News stories on endangered bats in the Southern Missouri Ozarks

Last month, I wrote about the bats in the Southern Missouri Ozarks that are endangered and live in caves in the region. They play a key role in the family story I tell in my upcoming second novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" coming our later this spring. The fictional story also has a wind power component.

Today, our local news source, OzarksFirst.com, published a story related to these bats, and, in reviewing the story I found another story, from last year, that explains the bat situation in the area of my fictional story even further. I just had to share both stories with you. I hope you find them of interest. ...and, that you follow my blog here and read the novel, when it is released in a couple of months.  WLS

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From Ozarks First. com, March 28, 2011:

Students to Evaluate Bats & Green Energy

(Springfield, MO) - At least eight students have a guaranteed summer study. A biology professor at Missouri State University was awarded two grants to study risks to endangered bats. West Inc. gave the grants totaling $116,000.

The money will be used to find potential risk factors to endangered bats from the operation of wind energy facilities in northern Missouri. Most of the students will be graduates working on various bat research projects dealing with conservation of bats.

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While looking back to find this article, I also came across the following from last year, that is relevant, as well:

From May, 2010, on Ozarks First.com:

Bat Disease Reaches Ozarks Caves

(paraphrased early part of report)

All caves at Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Shannon County have been closed. Bat researchers from Missouri State University found an infectious fungus in five gray bats. That fungus causes White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS is considered a serious disease that has been responsible for the deaths of more than one million bats since its discovery in New York in 2006.

The first occurrence in Missouri, the twelfth state to document the disease, was discovered in Pike County in April. Six bat species were known to be vulnerable, but the recent find is the first known case in Shannon County, and the first case in the federallly endangered gray bat.

(it further said)

"Missouri is home to at least 12 species of bats," explained Missouri Department of Conservation Cave Biologist Bill Elliott. "They are our front-line defense against many insect pests including some moths, certain beetles and mosquitoes. Insect pests can cause extensive forest and agricultural damage. Missouri's 775,000 gray bats alone eat more than 223 billion bugs a year, or about 540 tons. They also play a vital role in cave ecosystems, providing nutrients for other cave life through their droppings, or guano, and are food for other animals such as snakes and owls."

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"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Flora and Fauna Friday - Indiana bat

Flora and Fauna Friday - Indiana bat

The Indiana bat was one of 17 species listed as threatened or endangered in Missouri in 2003. The Indiana bat plays an early and pivotal role in the upcoming novel, The Homeplace Revisited.

As you see from the photos, thanks to Wikimedia Commons, they are not what most of us would call "cute." But, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tells us it has had a serious population decline, over 50% over a ten year period. 

The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. Missouri is toward the western end of its native territory. It is similar in appearance to the more common little brown bat but is distinguished by it's feet size, toe hair length, pink lips and a keel on the calcar.

Indiana bats live in hardwood forests and hardwood-pine forests. As an insectivore, the bat will eat both terrestrial and aquatic flying insects like moths, beetles, and mosquitoes and midges. 

For reference: http://www.city-data.com/states/Missouri-Flora-and-fauna.html

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 4

Surname Saturday - MCDONALD 4

This is a guest post by Karen BEVINS WINSLOW (a fictitious character in Back to the Homeplace). Karen is the oldest daughter of Frank and Mildred (MCDONALD) BEVINS, one of their four children. These four siblings and their families are the major characters of the novel: Back to the Homeplace. [This blogging exercise is a part of the research for the upcoming novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" by William Leverne Smith]

Karen came across the following report, apparently written my her mother when she was in high school, as she went through papers left by her mother in The Homeplace farmhouse that Karen and her husband, Jason were remodeling to become a Country Inn Bed and Breakfast (early 1990s).

A brief history of settlement in the early Oak Springs area and my McDonald family

by Mildred McDonald

My ancestor, Henry  McDonald, was one of four men who brought their families to this valley as the first settlers. My family has lived on our farm ever since that time, which was 1833. He was joined by the Eli Truesdale family, the Robert Baldridge family and the Blacksmith, Jake Patton, and his wife, who operated a general store next to the blacksmith shop. They apparently had not children. The town that eventually became Oak Springs actually grew up around that blacksmith shop and general store a couple of miles west of our place. Robert Baldridge built the first mill on the ridge northeast of your farm and his son, David, ran it for many years, as well. The McDonalds and the Truesdales were farmers.

