower Administration, do you know the rest of the poem?

A: Yes, I do. I’m sure your grandpa can still recite it from memory. If not, just Google the first part of the poem.

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

WARNING:  If reading Meltzer’s column causes a rash, dry cough, excess phlegm, sciatica, or blurred vision, stop reading immediately. 

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

There are few things in Japan that are as anticipated every year with such fondness, giddiness, and adoration as the annual display by Mother Nature — in all its glory — of cherry blossoms. Found basically everywhere in Japan, blossoming cherry trees quintessentially represent Japan in a way that few culturally significant traditions can begin to touch. 

The actual blossoms are fleeting in their appearance and beauty, so transient that once in full bloom, they last merely for a matter of days. The cherry blossom, or “sakura” in Japanese, has evolved to represent and symbolize not only human life and the renewal of spring after a long winter, but a delicate realization that nothing is permanent and all is in constant change. 

Their fragility is a significant part of their beauty. People relish the experience of sitting under the blossoming trees, eating and drinking with friends and colleagues, waiting for a strong breeze to blow, so the petals will begin to cascade down over their heads, carpeting the ground around them.  Squeals of joy can be heard when this happens, even though it means the blossoms are almost finished. Everyone takes heart in knowing they will be back, roughly at the same time the next year, showing off their majestic and noble beauty to a new group of admirers.

These highly anticipated blossom viewing parties are called “hanami” (literally meaning “flower viewing”) and because the window of opportunity is so finite as to when and how long the blossoms are in bloom, great efforts are made to plan accordingly. The nightly news features blossom viewing segments that show the dates of when the Sakura will be blooming in different parts of Japan. Often is the case where the news graphic slowly turns pink as it moves up the map of the archipelago.

Due to climate change, they seem to be blooming earlier than in the past, so hotels, caterers, offices and just about anyone connected with cherry blossom viewing must plan meticulously to ensure that they time their Hanami perfectly in order to have the best experience at viewing the canopy of flowering trees from below.

Often times, new recruits in companies are tasked with scouting out the best area at a popular viewing spot in order to save the space for their colleagues who will arrive after work finishes, laden with prepared food and alcoholic drinks to imbibe during the party. Large blue tarps are laid out under trees that offer the best views of the blossoms and the young employee basically holds the spot all day until the others arrive (see photo).

Tourists, both domestic and foreign, have become enamored with this Japanese tradition and visitors try to plan their trips to Japan, or within Japan, during this season in order to experience this once-a-year display of nature. Sadly, however, uncouth behavior regarding the blossoms sometimes occurs.

Overly exuberant visitors will sometimes try to touch or shake the trees to get a photo of the blossoms falling, or will get too close and walk on the roots of the trees, or try to pick the flowers as a souvenir. These actions are all expressly forbidden. The trees ad blossoms are to be admired from afar and not be a tactile experience by touching physically the trees or blossoms.

The idea of Hanami dates back to ancient times when aristocrats and the noble class began the tradition of writing poetry and singing songs under the flowering trees. Eventually, the custom spread to other socio-economic classes and today it is a tradition enjoyed by anyone and everyone.  These gatherings are made up of people with whom one is associated with; it could be a club event, family reunion, work colleagues, or former classmates. Just about any group of people with common interests or a common connection will make plans to have a Hanami picnic to enjoy this annual display.

A Hanami can occur anywhere there are flowering cherry trees. Hanami doesn’t always involve eating and drinking. It can simply be a leisurely stroll through a park with many flowering trees.  However, the term is largely associated with a picnic-like gathering.

Popular viewing spots can get very crowded with people clamoring to save a spot for their viewing party. People partaking in Hanami parties are expected to clean up the area completely when finished, taking all waste and garbage with them when finished. Also, many parks have rules regarding barbecuing and do not allow it. It is most common for people to have lunch boxes of prepared food to eat and share.

The blossoms are nearly finished where I live now for this year, having blossomed a bit earlier this year. Last year, I had a special treat when a friend from home, a Shelbyville High School classmate came for a visit at the most perfect time to see all the trees blossoming at their most glorious. Dawn Staker Hartman (photo, right) was treated to quite the display of cherry blossoms around the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. We spent an entire day strolling under the canopies of flowers that can be found in the entire grounds of the old castle compound.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

April 8, 2024 is a very special day.  The solar eclipse will yield totality across central Indiana around 3:06 p.m.  The last time a total solar eclipse happened in this area was estimated to be 800 years ago in the year 1205.  Besides being a wonderous event to observe for thousands of people that will cause great excitement it is hard to conceive what ancient man thought of such an event that at that time was unexplainable.  Have you ever thought how such an event might affect the animal and insect world?   Many birds during totality will try to go to roost.  After totality some varieties may break out into their morning song.  What has happened is the bird’s internal clock has changed quickly.  Some varieties of spiders will take down their webs simply to build them again when the eclipse is over.  Night shift animals like bats may come out only to go back to roost soon after the event is over.  Pets may become uneasy or restless.  Take care that while we understand what is happening the pets do not.  They may follow our pointing and looking up since they just know something different is happening.  In following their owners gestures some researchers believe that pets can get eye damage by looking at the sun which would not normally happen in the everyday life of a pet.    The sound of crickets may trumpet the welcoming of the total eclipse.  Domestic chickens may head to the hen house as the sun disappears and the temperature quickly drops a few degrees.  If you are a fisherman some researchers believe that fish are more likely to bite being fooled that evening is coming.  Flowers themselves like evening primrose may start to close up for night.  Nature is amazing! 

Enjoy the eclipse and while doing so observe the world around you.  It might also be a spectacular observation.

Dear readers,

ABC news reports that according to the latest Gallup world poll, America is no longer in the top 20 of happy countries.

O Fortuna, what has happened to us? How can this be? Somehow people living in Lithuania and the Czech Republic are happier than us. 

I realize Mercury is in retrograde but pineapples at Kroger are selling for only 88 cents. So, how can Americans not be happy? I know what you readers are thinking.

Kris, you silly prankster. You fooled us on April Fools’ Day. We fell hook, line and sinker for your fake story announcing the city was removing The Helbing, but 88-cent pineapples at Kroger, no way!”

All I can say is “Yes way.” Last week I received a coupon in the mail for a discount on Fig Newtons. Just getting such a coupon made me happy.  The week before, all I got was a fake check in the mail. On close inspection the check was just a $200 coupon to apply to the purchase of a Kirby vacuum sweeper. 

Holding the coupon in my hand, I could already taste those Fig Newtons just like one of Pavlov’s dog. I wasted no time in getting to Kroger.  Arriving in the aisle where Fig Newtons were located, I found it to be as bare as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

Others with coupons must have already done their hoarding. There were plenty of those new mod Newton flavors, such as apple, cinnamon, strawberry, raspberry and even braunschweiger, but no fig. If Nabisco had stuck with just making the original Fig Newtons and not wasted their effort on these lesser flavors, there would have been more shelf space for the figs.

I don’t know who beat me to the Fig Newtons. I’d like to think that many local families took this opportunity to introduce their children to the wonders of the fig. It was probably just one of those super coupon shoppers like I see on reality TV.

I imagine when they got to the cash register it rang up three or four hundred dollars’ worth of zuzu snacks. After tabulating the super shopper’s coupons, Kroger probably had to give them change for their dollar bill.

Since I couldn’t buy any Fig Newtons, I ventured over to the real fruit section. I discovered pineapples on sale for only 88 cents. I told myself a fresh pineapple is probably a better snack than a Fig Newton anyway.

I picked up a pineapple and gave it a good once over. It was large and nicely proportioned. I looked closer because I thought there must be a catch. How could a pineapple only cost 88 cents? I’m not sure where pineapples come from, but I would think that shipping would add at least 88 cents.

I do know that years ago when I detasseled corn for a living, I spent quite a few hot days riding around the countryside in an old school bus. I never remember passing by a pineapple farm. However, when I told this story to Uncle Tony, he claimed there might be an Amish pineapple farm over by Milroy.

Cousin Tom later told me “Kris, as Beaver’s older brother Wally would say, Uncle Tony was just giving you the business. There is no pineapple farm near Milroy.”

Anyway, I kind of got off on a tangent. In summary, I can’t figure out how America fell out of the top 20 happy countries. Thomas Jefferson put it in our Declaration of Independence, we have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

Of course, the “pursuit of Happiness” isn’t a guarantee of happiness.  Happiness must be pursued. So, if you find the Fig Newton shelf bare, keep looking. You just might find an 88-cent pineapple. 

