Jeff Burgess

Feral hogs cost the state millions of dollars in damages every year and their populations continue to swell.

Quilting instruction and projects are available at Alread EHC. For details call 745-2304.

Alread Independence Day Celebration involvement is one item on the agenda, at EHC’s meeting, Thursday, 1:30 p.m., in their building near Rupert. The community is always invited to attend.

This snapping turtle almost made it across the road before being run over. Turtle migrations are in progress.

Ten years. Five hundred ducks. One mayor in the water. The Friends of the Van Buren County Public Library's Rubber Ducky Derby just keeps getting better.

On Sunday, the second Full Moon in May – called a Blue Moon – is official at 3:45 a.m. It's also near its furthest from earth making it the year's smallest Micromoon, so appearing less bright and smaller than usual.

Avid gardeners have most of their summer choices in the ground by now, with early planters already reporting the first blush of color on tomatoes and zucchini long enough to use as a weapon. Spring arrived a bit dry, but that has turned around nicely, and increasing lushness is visible everywhere.

Poll worker Susan Heaney directs voter Burtie Harder to the tabulator at last week’s special election in Alread.

Big Poppa Bubble honors the library’s dinosaur themed summer program with a creation of his own.

Free pressure canner dial testing is being offered by the VBC Extension Service. For details, or other food preservation questions, call 745-7117.