David Baldridge, a bachelor, had one sister, Sarah, who married the older of the two sons of Henry McDonald and his wife, Laura. Harry and Sarah had at least six children. The stories they have passed down from Civil War times will make another interesting report. The younger McDonald son, Daniel was my direct ancestor. He married Jane Truesdale, a granddaughter of Eli Truesdale. Their son, William McDonald, was my grandfather. He was able to keep all the McDonald, Truesdale and Baldridge properties in our family so that my parents still have the original properties more than one hundred years later. We are all very proud of this accomplishment. 

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Shadow and Chase

Shadow and Chase

On Flora and Fauna Friday, in the past, I have featured wildlife of the Ozarks; and I will continue to do that, in the future.

Today, however, I am featuring the breeding mare/riding horse, and dog, that will be introduced in "The Homeplace Revisited," hopefully to pique your interest in the upcoming second novel in The Homeplace Series.

We will rejoin Christopher having returned to Oak Springs from law school to join his father, Carter Ogden, in his law practice, where one of their major clients is the Bevins Trust. From "Back to the Homeplace," of course, you know that Christopher's biological father is actual Bart Bevins, one of the four siblings that now control the Bevins Trust. It is 1996, Christopher has been back in town a couple of years, and Jennifer, his half-sister, daughter of Bart and Diane, has just arrived back, as well, to set up her large animal veterinary clinic on her parent's portion of The Homeplace.

Shadow is a grey mare that Christopher purchased earlier in the summer and stables at the farm. It gives him a reason, and 'excuse' to spend time at the farm, regularly. 

In Chapter 4 of "The Homeplace Revisited" you will meet Christopher's other new animal friend, Chase. Chase is a beautiful black and brown German Shepherd dog with bright eyes, pointed, alert ears, and a moist black nose. You will love her.

The cover of the book: "The Homeplace Revisited" features these two new friends. Stay tuned for more peaks into this new family saga novel coming to you in the Spring of 2011.

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

Happy New Year 2011!

Writing plans for 2011

As a retired 71+ year old person (professor), making "New Years Resolutions" is really not especially useful.

First, I am retired; I can do pretty much as I wish (if my wife doesn't object) most any time I wish.

Second, family comes first - grandpa, husband, father, brother, uncle, etc.

Third, I have a contract to teach an/my on-line university course in the Spring.

FInally, with the time left, I write.

1. I expect to complete and publish my second novel in the Spring of 2011. I will continue to promote both novels through appropriate activities throughout the year.

2. I will continue to write weekly articles for Examiner.com on both my topic areas: Springfield Genealogy Examiner and Ozark Cultural Heritage Examiner.

3. I will continue to research and begin to write the non-fiction Revolutionary War family history book on Sergeant Major William Kinnick.

4. I will continue to research and write the non-fiction family history book on my great-grandfather Michael Smith.

5. I will continue my primary blogs, with most entries related to the research, writing and promoting I am doing at the time.

Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
Dr. Bill on Retirement
Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
The Homeplace Series Blog
The KINNICK Project

6. As mid-year approaches, I will step up the Civil War research and writing for my young adult Civil War novel and "The Beginnings" novel in "The Homeplace" series.

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

2010 is coming to a close...

I hope you each had a great 2010 and that 2011 is even better. Stop back on January 1, 2011. I will be sharing my writing plans for 2011 - and I think you will be interested in following our progress here at: "The Homeplace Series" Blog.

Become a follower so you do not miss any updates.

As I approach the Spring 2011 publication of "The Homeplace Revisited," my second novel in the series, I hope and plan to make at least one post per week. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions as we move forward.

Happy Reading,

Bill  ;-)

Misha's Review of 'Back to the Homeplace'

Thank you to Misha Mathew for her recent review of 'Back to the Homeplace' -


Review:
Back To The Homeplace is a beautiful story of family. I love family sagas and stories about family secrets. Hence this book was a perfect read for me.

I could easily identify with the characters. If you've ever had a big family, you would totally elate to them. Every characters was so real. Their emotions, their problems were very realistically presented. Each character was so well-defined that I felt like I knew them.

William Smith's vivid and beautiful descriptions make the book even more compelling. There's even a suspense element to the story which just serves to make the  book even more intriguing. There are twists and turns which kept me on the edge of my seat. The author has even handled social issues like AIDS very well.

Back to the Homeplace is a captivating novel with an intriguing plot-line. I was unable to put down the book. Its a book that will strike a chord with every person who has ever felt those immense emotions that are hidden behind the one word - "Home".This is a heartwarming story about family, relationships and how family will always remain important no matte how far you leave them behind.

Overall:
Compelling and intriguing!

Recommended?
Yes! To all fans of family sagas and literary fiction.


See the full review at: http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-back-to-homeplace-by-william.html


"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)