 See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Within the world of insects there are simple life forms and very complicated and amazing species. Some of these are beyond understanding and are almost unbelievable.

One such insect is the Diabolical Iron Clad Beetle. This type of beetle is not found in Indiana, but it sure does deserve mention. In fact, the Iron Clad beetle is considered the toughest insects in the world. Why? This species of beetle has its own body armor. It can withstand pressure like no other. The Iron clad Beetle can withstand 39,000 times its weight in pressure. To put it in simple terms, a car can run over the beetle and not crush it. According to research at Purdue University and University of California Irvine, that pressure would be equivalent to a 200-pound man having the pressure of 7.8 million pounds of pressure put on him without crushing him or causing injury. Research in the areas of construction and aeronautics is being done to see what we can learn to make construction materials stronger on earth and in space. What do you think of this species now?   

The Diabolical Iron Clad Beetle is found in Mexico and California and lives under bark on trees and under rocks. It has the ability to play dead to protect itself from being bothered by other animals or insects, although there aren’t any that can penetrate its shell. Even birds cannot peck a hole in its shell. Entomologists must use a drill to make a hole to even pin the insect for display. The lifespan of this amazing survivor is a whopping 8 years.

The key to its strength is the ability its small fibers to hold the body plates together by allowing a stretching action. These small fibers allow the strong body shell to be nearly indestructible. Another amazing feature of this beetle is that it has the ability to “self-heal.” Research in this area is also being conducted.

All this sounds like a paradox to me! Usually, we think of something strong being big or muscular. Researchers may redefine what strength is. Some of the smallest and most fragile things may hold us together to make us strong.

Dear readers,

Happy Easter from Team Schwinn and all of us here at GIANT fm and the Shelby County Post. Team Schwinn will be having our usual easter egg hunt at “The Helbing.” If you see us when driving past, give us a honk. 

It’s been a while since I opened the mail, so let’s see what’s in the mailbag this week.

Several readers are very confused about the eclipse occurring a week from tomorrow. I won’t mention any names because I’ve noticed that some comments on Facebook can be quite cruel. I don’t want readers who write to me for help to be subject to public ridicule.

My wife thinks all the letters I received about the eclipse are just part of an elaborate prank. She says some of the college boys at the Delta Tau Chi house are once again up to their usual brand of hijinks. She might be correct, but I can’t take the chance of ignoring these loyal readers of mine. The letters are full of angst.

All those who wrote letters are having nightmares about the upcoming eclipse. Most are having nightmares about the end of the world. One said that for years they have had a recurring dream about being on the highway and having to go to the bathroom. Just when they think they can’t hold it any longer a Buc-ee’s is spotted on the horizon. Making it into Buc-ee’s famous bathroom, they discover row after row of pay toilets. Just like the toilets in bus stations during the Eisenhower administration.

Anyway, I digress. The readers angst seems to be that they are all confusing “eclipse” with “apocalypse.”

A week from Monday, thousands of people will come to Shelbyville for the “eclipse.” The moon will pass between the earth and the sun. When it does, it will block out the view of the sun. With the sun blocked by the moon, it will be dark just like night. However, for only a little over four minutes, so not long enough for a nap. You might as well get some of those special eclipse glasses and watch it happen.

The “apocalypse” on the other hand is the destruction of the world as described in the biblical book of Revelation. Psychics and astrologers have been predicting the day of the apocalypse for centuries and have never been right. So, I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about it.

If you keep having the nightmare about pay toilets, just put a couple of nickels in the pocket of your pajamas.

 See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Every year, at the beginning of April, a time-honored ritual takes place all over Japan at schools from kindergartens, to elementary schools, to junior high and senior high schools, to universities called “nygakushiki” (entrance ceremony). This momentous event is largely to welcome the new students to the school, as well as their parents who mostly always attend the ceremony.

April is a time of new beginnings in Japan. Graduation occurs at the end of March, so students prepare for their next educational adventure in early April. The month of April also marks the beginning of the fiscal year for government offices and companies, so new recruits and workers also are feted with a welcome or entrance ceremony as they begin their new lives as professional workers.

Department stores and shops display clothing appropriate for the ceremony in huge displays. Little dresses and suits for the new kindergarteners or first grade students are prominently displayed, along with the crisply pressed and sleek junior high school uniforms, and coal-black or deep-navy suits for the university students or company recruits. Even parents get their own displays to make selecting the right clothing for the entrance ceremony easy and convenient (see clothing photos).

In the U.S., it is not customary to have such a formal ceremony in schools or at companies for new students or recruits. An orientation of some kind may be arranged but these are more perfunctory in scope and content, whereas a nyugakushiki is filled with a somberness that is formal and impressive. In the U.S., often is the case where a person shows up to the company and they are merely shown to their work station, maybe given a tour, but no fanfare or celebration except perhaps a welcome party after work hours with the people the person works with directly. But these tend to be more “spur of the moment” get-togethers without the structured formality that is typical of a Japanese-styled welcome party.

For school entrance ceremonies, there tends to be a standard protocol for the actual ceremony:  The new students enter the gymnasium or hall, normally those in attendance sing the national anthem, then each student’s name is called out and each student gives an enthusiastic equivalent of “here” (hai) to acknowledge his/her presence. Then there is usually a speech of encouragement and support by the school principal.

One student is selected to represent the entire new class of students and this student takes a verbal oath on behalf of all the new students entering the school. Often the school’s song is then sung by those in attendance. No doubt, not many people probably know the words so a copy of it is usually included in the program passed out to those entering the gymnasium or hall.

After the ceremony, the students divide up and go to their respective homerooms to meet their new teachers while the parents have a PTA orientation and meeting because the PTA is a very important and even powerful entity, and an obligatory aspect of the Japanese educational system.  Schools often host “open class” days for the parents of students at least once during a term.  The schools normally inform the parents of the classes (when and what they are) beforehand and the parents can then meet with their child’s teachers on these days.

Since I teach at a national education-based university, we are quite enmeshed in school life and we, as faculty members, regularly visit the attached schools in order to observe lessons, critique student teaching practice lessons, meet with teachers, and assist in teacher training activities. 

Thankfully, In Japan, being a teacher is still a very highly-respected profession and teachers are held to very high standards in Japan. I think it is accurate to say that being an educator or teacher is one of the most respected professions in Japan. The title “sensei” carries much clout and respect amongst the community and in society, in general. Even when I run into former students who sat in my classroom over 30 years ago, I am always addressed as “sensei.” So once that student-teacher bond is established in Japan, it lasts forever.

Nearly every student has a photo of himself or herself dressed in their finest clothes, often alongside their parents, standing in front of the school sign or gate for a photo. First-year elementary students often are wearing their “randoseru” (a firm-sided backpack made of stitched leather). This backpack is used until the sixth grade and is often gifted to the child from a grandparent as they embark upon their elementary school life. Grandparents often gift the child’s first study desk and chair at this time, also.

The vintage photo of the school child, Shingo Ono (photo), included in this article shows him at his first-grade entrance ceremony and the straps of his randoseru are visible on his back. Often times boys wear short pants for this ceremony and in 1978 when this photo was taken, apparently leggings were the fashion of the day to help keep the legs warm.

These backpacks are not cheap! Depending upon the quality and luxury of the item, they can run anywhere between $100 to $800, hence why grandparents often like to gift this to the child because it is quite durable and made to last, and is sort of a keepsake gift that is truly a rite of passage. They are used hard for the child’s six years of elementary school life.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Asian Lady Beetle was introduced into the United States by the U.S. department of Agriculture in the latter part of the 20^th Century in hopes that they would be a natural predator for many agricultural pests like aphids and scale insects.  Some were also unintentionally introduced to the United States on ships from Japan.   Intentions were good but it did not work out exactly like planned.  While birds and other natural predators do keep beetle populations under some control the beetles are much more prolific in numbers for the birds to keep up.  Identification of the Asian Lady Beetle is quite easy.  It can be orange to reddish in color and sometimes brown with black spots.  Spots are comparable to the lady bug which is very beneficial in gardens and flower areas except the Asian Lady Beetle has an “M” on the covering on the back of its head.  One reason the Asian Lady Beetle is considered a nuisance or invasive species is because of their congregation in the late summer and Fall of the year on the outside of structures when nights are cool and days are warm.  These insects are drawn to lighter shades of paint or siding.  The beetles then find cracks or crevices like around windows, the bottom of vinyl siding, soffits and roof lines under roofing to creep in and overwinter in your home.  When this happens, the insects are protected and may emerge inside the structure all during the winter season until the outside temperature is to their liking.  There are two forms of self-defense unutilized by these nuisance pests.  One is biting which they can do and the other is emitting a foul odor when handled or disturbed.  If crushed they can leave an odor and yellow stain which is a bid hard to get out.  

