The Herald-Tribune
--- — A Franklin County man was forced to spend Tuesday night, Aug. 17, in the woods after becoming lost on Brookville Reservoir property. Cecil Henson, 68, and his grandson, Andrew Wilson, 23, Cedar Grove, entered woods near the reservoir’s Fairfield area at about 6 p.m. under the pretext of scouting for deer, said Indiana Conservation Officer Corey Norrod. The pair split up while in the woods and only Wilson was able to make it back to their vehicle. Wilson called his father to help him look for Henson. After a fruitless search, the men notified the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department that Henson was missing. At dawn Wednesday, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department personnel, Indiana Department of Natural Resources staff at Brookville Reservoir and Indiana Conservation Officers began searching by land and water. Henson, having regained his bearings, was located shortly after 8:30 a.m. He denied medical assistance. Upon Henson’s return to his vehicle, a relieved conservation officer noticed he had freshly harvested ginseng roots in his possession. Ginseng is touted by some as having healing properties. An interview with Henson yielded that he and Wilson had entered the woods not to scout for deer, but instead to harvest ginseng root. By Indiana law, ginseng may be harvested between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. The purpose of Indiana’s ginseng program is to insure a healthy future population. Landowner permission is required if harvesting ginseng on the property of another. Ginseng may not be harvested on state property, Norrod reported. To learn about ginseng harvesting laws, persons may visit www.in.gov/dnr/nature preserve/. “During the subsequent investigation, Henson and Wilson were found to be in possession of hundreds of ginseng roots that allegedly were illegally harvested.” The duo have misdemeanor charges pending for the harvest of ginseng out of season and its harvest on state property. Other related charges may also be filed. Indiana Conservation Officers are continuing the investigation.
