2021-2022 School Year
This year’s TIC was one of changed teachers and classrooms and an addition of a new classroom. The following were the changes that occurred:
We also had the addition of a new TIC at the Pinkston Middle School in Mt. Home. Fred Penka’s Science Class is the new Classroom. Steve Targett’s Art Class at the Pinkston Middle School was one of our first TIC’s. After a hiatus of several years it is good to have TIC at the Middle School again.
Next year will see a transition of TIC volunteers from Sara Thorne and Tom Emerick to Jon Streu, Susan and Steve Parsons and Patty Leuken. Best of luck to the new volunteers and continued success of our TIC Program. Thanks to the Chapter for supporting this valuable National TU Program.
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This year’s TIC was one of changed teachers and classrooms and an addition of a new classroom. The following were the changes that occurred:
- Colt Emery’s Calico Rock 5th grade Science TIC was moved to Melva Brannon’s Calico Rock 8th and 9th Grade Science Class. This is Melva’s second stint as a TIC teacher.
- Chris Turner took over the TIC at the Guy Berry Alternative Education School. He replaces Kyle Tardiff as the science teacher in that position.
- Kyle Tardiff replaced Tom Etheridge as the TIC teacher at the Mt. Home High School Science Class.
- Clark Gustin took over The Yellville High School TIC from Katherine Quinn’s Alternative Class. Clark is a High School Science Teacher and Football and Track Coach.
- Kerry Kanastar’s Hackler Elementary 5th Grade Science class started a TIC with equipment left over from the Cotter Elementary School TIC under teacher Lauren Stack.
We also had the addition of a new TIC at the Pinkston Middle School in Mt. Home. Fred Penka’s Science Class is the new Classroom. Steve Targett’s Art Class at the Pinkston Middle School was one of our first TIC’s. After a hiatus of several years it is good to have TIC at the Middle School again.
Next year will see a transition of TIC volunteers from Sara Thorne and Tom Emerick to Jon Streu, Susan and Steve Parsons and Patty Leuken. Best of luck to the new volunteers and continued success of our TIC Program. Thanks to the Chapter for supporting this valuable National TU Program.
MORE STORY BELOW PHOTOS...
We have TIC schools in Baxter, Marion and Stone Counties and in the School Districts of Yellville, Flippin, Mt. Home, Norfork and Calico Rock. We have nine TIC’s that need to be supplied with filters, water treatment chemicals, replacement pumps, chillers, filters and other equipment necessary for their function. This year we started up a new TIC and replaced two pumps and two filters. Most likely we will need to increase our TIC budget to accommodate the new TIC and to replace equipment whose lifetime is nearing expiration.
In early September nine Whitlock Vibert Boxes were each loaded with 135-150 Rainbow Trout Eggs to be delivered to the classes. The Norfork National Fish Hatchery under Jon Casey’s management has been a generous participant in our TIC Program. The Hatchery provides the eggs, ice for egg transport, trout food and man power when necessary. Their Trout Biologist, Trey Anderson, also provides valuable information regarding water quality and trout diseases.
Our TIC’s experienced normal losses due to poor egg fertilization, pin head condition, two head condition and cannibalism. In addition we had some losses related to power failure and some athletic trout jumping out of the tanks. Despite these losses all the classes were able to release their trout into their designated receiving streams. Kerry Kanastar’s Class nurtured the most fingerlings for release with ninety-six gaining their freedom in the Big Spring in Cotter. Melva Brannon’s Class released this year’s largest trout to Dry Run Creek. Some of her TIC fish were seven inches long. Melva’s TIC lost some fish due to water quality issues related to a power failure. The thirty survivors displayed excellent growth rate in their less crowded tank.
The following Classes released their trout to Big Spring in Cotter:
The fishing on DRC was possible due to the efforts of the following TU volunteers:
Bob and Tina Hanson, Jon Streu, Steve and Susan Parsons, Patty Leuken, Steve Blumreich, Dave Boyer, Frank and Brenda Suspensi, John Barnhart, Tom Emerick, Gary Flippin, Joe Salisbury, Danny Sabo, Mike Enger, Rich Conboy, Ben Woodard and Gayla Currier.
In early September nine Whitlock Vibert Boxes were each loaded with 135-150 Rainbow Trout Eggs to be delivered to the classes. The Norfork National Fish Hatchery under Jon Casey’s management has been a generous participant in our TIC Program. The Hatchery provides the eggs, ice for egg transport, trout food and man power when necessary. Their Trout Biologist, Trey Anderson, also provides valuable information regarding water quality and trout diseases.
Our TIC’s experienced normal losses due to poor egg fertilization, pin head condition, two head condition and cannibalism. In addition we had some losses related to power failure and some athletic trout jumping out of the tanks. Despite these losses all the classes were able to release their trout into their designated receiving streams. Kerry Kanastar’s Class nurtured the most fingerlings for release with ninety-six gaining their freedom in the Big Spring in Cotter. Melva Brannon’s Class released this year’s largest trout to Dry Run Creek. Some of her TIC fish were seven inches long. Melva’s TIC lost some fish due to water quality issues related to a power failure. The thirty survivors displayed excellent growth rate in their less crowded tank.
The following Classes released their trout to Big Spring in Cotter:
- April 15th - Kerry Kanastar’s Hackler Elementary 5th Grade Science- 60 students
- April 22nd- Kyle Tardiff’s Mt. Home High School Science. The Class was treated to a Hatchery tour in the afternoon. – 40 students
- April 26th- Clark Gustin’s Yellville High School Science Class – 25 students
- March 15 – Chris Turner’s TIC at Guy Berry Alternative. Six students were given a hatchery tour after the release.
- April 2 – Freddy Penka’s Pinkston Middle School Science Class. On May 13th the class was treated to a Hatchery tour including trout identification and a trout dissection. TU volunteers took the students fishing on DRC. 60 students
- April 13th- Amy Branscum’s Norfork H.S. Science Class. Eight students were given a Hatchery tour after their fish release.
- April 20th – Andrea Benedict’s Flippin First Grade. Andrea’s class was treated to Hatchery activities and fishing on DRC with TU volunteers. 61 students
- May 3rd and 10th – Melva Brannon’s Calico Rock 8th and 9th Grade Science Classes. The releases were followed by Hatchery activities and fishing on DRC with TU volunteers. 60 students
- May 11th- Amy Morrel’s Norfork Elementary 5th Grade Science Class. – 30 students.
The fishing on DRC was possible due to the efforts of the following TU volunteers:
Bob and Tina Hanson, Jon Streu, Steve and Susan Parsons, Patty Leuken, Steve Blumreich, Dave Boyer, Frank and Brenda Suspensi, John Barnhart, Tom Emerick, Gary Flippin, Joe Salisbury, Danny Sabo, Mike Enger, Rich Conboy, Ben Woodard and Gayla Currier.