Here is the tip.  Outside perimeter treatments during late summer and early fall really does help not only for the beetles but other invasive species making your winter a little less challenging inside the home.  To remove the beetles inside if you are not interested in using chemicals inside your living area a good hand-held vacuum will do the trick but remember to change the bag after using otherwise the beetles can crawl out.  Give us a call to make a plan to protect your home from this nuisance pest.

Dear readers,

I always enjoy the car show at Kennedy Park every summer. Today’s story began last summer as I was admiring Pete McCorkle’s entry in the show, a 1966 Fleetside pickup truck.

I commented on what a shame it was that vehicles would all be electric in a few years. A fellow standing next to me said, “I sure hope not, I just opened my gas station.”

The fellow was Vic Mirza. He along with his business partner, Max Akram, are the new owners of Bonded Oil. 

I almost forgot about that conversation until last week when I stopped at Bonded Oil for gas. Having forgotten to stop by the store for milk, I went inside and discovered that Bonded sells local milk produced at the Flatrock Creamery. I also discovered that Bonded Oil is in good hands.

Locals have been receiving excellent service from Bonded Oil for generations. Old-timers remember when the station was owned by Jerry Martin. Jerry’s famous motto was painted on the sign, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

Old-old-timers will remember that Jerry took over from the original owner Bruce Wright. After Jerry it was Jerry’s son, Bruce Martin, namesake of the original owner, who carried on the tradition of great service.

Bruce Martin, a contemporary of mine, is the owner I knew best. Bruce and his late wife, Mary, had three daughters, Cisma, Kylie, and Kari. 

Perhaps none of their daughters had the calling to take over Bonded. It was a sad day when Bonded Oil closed on Sept. 30, 2014. Coincidentally, that date was the 59^th anniversary of the death of James Dean. Bonded Oil had been in business for 76 years. If James Dean ever drove though Shelbyville, he could have filled his tank at Bonded. 

It looked like Bonded Oil had come to an end like many other Shelbyville gas stations from the past. Totten’s Pure is now Speedway.  Ogden’s Sunoco is now Valero. Vaught’s is Conoco. Mean’s Texico is long gone. Finally, George Arthur’s Pure Station that set the world record for the number of soft drink machines is only a memory.

Vic and Max knew that they were buying more than a piece of real estate when they bought the closed business. Vic treasures a photo of his handshake with the late Jerry Martin memorializing the moment they closed the deal. Transferred along with that piece of real estate was the Tao of Bonded Oil summed up in that famous motto, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

It took Vic and Max a long time and a lot of hard work to build the new building before reopening Bonded Oil this past June. They try to always have the lowest gas prices in town.

They also provide the services that made Bonded Oil popular for generations. Vic and Max will cash your payroll or government check.  If for any reason you want help pumping gas, call 317-699-6189 and someone will come out and pump your gas. 

Local employees include Lexi Farley, Mindy Rivera and Gloria Michaels-Brown, who manages the store. Gloria is the daughter of one of my grade school classmates. She speaks highly of Vic and Max and is proud to be carrying on the tradition of providing excellent service for a new generation of Bonded customers.

Gloria pointed out that in addition to milk from Flatrock Creamery they also carry a selection of cheesecakes from “The Cheesecake Lady.” Other favorites include amazing salads prepared fresh daily along with wraps, cold subs, and Hunt Brothers Pizza.

Free delivery also is available.

Bonded Oil is back thanks to Vic and Max. If only electric cars are made in the next few years, I think Pete McCorkle will still be able to gas up his 1966 Fleetside Chevy pickup truck at there.

Both are a part of Shelbyville’s Americana that hopefully will be around for future generations.

 See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Most spiders that live in structures are harmless and, in most cases, very beneficial in controlling other insect pests. However, in Indiana there are two potentially dangerous spiders. The Brown Recluse and the Black Widow.

Today we will discuss the Brown Recluse spider. Often spiders are misidentified as brown recluse when seen in a structure. Many spiders are confused with the brown recluse including wolf spiders, grass spiders and a variety of others. To have a plan of action in controlling brown recluse spiders, it is necessary to start with a correct identification.

All spiders have 8 legs and two body regions the cephalothorax and abdomen. The following are the key identifiers.

1. Brown Recluse spider body size is about 3/8 of an inch and with legs extended no larger than a quarter.
2. Brown Recluse has 6 eyes in (dyads) or pairs.
3. Brown Recluse has a violin or fiddle shape on the cephalothorax or (head region) of the body.
4. Brown Recluse has uniformly colored legs with no spines.

Brown Recluse spider bites are rare because they are reclusive and live in secluded or cluttered areas and normally search at night for food and mating. About 10% of recluse spider bites can cause moderate or greater tissue damage and scarring. Most just cause inflammation but may make bacterial infection a concern. If bitten, don’t wait too long for medical attention. If your bite is a brown recluse spider bite, it is initially painless but can develop a necrotic lesion or ulcer much like a staph infection along with other symptoms.

The female can lay hundreds of eggs and protects them in a web crib. Brown Recluse Spiders take about 1 year to mature and can live for up to 2-4 years.  Brown Recluse spiders are not aggressive but if disturbed, sat on or laid on, the spider will pack a punch with a bite.

Here is the tip. Don’t mess with them and make your home and property not welcoming.

• Keep debris away form and in the house.
• Declutter because clutter creates an inviting habitat.  
• Trim back weeds and bushes away from the structure.
• Clothing in piles or unused in a while should be shaken out to be safe.

As always, feel free to call to talk about your situation and create a plan to be safe.

Dear readers,

Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo!

What happened to milk? When I was a kid growing up in Shelbyville, Compton’s Dairy delivered milk to our house. Compton’s provided us with a small, insulated metal box that lived on our front porch. The dairyman put the milk in the milk box just like the mailman puts mail in the mailbox. The milk was delicious.

When I started school, milk was served in glass half pint bottles. A little round disk could be removed from the waxed paper lid revealing a small hole for a drinking straw. If you preferred to drink straight from the bottle, the entire lid could be removed. The milk was delicious.

Thanks to farmer Paul Beyer, I learned all about milk before starting school. We had no cows on the Meltzer farm but luckily for me Paul and his wife, Lucy Beyer, lived across the road. Paul was missing his index finger. I always called that finger “the pointer” from the hit song, “Where is Thumbkin.”

Paul told me how he lost his finger. My memory of that story has faded but I think it involved an Allis-Chalmers tractor. 

Anyway, now back to my milk story. Paul had a milk cow and he not only told me all about milk but gave me some “hands on” experience.  Cows have four milk spigots located conveniently on their undercarriage. There is a considerable amount of skill required to operate one of the spigots. It involves grasping the upper part of the spigot by forming a circle with your thumb and index finger. Or in Paul’s case using the thumb and middle finger.

For you readers who have “Where is Thumbkin” playing in your head, that would be “tall man.” Continuing to hold the upper part of the spigot with a firm but gentle grip between those two fingers, the other fingers squeeze. If done correctly, a stream of milk will squirt out of the cow’s milk reservoir. The entire motion must be repeated to get each squirt of milk. 

This memory of great tasting milk from my youth all came about this week because I forgot to stop for milk at the store. I was putting gas in my car at Bonded Oil, when I remembered that I was supposed to stop at the store for milk. When I went inside to pay for my gas, I noticed that Bonded had gallons of milk for sale in the refrigerated display case along with the usual assortment of soft drinks.

The milk was a little more expensive than the Great Value vintage I usually purchase.  However, the extra cost was worth it to me for the convenience of not having to make a separate trip to the store.

Taking a close look at the jug of milk after arriving at home, I discovered it came from a local family-owned farm. Ted and Gina Loggan along with children, Briley and Blaine, sell milk from their cows under the name “Flatrock Creamery.”

