The Darke County Parks District would like to thank the Darke County Endowment for the Arts for generously awarding them a grant for the stage entertainment for this year’s Prairie Days Festival. The groups performing at the festival will include Berachah Valley Band, a bluegrass, Americana, and country group known for their strong female harmonies; Silver Grass Band who have strong roots in bluegrass and folk music; The Thien Snipps, a classic country string group; and others. Music and storytelling are very important and will make history come alive. The performances may even introduce attendees to new and exciting musical instruments like the dobro and dulcimer. Thank you again to the Darke County Endowment for the Arts for making this year’s Prairie Days performance’s possible.

Photo Caption: The Thien Snipps playing at the 2014 festival to the delight of all listening. 

The Darke County Parks District would like to thank the Rotary Club of Greenville for generously awarding them a grant to upgrade their turtle and snake enclosures in order to provide a healthier environment for their animal ambassadors. The grant funds purchased specialized ambient heat lamps and a year supply of bulbs for those lamps as well as a scale to help monitor the animals’ weight. Because reptiles are not able to regulate their own body temperature, they have to rely on external sources for their heat. The new lamps not only provide the heat that these turtles need but will also provide vitamins A and D which helps them to avoid illness and disease. These healthy animal ambassadors will inspire the stewards of tomorrow to study, appreciate, and protect these fascinating features of the ecosystem. 

Did you know? Because caretakers are not able to duplicate hibernation conditions in captivity, the enclosures must maintain a summer-like environment all year long, somewhere between 85-88 degrees.