The Loggans’ milk is minimally processed. Their milk is pasteurized at a lower temperature to kill any bacteria but retain the vitamins and nutrients. It is not homogenized so the cream rises to the top. A gentle shaking mixes the cream back with the milk.

One taste of the Loggans’ milk and fond memories from my youth came flooding back. Well, mostly fond memories if you don’t count Paul Beyer’s missing finger.

Flatrock Creamery milk has a rich flavor with a creamy taste. It had a top note of grain with a smooth alfalfa finish. I would pair it with Oreo cookies. It tastes like a million bucks but isn’t too pretentious for dunking.

I might have to visit Flatrock Creamery and see if Ted will let me try my hand at milking one of his cows. 

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The human body truly is a remarkable machine that has the ability to heal itself. After being hospitalized for nearly three months from injuries I suffered while on a trip to Amsterdam, I am amazed at how quickly the body repairs itself.

No doubt, I have been aided immensely from all the distant healing and prayers people have showered me with since the accident, and for this I am eternally grateful. Thank you all!

When I first wrote my column about my accident in Amsterdam, many readers reached out to ask about the type of physical therapy I am receiving. I guess the photo I included of the funky looking walker piqued people’s interest as to what type of rehabilitation I am doing.

On Feb. 13, I was transferred from the hospital where I had my knee surgery to repair the torn triceps tendon, to a hospital that has a specialized physical therapy department.  Granted, at 62 years of age, I feel downright young when I enter the therapy room as most of the patients are much older than I am.

To illustrate how rumors get started, on my first day, another American man saw me enter and before he left, he asked his therapist to wheel him over to introduce himself.  As he approached, he sheepishly asked if I spoke English. I replied yes, and asked where he was from and he said he was from Chicago originally and I immediately told him I am from Indiana.

He looked confused, and asked, “You’re not Dutch? I heard you were Dutch.” I explained that I was injured while traveling in Holland, but I am a Hoosier by birth. So, the therapists must have heard Amsterdam at some point and assumed I am Dutch. I am glad we got that all cleared up!

It turns out he is a retired Catholic priest who came to Japan in 1962. I was born in 1961! And here I thought I was one of the “old-timers” in Japan, but he has me beat by decades!  Anyway, it was nice to have a chat with him. He suffered a broken hip and is undergoing physical therapy in order to return to his home here in Fukuoka. Our paths occasionally cross going to or coming from physical therapy.

We are anomalies, for sure, in the rehabilitation room.  When I enter, all the older Japanese patients’ eyes get as big as saucers when they see me … I guess they’re not expecting to see a foreigner undergoing physical therapy. In addition, I don’t wear the traditional hospital pajamas but opted to wear my own “nightshirt” which is quite different from what they are used to seeing. However, they are all quite pleasant and greet me cordially, but they do generally have a look of surprise on their faces when they first see me.

It is amazing to me how the simplest of movements during a session can make the world of difference in the range of motion and flexibility on my injured knee. A first, I had my doubts that the little prods and pokes, and simple squeezing of a rubber ball between my knees would make any identifiable difference, but I am a true believer now.

The therapists are well-trained and work ever so gently, but diligently, in getting tight muscles relaxed and in working the injured area ever so slightly and expertly to offer better mobility and functioning. It is a slow process but the positive results from my twice daily, hour sessions are revealing themselves more and more each day.

I am so impressed also with the kindness and patience the therapists exhibit when working with the patients. As I mentioned earlier, the majority of the patients are in their 80s and 90s, and some with rather severe issues they are trying to remedy, but the therapists are so gentle and considerate in their treatments and in their demeanors which is admirable. It takes a special kind of person who has an abundance of compassion and empathy to do this type of work.

The majority of the therapists are quite young, but very dedicated and knowledgeable in their profession. This is also a teaching hospital, so physical therapy schools send students here for internships as part of their studies. I have had two such students shadowing my primary therapists since coming here.

While some of the PT equipment seems rather rudimentary and antiquated in their design (photo of my foot pushing a wooden board on wheels), they still prove to be amazingly effective. Some of the exercise equipment and tasks they have us do look very homemade, but again, they get the job done, which is what the ultimate goal is.

One complaint I do have, however, is that it seems like hospitals here in Japan do not take into account various body types and sizes. I am five feet, 10 inches, which is not terribly tall because I have students who tower over me anymore. Back in 1979, I did feel quite tall riding trains as few people were as tall as I was, but in the past 40 years that is no longer true. 

I find all the chairs and equipment to be too low to the ground, which is perfectly designed ergonomically for the really elderly here who need that “one size fits all” design for the average Japanese person born in the 1930s and 1940s. But even Japanese body types have changed in the past several decades and I am finding hospitals are too slow to accommodate for this change in the general population regarding body types when updating and acquiring new equipment.  

I suggested that they have at least one chair that sits higher for patients who are taller than 5-2. Right now, they use cushions to add height to my chair and for the other man from Chicago who is much taller than I am even though he is 85 years old. Even wheelchairs are all very narrow in the seat, so we cannot use them comfortably. Again, a hospital this size should have at least one larger sized wheelchair for people who are bigger or taller.

On the positive side, they have recreated an actual Japanese home (with tatami mats and all) in the rehabilitation room to assist people in relearning how to maneuver around furniture, the bath, kitchen, etc. for when they are released and allowed to return home (photo). 

Overall, I am quite pleased with the treatment I am receiving and feel that my daily and steady improvement is proof that the physical therapy regimen I am on is working.

Editor's Note: Professor Leonard was officially released from the hospital Thursday after nearly 10 weeks of treatment.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Dear readers,

I’ve been writing my column for over 30 years. Some of you have been taking a weekly ride on my Schwinn since the beginning. Along the way I picked up some millennial readers a few years ago.

Lately my readership has exploded. I can’t go shopping at Walmart without readers stopping me to chat. Most have ideas for future columns. 

I might not be the greatest columnist in the world, but I have succeeded in spanning the generation gap. My column has brought the generations together. It doesn’t matter if my reader is a member of the Greatest Generation, a Boomer, Millennial, Gen X, Z or Alpha.

They all agree on one thing. I need to move on and quit writing about “The Helbing.”

Message received. Next week, I promise to sharpen one of my No. 2 Ticonderoga pencils and get out into the community and do some old-fashioned reporting. In this final week of The Helbing, I hope to dazzle new readers with some little-known facts. I will also reward a lucky couple with a free wedding. 

The Helbing is made from stainless steel, so it is here to stay. The official name of the sculpture is “Blue River – Wind, Rain and Water.”

I call it The Helbing. I personally like a great many things about the art piece.

What I like most is that the artist, Mike Helbing is one of us. He is from Shelbyville.

Mike has fond memories growing up here. He continued his education at Ball State and Purdue just like many Shelby County students. His parents, Butch and Patricia, lived in Shelbyville most of their lives and always contributed to the good of our community.

His younger brother, Chris, tragically died in an automobile accident while still a student at Shelbyville High School. The location of the accident was just a few miles north of Mike’s sculpture on State Road 9. 

Mike is a Vietnam veteran. He is now a very successful artist. We have a shared history with Mike and can all be proud of him and his accomplishments.

Now look closely at today’s photo. The bride is a local socialite and former debutante Cristi Downing. The groom is local attorney Tyler Earl Brant, who for many years was considered the most eligible bachelor in town. 

Attorney Brant, in his spare time, is a member of Team Schwinn. Earl, as he is known in Kentucky, assisted me in establishing diplomatic relations with Shelbyville, Kentucky. Yes, they also have Shelbyville in Kentucky. Thus, our nickname, Shelby Tucky.

Both cities were named after the first governor of Kentucky, Isaac Shelby. 

I couldn’t talk Earl and Cristi into getting married at The Helbing, but they did agree to having their photo taken there after their reception.  I’m not sure if it was my begging them to do it or the effect of the little bubbles in the champagne. 

I overheard several of the wedding guests guessing what The Helbing was supposed to be. One Kentuckian said it’s obviously a modern art sculpture of a still after the revenuers got through with it. Just look at that bent up condenser coil on the top.

E.A. Bucchianeri famously said, “Art is in the eye of the beholder.” So, you might see a still, a pile of spaghetti or Blue River – Wind, Rain and Water.

You are probably wondering about the free wedding offer. Here is how it works. I will officiate a free wedding for the first couple who make the request. All the couple needs to bring is a valid marriage license. I will officiate the wedding for free.

The only catch is that it must be at The Helbing.

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Raccoons are certainly cute and funny members of the wildlife family, but it is a good idea to take a refresher course on raccoons and the dangers of having them take residence in your home.

After breeding season, normally December through February, females look for places that will offer protection for their young to be born. Birthing can take place 66 days after breeding and can yield an average of 3-4 young during March, April or June. Females will find any small opening and wiggle in to provide a defendable area to raise her young.

In a nutshell it is wise to seal openings so mother coon cannot take up residence. These openings may include soffits, holes in gables or siding or openings in crawlspaces that wildlife can enter. Not only are raccoons destructive to the structure of your home, but they can also cause damage to wiring along with contamination to insulation and other areas of the home from feces left behind. Building out unwanted guests is certainly cheaper than dealing with a nuisance animal pest that decides to live with you.

A raccoon eats a variety of foods which includes fish, frogs, small animals, and even fruits and vegetables. In the city and urban areas, they are very attracted to pet food left out overnight and trash and garbage that is not secured in a container with a secure lid. Be aware that raccoons can enter your home through doggie doors and help themselves to food and make a real mess in the meantime.

Raccoons are not clean animals. There is a misconception that they wash their food before eating but that just is not true. The paws of a raccoon are very sensitive making their sense of touch one of the most important senses. Wetting the paws enhances the raccoons touch making it possible to “feel “what is good and what is not good to eat. Along creeks and rivers, the raccoon uses its unique sense of touch to feel out crayfish or mussels to eat.

Need some advice on how to protect your home and property from nuisance wildlife pests? Feel free to call our office to talk about possibilities on how to be proactive in your approach to unwanted wildlife.

Dear readers,

 Wow, last week’s column created quite a hubbub.

I reported on the new apartments being built behind “The Helbing.” I opined that the units with a view of the sculpture would be in such demand that timeshares might be sold. The mere mention of vacation timeshares hit a nerve with the public. 

The overreaction of readers was similar to the panic that swept the nation when Orson Wells broadcast “War of the Worlds.” For some unknown reason, mere mention of The Helbing brings out the worst in some of our fellow citizens. The thought of vacation timeshares frightened folks into imagining the horrors of gentrification destroying their way of life. 

Before long a crowd began to assemble at The Helbing. It was obvious to me that many in the angry mob hadn’t actually read my entire column. If pitchforks were readily available, I think most would have been carrying one. 

I donned a disguise and surreptitiously infiltrated the gathering. It was time for some old-fashioned news reporting. I was afraid of being recognized if I asked any questions, so I just listened.

There were as many opinions and comments concerning the construction project as there were people present. Some of the conversations segued into other complaints/problems concerning our town Shelbyville. I had the entire event transcribed.  Enjoy!

One thing for sure is that Shelbyville didn’t need that pile of stainless steel. What Shelbyville needs is more places to shop. Maybe Target or Kohl’s.

Nope, Kohl’s will never come to Shelbyville because folks here aren’t paid enough. So we are forced to go to Greenwood to spend our Kohl’s cash. 

If that’s true, I wonder if the mayor could cut a deal with Dollar General and get them to accept Kohl’s cash. EBT is now accepted almost everywhere, I don’t know why Kohl’s cash isn’t.  I don’t know why I can’t spend my Kohl’s cash at gas stations in Shelbyville.

Well, I do, like duh!

Kohl’s cash isn’t cash. It’s just really a coupon for Kohl’s. Asking why it can’t be spent at other stores is like asking Cagney’s to accept a Waffle House coupon.

Did someone mention Waffle House? The problem with this town is we need more public transportation. Folks need a way to get safely out to the Waffle House late at night.

Maybe we just need a Waffle House here in town. It seems like the city can build a Dollar General or Cork Liquor within walking distance.  Why not a Waffle House?

No, No, No, we don’t need a second Waffle House. We need somewhere to eat that we don’t already have. Why should we have to drive to Indianapolis? Why can’t we have Chi-Chi’s here in Shelbyville?

Dude, Chi-Chi’s went belly up years ago. There’s no Chi-Chi’s in Indianapolis or anywhere. 

Wrong, I just Googled it. I got you some good news and some bad news.  First, the good news. There is one Chi-Chi’s that’s still open. The bad news is that it’s in Vienna, Austria.

Wow, that would be a long way to go just to eat at a Chi-Chi’s. It might be worth the trip if there were other places to eat in Vienna. Check and see if they still have a Nickel Nook over there. 

Yea, I loved the Nickel Nook. When Porter Pool closed, we lost the Nickel Nook. Without all the kids at the pool buying hamburgers it just couldn’t stay in business.

No. I think you’re mixed up. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  I think Nickel Nook closed before Porter Pool closed. That’s why the new pool was built across town. I mean, why bother keeping Porter Pool when there was no Nickel Nook? 

It’s kind of sad seeing the old bathhouse still sitting here with the pool long gone. Yea, who needs a bathhouse without a pool?

The city should replace it with a new Dollar General so the folks living in the new apartments have somewhere to shop. 

Yes, a Dollar General would make this neighborhood perfect. I would move in even if I had to look at The Helbing. 

 See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Again, I want to thank those of you who took the time to send me your well-wishes. I appreciate your concern and kindness immensely.

Interestingly, the majority of people who responded to my last column were most interested in the photo of the hospital food I included. As expected, with most readers from the landlocked Midwest who read this column, they were surprised by the prevalence of seafood on the tray and the small-sized portions.

Many people commented that I must be losing weight, which I actually am. This is a side-perk of the accident, I guess, because no doubt I really did need to slim down, especially now with an injured knee, so that has been a nice benefit or bonus of being cooped up in the hospital for seven weeks now.

However, I do not recommend getting injured and spending weeks in the hospital to do it!

So, as of the writing of this column I have lost 10 kilos (22 pounds) which comes out to about 3.5 pounds a week, which is probably more than a weight-nutritionist would recommend and includes muscle, but it isn’t only because I don’t like eating seafood!

On Feb. 13, I was transferred to a different hospital which specializes in physical therapy and rehabilitation, so I am up and moving around more, which is good. At the first hospital I stayed in, fish and seafood were primarily what they served, sometimes three times a day. I did supplement my diet with an occasional sandwich from the hospital convenience store, so I wasn’t starving or being malnourished by any means.

I am attributing the bulk of my weight loss to “portion control” which is something that most Americans have difficulty in adhering to due to how we were raised and how huge portions have become today in restaurants. 

I grew up in a household where the “clean plate club” was not only expected but enforced. After all, there were kids starving in other parts of the world and you shouldn’t waste food. In addition, my parents both grew up during the Depression and they were especially aware and cognizant of food waste and avoided it at all costs.

Believe it or not, I was a scrawny, skinny kid with knock-knees on spindly legs. I can remember being praised for eating everything on my plate when I was little after dinner because I was such a picky eater. Then, when I got to junior high school, I had to wear the dreaded “huskies” brand of clothing for more Rubenesque boys.

However, in high school, I slimmed down again and was a normal size, but then as a freshman in college, I got the “freshman 15” which has stayed with me and expanded over the years. I did slim down again in Japan, at one point, but I have always had a battle with my weight and as I aged, it became less of a vanity issue and one that I just accepted as being the “way it is.”  

Now, of course at 62 years of age, I can’t blame my eating habits as an adult on my parents, but there is a certain mindset or conditioning that occurred from childhood that has carried through to my adulthood. Thankfully, in Japan, generally food portions are much more reasonable and rarely does one need a takeout box after a meal to carry home because the portions are so huge. In fact, when I visit the U.S., that is one culture shock that I regularly experience — the huge portions of food one is given in restaurants.

Often an appetizer or salad would be sufficient, but most people order a main course dish which is a lot of food, and it is then carried home and put in the refrigerator.

I distinctly remember being at an airport on my way home in the U.S. after living in Japan for a number of years and ordering a drink. The worker at the counter asked what size, and I just naturally said “large, please.” I watched the worker pull out a cup so big that it took two hands to hold it, and I screamed out, “small, please.” At this particular fast-food restaurant, the small-sized drink was literally the size of a Japanese “large-sized” drink.

Another memory I have to illustrate how American food portions have changed was when I was shopping at an antique mall, and I found some interesting antique plates. I asked the owner if he had the same plates in “dinner-sized” ones instead of just the salad plates, and he responded, “those are the dinner plates … they were that much smaller a hundred years ago.”

So, again, we Americans have slowly been conditioned to view plate settings differently over the past decades as the sizes have slowly increased in width.

Enough about my relationship over the years with food and back to the topic at hand!

The first hospital I was admitted to must have had the meals brought in off-site and not prepared in the actual hospital, because there was no way to request or change what was served. There were no options. One Shelby County Post reader asked me if I received a daily menu sheet to select what food I wanted to eat. If only!

I know that in the U.S., some nursing homes and hospitals will sometimes have daily options that a patient can select from each day, but in Japan, you get what you get or “you’ll get nothing and like it!”

Thankfully, I do love Japanese rice, but three times a day for seven-plus weeks, it gets a bit monotonous, so I did switch to bread for breakfast, which was the one option they had.  That helped, but two slices of white bread with no jam or spread got pretty old, too.

My current hospital is very different. While I can’t pick and choose items from a menu, I did meet with a nutritionist who plans the meals which are cooked in-house and they did take into consideration the fact that I do not eat fish or seafood, so they have been very good at trying to accommodate my tastes with non-pescatarian options.

I am happy with beans and tofu as a source of protein, so it has been more enjoyable eating at this hospital because I generally will eat what is served. Occasionally, something comes that looks so unappetizing I just can’t eat it, but they are trying very hard to make sure I am liking what I am served.

They were serving me 280 grams of rice at each meal, and I asked them to cut that in half and now I get 140 grams which is perfect. I sometimes still can’t eat it three times a day, though, as that is still a bit much.

Needless to say, I have adjusted to the hospital portions and I have every intention of trying my best to continue this trend after I am released. I will have to teach myself that it is OK to leave food on my plate rather than trying to eat every bite due to my long-held beliefs and conditioning.

While I don’t really have a sweet tooth, thankfully, I do like a good afternoon tea with all the fixings, which I will have to cut back on, but that is a small price to pay for being healthier and more committed to keeping the eliminated weight off.

I had several questions regarding the physical therapy I am receiving so that topic will have to wait until next time.

Again, thank you all for reaching out.If you have any additional questions, feel free to drop me a line at toddjayleonard@yahoo.com.

Photos: Breakfast serving (main photo), lunch serving and dinner serving

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The title sounds almost scary, but truly it is not. 2024 is a special year in the realm of entomology. It is the year that two broods of cicadas emerge at the same time. The last time this happened in our area was in 1802 when Thomas Jefferson was President approximately 221 years ago.

No, this does not mean that cicadas are taking over the world. But there will be more cicadas visible at the same time, especially in Indiana and Illinois where these two broods overlap. The two Broods are Brood XIX, the Great Southern Brood, which emerges every 13 years and Brood XIII, the Northern Illinois Brood, which emerges every 17 years. During the great convergence of these two species of cicadas there will be literally millions of these guys all over trees, bushes, sidewalks and streets coming out to greet mates. The next time this event will happen will be in 2245.

Cicadas spend most of their lives in the soil just waiting to emerge. There is nothing really dangerous or damaging about these cicadas. You may see lots of cicada shell casings attached to trees, bushes, and buildings. The males are the only one of the species that even makes a noise, but when he does, he wants all the females to know that he is in the mood for courtship. In fact, a male can create a song reaching 100 decibels which is equitant to a lawnmower or sound of a subway train. 

Many think cicadas are locusts, and the terms are often used interchangeably. But our periodical cicadas here are NOT really locusts. A locust is a different insect that is closely related to the grasshopper. In Africa and other parts of the world, the locust can decimate crops and vegetation by Biblical proportions anything that is in their swath of movement. 

Here is the takeaway about the 2024 Cicada Event.

1. Emergence happens when the soil temperature reaches about 60-65 degrees. (This is normally sometime in June or maybe July.)
2. There will be temporary noise pollution for some and/or a wonderful sound of nature for others.
3. Emergence will provide a protein rich food supply for many predators including birds which will then increase in population.
4. Dead cicadas will provide nitrogen rich products which benefits our ecosystem.
5. There will be a bunch of Cicadas. 

Enjoy this wonder of nature.

Dear readers,

My stack of unopened mail gets bigger every week. I can’t print all your letters, but if you mention “The Helbing” it does increase your chances.

Let’s get started. Today’s letter isn’t going to open itself.

Dear Kris,

The Helbing was glistening in the sun as my wife and I exited the Blue Agave Mexican restaurant last week. As I looked at the sculpture, I suddenly perceived the essential meaning held within the twisted stainless steel. In that moment, I gained an appreciation for that magnificent sculpture. I finally saw the clouds and rain appear within the twisted metal.    

I tried to get my wife to see it too. After a few minutes standing there in the parking lot, she said, “OK, I see it.”

I could tell that she really didn’t see it yet. It reminded me of those three dimensional pictures that were included in the funny papers years ago.  After staring at the page, it was unbelievable how the picture really looked three dimensional. Unfortunately, just like George Costanza, my wife could never see those either.    

I wanted to help her see the clouds and rain in the sculpture. I tried pointing to parts of the sculpture, but she just got mad. She finally admitted that she hadn’t seen it. She said she had claimed to have seen it just to shut me up, so that we could go home. Finally, she took the keys and insisted on driving. She claimed that I was imagining the clouds and rain in the sculpture because I had drunk too many margaritas. 

I tried to explain to her that Mike Helbing sculpted wind, rain, and water into stainless steel. The official name of the artwork is “Blue River-Wind, Rain, and Water.”

She said that just means Mike Helbing drank too many margaritas too. 

On the ride home, I decided it was time to change the subject. I commented on the progress made on the apartments being built behind the old Porter Pool. My wife suggested that maybe I should investigate putting down a deposit on one with a view of The Helbing.

She said maybe I would be happier living where I could gaze out at all the imaginary things in The Helbing whenever I wanted.

Kris, since you are the resident expert on all things Helbing, I have some questions.  Do you know how much rent will be charged for the apartments with a view of The Helbing?  I’m sure they will cost more than the apartments with only a view of the Cork Liquors store.

Please withhold my name. As my wife put it, “Everyone who spotted you gazing at The Helbing already thinks you’re an idiot. Don’t write a letter to Meltzer’s column and remove all doubt.” 

Dear name withheld by request,

What you experienced was a Helbing epiphany. Congratulations!

Many who began hating The Helbing see it one day in a different light and come to appreciate its artistic value. So, there is still hope for your wife. Here are a few fun facts about The Helbing.

1. The Helbing weighs as much as 2,917 Schwinn Stingray bicycles.
2. If the twisted stainless steel of The Helbing were straightened out, it would span the distance from my boyhood home to Morrison Park and back again.
3. In his youth, artist Mike Helbing, creator of The Helbing, was once suspended from St. Joe for three days by Sister Angeleta. The suspension was a punishment for knowing the correct answer. 

I happened to see Mayor Scott Furgeson at a recent charity event, so I asked him about the cost of renting one of the new apartments. Mayor Furgeson said, “Kris, I haven’t been told yet, but I would think apartments with a view of The Helbing would be twice as expensive.” 

I’m even more optimistic than the mayor. With the increased popularity of our famous sculpture, I don’t think the builder will rent the units with a view as apartments.

I think if you want to wake up with a view of The Helbing you will have to invest in a timeshare!

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

It is common when an insect problem is discovered to run to the store and grab a “bug bomb.” Let us think about this and evaluate whether this is a good idea or not. There are some things that should be considered before spending money on a fogger. Take a cockroach problem for example.

1. Will a fogger really solve my problem? In the case of cockroaches, a fogger may work against you instead of working to accomplish your goal. Consider this fact. Cockroaches are Cryptic in nature meaning that they hide upwards to 90% of their time in cracks and crevices. They like tight dark places where they feel safe. With that being said, these areas are where the insecticide should be. When a bug bomb is released, the insecticide goes from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration. This process is called diffusion. In doing this the insecticide spews out and covers everything around the release point but does not enter into cracks and crevices. This is due to atmospheric pressure which is higher outside than inside causing a small breeze to come OUT of a crack instead of inside air with the insecticide being forced into a crack or crevice.
2. Perhaps a better strategy is to be more surgical in treatments including the use of baits and crack and crevice treatments. If the goal is to get the roaches out of their hiding places, a flushing agent can be used to cause the roach to be forced out of cracks and crevices. These types of treatments are safer and less likely to contaminate large, not targeted areas with pesticides where pets and humans may come in contact.

I admit foggers can be beneficial in other cases, but they are not as effective as one might believe for a cockroach problem. This is not magic, but science. Once we understand how things work, we can be more effective in getting the result we are shooting for. 

Cockroaches have been around for centuries, perhaps thousands of years. They survived the ice age, can build resistance to chemicals, and adapt to changes of the environment.

Don’t let them get the upper hand in your home or property. A good solution is to get involved with a good pest control program to protect what is most important to you - your home and family. Give us a call to discuss options if you need help. 

Knowledge is power!

Dear readers,

While looking for something in my desk drawer this week, I found an unopened package of pencils. They weren’t my usual No. 2 Ticonderoga pencils. These pencils had been custom ordered by me 25 years ago.

Neat gold lettering on each pencil said, “Schwinning into the Millennium.”

It was a commonly held belief that all computers would crash at that Y2K moment in time. I had planned on giving out the pencils as a public service. People would need an alternative way to communicate as we entered a dystopian future. As it turned out, the computers didn’t crash.  Like our arsenal of atomic bombs at rest on the top of rockets, my pencils weren’t needed. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

It seems hard to believe that 25 years have passed since I was planning on entering the new millennium. The years I spent in grade school lasted a lot longer. Childhood years are similar to dog years. The six years spent in grade school pass at the same rate as approximately 42 years in adult time.

A phenomenon that explains why friendships made in childhood remain closer than those made as adults. I believe that I remain closer to my childhood friends even if we haven’t socialized in 50 years. 

Today’s story about the lost $10 bill is from 1965. It might not be exactly 1965. I’m guessing the year by gazing at today’s photo. Look closely at the photo. The tallest boy in the middle is Larry Robertson. Left to right in front of Larry is Mark Jessup, Mike Jessup, and me. The Jessups were our next-door neighbors. Everyone in the photo is still among the living except for Mike. He died this past Nov. 8. 

The Jessups were great next-door neighbors. Mike and Mark’s parents, Stewart and Mary, didn’t mind other kids being over at their house and I spent many hours there.

Stewart worked for the City of Shelbyville. In the summer, he oversaw Sunset Park. We lived closer to Morrison Park, but on most summer days we would all ride our bicycles over to Sunset Park. Mike and Mark would take lunch to their dad. We would stay and play at the park.

In those days there were little grocery stores in every neighborhood in town. Strickler’s was the store in our neighborhood. One evening Mike’s parents gave him a $10 bill and sent him to Strickler’s to pick up a few items. Somewhere between home and the store Mike lost the $10 bill.

Mike rounded up several of us kids to help him look, but we had no luck. After sunset, several adults, flashlights in hand, made a final search for the lost money. My dad, Philip, was one of the adults. Everyone didn’t have a flashlight and Mike was partnered with my dad for one last walk to Strickler’s.

Soon Mike and my dad returned with good news. My dad had found the lost $10 bill. I wasn’t surprised that my dad had found the money.  Philip was always good at spotting mushrooms and Indian arrowheads on the farm.

That is how the $10 bill story ended for the next 55 years. Then my dad died on Aug. 8, 2020. Mike Jessup and I did not stay in touch over the years. A few days after my dad died, I happened to be in the checkout line behind Mike at Kroger. If you shop at Kroger, then you know that we had plenty of time to catch up.

Mike told me that he had fond memories of my dad. He said that he never forgot how my dad gave him a $10 bill that night to replace the one that he had lost. My dad told Mike that he didn’t want him to get in any trouble for losing the money. 

Somewhere in my mind I heard Paul Harvey say, “Now you know the rest of the story.”

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who reached out with well wishes after my last column regarding my accident in Amsterdam. Thank you all so much, and rest assured, I am healing more and more each day.

Along with everyone’s well wishes, I received quite a few questions related to Japanese hospitals, my particular stay, and how long I think I will be in the hospital. So, in this column I am going to try to answer as many of those questions as I can.

So many of you have expressed surprise at how long I am staying in the hospital. Americans are especially amazed at how long I am being kept in the hospital. I arrived back to Japan on Jan. 8 and I was immediately admitted into the hospital; my surgery was scheduled for Jan. 19 , then rehab for two weeks post-surgery minimum, in hospital.

It seems that the 19^th was the earliest it could be done due to a crowded operating room schedule. Alas, pre-surgery, I was limited in my mobility due to the torn triceps tendon, as a result, even though I followed the doctor’s instructions about moving my legs and toes as much as I could, I developed two blood clots in my legs which traveled through my heart and landed in my lungs. So, this little setback means I must stay in the hospital at least a week longer than anticipated, to try to dissolve these.

So, for over ten days I was in a holding pattern while I awaited my surgery. People were astounded that I wasn’t sent home to await the surgery. This is typical in Japan, and in fact, it is not uncommon for people to spend a month or more in hospital when having a serious condition or surgery that needs treatment. I like that the Japanese healthcare system doesn’t shoo people out as quickly as they can and they allow patients to recover properly under direct supervision of the hospital staff.

Upon admission, I was given a choice of a shared room with four people, or a private room. The cost difference per day was around $20 more for a private room, which has to be out of pocket, but because I not only have travel insurance, but also a supplementary policy, this will be covered so I opted for a private room. In the U.S. the cost difference is so great that without good insurance a private room would be too expensive to have.

One reader was very interested to know what a typical day entails for me in a Japanese hospital. A patient’s usual day is quite regimented. Things tend to happen like clockwork.  For example, at 7 a.m., a woman comes to serve green tea or water; at 7:15, a nurse’s aide comes in with a hot towel so I can wipe my face. It’s a thick, disposable paper towel called an oshibori. It is refreshing upon waking up first thing and being able to wipe one’s face with a hot towel.

At 7:45, a nurse comes with my morning medication to be taken after breakfast. Promptly at 8 a.m., breakfast is served.  It usually consists of some sort of grilled fish, white rice, and miso soup. Sometimes, a slice of fruit is also on the tray or a gelatin cup. I am not a fish eater, so that is a bit of a problem as most meals have some sort of fish component.

Between 8:20 and 8:30, the breakfast tray is picked up. If you aren’t finished eating, they will allow you more time to finish. Around 9 a.m., a nurse comes to take my vitals (blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels). At 10 a.m., a cleaning lady comes through to empty the trash, dry mop then wet mop the floor and just make sure the room is generally clean.

At 11 a.m., the woman comes around with more tea or water in preparation for lunch which is served at noon.  Again, between 12:20-12:30, the tray is picked up. Around 1 p.m., a nurse comes in to take my vitals again, then around 3 p.m. I have rehab. It started out at about 15 minutes, but as I heal the time has increased to about 40 minutes. I still have to use a leg splint for several more weeks, and that means I must use a Japanese walker (see photo). It looks funky, but it works really well and is very sturdy and stable.

Visiting hours are from 2-4 p.m., with a maximum of three people allowed to visit and for only 30 minutes each. Visitors can only be immediate family and they must adhere to all Covid protocols, like getting their temperature taken, filling out a form, and wearing a surgical mask.

A student brought me papers to grade and they almost didn’t let her in because she isn’t “family.” I bargained with them to let her come for 15 minutes to hand over the papers to me, and they did allow her to give them to me.  But normally the rules are strictly enforced with no exceptions.

At about 5 p.m., the woman comes around with the evening water or tea and dinner is served at 6 p.m. Evening meds are delivered about 6:30 p.m., and vitals are taken again at about 8 p.m.

A boy comes around about 8:30 to disinfect the bed table by wiping it down thoroughly. A tenth Covid wave is threatening to rear its ugly head, so many Covid precautions are still in effect. The hospital WIFI is shut down at 9 p.m., so I have gotten into the habit of going to bed just after the WIFI signal goes dark.

The first week was so uncomfortable as I was still suffering from severe jet lag. My body clock is now on Japan-time, so my sleeping pattern is more regular. That is my typical day in a nutshell.

For two days post-surgery, I was forced to use a bedpan, which is a humiliating and humbling experience. I know it’s a normal bodily function and I realize that the nursing staff are all professionals and things like that likely do not bother them in the least, but for me, the idea of being assisted with one’s most intimate daily elimination duties left me demoralized. Besides, I have shirts older than most of the nurses on staff, so I felt odd having to be cleaned up and sponge-bathed by such young women.

Thankfully, I graduated to being able to go to my room toilet with assistance to now finally being able to do it all on my own.  It’s the small victories for sure! 

It is amazing how much you take for granted in your daily life until you can’t do something, and how helpless you feel when you are dependent on all those around you. For example, Tuesday is shower day, and a hot shower never felt so good.  It’s the little things, truly.

Again, the entire nursing staff has been fabulous so any hangups are purely my own. Nobody at any time has made me feel strange or uncomfortable by their behavior or actions, it was all me feeling inadequate, embarrassed, and vulnerable during these instances.

By all means, if you have any more questions regarding my Japanese hospital experience, please feel free to drop me a line at toddjayleonard@yahoo.com.

No doubt at least a couple more future columns will include my hospital and rehab stints here in Japan.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The month of February is considered the month of love, and rightly so with Valentine's Day celebrating togetherness and bonding relationships.

What about animals? Do they celebrate romance? Well, not really, but many nuisance animals do find themselves in mating season during the month of love. And while humans search for that mate to spend a lifetime with, there are some animals that just do not see it that way. Two examples of nuisance animals that are not committed to one another are the raccoon and the skunk. Both species are “polygynous” meaning that they mate with multiple partners and never form permanent bonds with their partners. These males also have nothing to do with raising the young.

Mating season for raccoons in Indiana is late January into early February. Birthing starts in April and goes into May. Why is this information important? During the mating season females are looking for a safe place that they can give birth and raise their young. The lesson here is to not make your home attractive to a mother coon. Button up soffits, holes in foundations and areas where there is good cover for the raccoon to have babies. Think of it this way, if a raccoon has young, there will likely be 1 to 9 babies so along with mom this is multiplying your problem. It is best to not let it happen by not providing a harborage for them or a ready meal of pet food left for your household pets outside the home.

Skunks mate in late February into early March. The females give birth to 4 to 7 young born usually in May. Males have nothing to do with the family after mating.  Again, don’t make your home inviting to skunks unless you want to take a chance of your pets tangling with skunks living under or around your home or you experiencing that unusual ‘fragrance’ lingering around your home. Seal foundation openings and do not leave pet food out overnight since both the raccoon and skunk are opportunists eating a variety of foods including pet food, human food scraps, insects and garbage. 

Nuisance wildlife can cause damage to your home, compromise the safety of your pets and disturb your peace of mind. Be proactive and do not procrastinate when preparing for unwanted animal pests. If you have questions feel free to give us a call for a free evaluation.

Dear readers,

Welcome to the official Team Schwinn Super Bowl party. It looks like the entire team along with several guests have already arrived. The team’s official stenographer, Kim Medsker, will transcribe for those of you who couldn’t be here in person. Enjoy!

Kris: I can see that Kim has her steno pad and a sharp No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil at the ready. Let’s take a lap around the room.

It looks like Susie Veerkamp, Susan Weaver, and Kathrine Glass are having a Southwestern Class of 1973 reunion over by the punch bowl.  Kathrine, I’m surprised to see you. I thought you were boycotting the Super Bowl this year.

Kathrine: I was planning on boycotting because the Budweiser Clydesdales weren’t invited last year. However, the Clydesdales are back this year and so am I. Susie, are you responsible for all these tasty hors d'oeuvres?

Susie: Not all of them. I don’t know who brought the Spam carved in the shape of a football.

Kris: I carved the football Spam myself. 

Kathrine: Susan Weaver, is that Kansas City red you are wearing?

Susan: Yes, I’m picking the Chiefs to win.

Kathrine: Susan, I think that outfit qualifies you as a “football fashionista.”  Have you always been a Chiefs fan?

Susan: No, I’m officially a “cheese head.” When I first met Al in 2014, he took me to a Green Bay Packers game. If the Packers aren’t playing, I always pick one of the teams to win. It makes the game more exciting to watch. Like Vince Lombardi famously said, “If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do we keep score.”

Kathrine: Look, I think Stephanie Rick just arrived.

Kris: She along with Fred Dickman and Kevin Zerr seems to be admiring the little football I carved from a chunk of Spam.

Stephanie: I can’t believe you rounded up some Mechanic Street kids from the 1960s. You know Fred, Kevin and I all lived on Mechanic Street in our youth. We were just making bets on who would be the first guest to sample the Spam football.

Fred: I’m not sure about the Spam football. You might have to cut it up and hide it in a casserole. As far as today’s game goes, I think it’s too close to call. I’m hoping San Francisco wins. My favorite halftime performer of all time was Prince. 

Kevin: I think Fred is right about the Spam football. No one seems interested in it. I see that Rick Gray and Jeff Gibson have joined the party. We can plan our next Shelbyville class of ‘73 reunion. 

Stephanie: Kevin, as a former football star from the class of ‘73, who is your pick for today’s game?

Kevin: My favorite global pop star is Taylor Swift. So, I am cheering for her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s team the Chiefs. I’ll keep a close eye on the game just hoping to get a glimpse of Taylor Swift in the crowd.

Rick: I remember watching the first Super Bowl in 1967 with my dad.  The Kansas City Chiefs were playing the Green Bay Packers. Max McGee caught two touchdown passes from Bart Starr to ensure the win for the Packers. Max McGee would later be known for being one of the cofounders of the restaurant Chi Chi’s.     

Rich Adams: I don’t know if he ever started a restaurant, but Bob Zimny, former teacher and coach at Shelbyville, played professional football. Zimny was a member of the Chicago Cardinals when they won the NFL championship in 1947. 

Kris: Rich be sure to give me your phone number before you leave today. I’ll want you to be my lifeline if I ever get invited to a trivia contest at Capone’s. 

Jeff: Kevin, I would never have picked you for being a member of the  Swifties. At one of the early Super Bowls, the halftime entertainment was the “Up With People” singers. I think they performed here in Shelbyville when we were in high school.   

Kris: Three Dog Night performed at the Bears of Blue River Festival.  Well, if it isn’t Rob Robertson. Rob, you were always the resident sports expert for the kids growing up near Morrison Park in the 1960s. What do you think about today’s game?

Rob: This year I’m picking Frisco to win. My favorite game was Super Bowl XLI. The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17. 

Kris: Cousin Tom, I can’t believe you are arriving so late to the party.  Did you have car trouble?

Cousin Tom: No, I just heard that the Budweiser Clydesdales were going to be back this year. I had to take a TV out to the barn so that my horse Clementine could watch. 

Kris: Is your donkey Cletus also a Clydesdale fan?

Cousin Tom: No, Cletus is a Taylor Swift fan.

Kim:  Kris, my pencil is getting dull, can we wrap this up?

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

One of the most resilient insects in the world is the cockroach. Why would that be? What makes them such survivors? The purpose of this article is to investigate an insect with the amazing ability to survive. 

According to Pest Control Magazine:

1. A cockroach has the ability to run faster than many other insects. Its speed tops out at about 3 miles per hour just like a human being taking a walk, but that speed compared to its size certainly gives it a real edge on escaping predators. 
2. Its adaptability is superior. A cockroach can adapt to its environment like no other insect. If food is scarce, they can survive with little or no food for a much longer time than humans and most other animals. Dehydration is an insect’s enemy, however. Without water, cockroaches will not survive long but remember cockroaches and other insects may be able to survive without standing water if they are in a high-humidity environment.
3. Low temperatures will not kill a cockroach unless it comes along very quickly because the cockroach, along with other insects, can build up a type of antifreeze in its body as seasons change from hot to cool to cold which allows them to just survive as they wait for warmer temperatures. Remember the cockroach survived the Ice Age!
4. A cockroach can even live without its head. Even with the loss of a head, the circulatory system allows for a clot to form so it will not bleed out. Since roaches have multiple “brains” along the nerve cord, this allows them to continue to move and run. The catch is if there is no head, eventually a cockroach will die because it cannot process food or water.
5. Cockroaches can literally hold their breath for 40 minutes which allows them to survive in sewers and drains.
6. Cockroaches will eat about anything. They are not picky!

If you find yourself in a situation where cockroaches are getting ahead of you, give us a call to discuss your questions concerning your cockroach issue.